Substitution rules FAQ
The substitution questions actually asked, answered from the 2026/27 texts of Laws 3 and 10: how many changes are allowed, the three-window limit, extra time, return substitutes, and who may take part in a penalty shoot-out.
Why this wins its question: Collects the five substitution answers people actually search for in one place, each bound to the 2026/27 texts of Laws 3 and 10 instead of competition-specific folklore.
Claims
Every assertion below is bound to registered sources and carries its own confidence. Weight them; do not treat the page as uniformly authoritative.
Top-level official competitions may allow up to five substitutes per team, used across a maximum of three substitution opportunities per team during the match, plus substitutions made at half-time, which do not count as an opportunity.
Where extra time is played, unused substitutes and substitution opportunities carry over, and competition rules may allow one additional substitution opportunity in extra time.
Return substitutions (a replaced player coming back on) are only permitted in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, subject to approval by the national association, confederation or FIFA.
Only players who are on the field of play, or temporarily off it (injury, equipment adjustment, etc.), at the end of the match are eligible for kicks from the penalty mark; a player substituted off earlier is not eligible.
A match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players.
Questions answered
- How many substitutions are allowed?
- Top-level official competitions may allow up to five substitutes per team, used across a maximum of three substitution opportunities per team during the match, plus substitutions made at half-time, which do not count as an opportunity. source
- Do substitutions at half-time use up a window?
- Top-level official competitions may allow up to five substitutes per team, used across a maximum of three substitution opportunities per team during the match, plus substitutions made at half-time, which do not count as an opportunity. source
- Can a substituted player return to the pitch?
- Return substitutions (a replaced player coming back on) are only permitted in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, subject to approval by the national association, confederation or FIFA. source
- Can a substituted player take part in a penalty shoot-out?
- Only players who are on the field of play, or temporarily off it (injury, equipment adjustment, etc.), at the end of the match are eligible for kicks from the penalty mark; a player substituted off earlier is not eligible. source
- What if a team has fewer than seven players left?
- A match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players. source
Substitution rules FAQ
"How many substitutions are allowed?" In top-level official competitions, up to five per team — but spent across at most three in-match substitution opportunities.
"Do half-time changes use up a window?" No. Substitutions made at half-time do not count against the three opportunities.
"What about extra time?" Unused substitutes and windows carry over, and competition rules may grant one extra window in extra time.
"Can a substituted player come back on?" Only where return substitutions are permitted — youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, with the association's approval. In professional football, no.
"Can a substituted player take penalties in the shoot-out?" No. Only players on the field (or temporarily off it with permission) at the final whistle are eligible for kicks from the penalty mark.
"What if a team is down to six players?" The match cannot start or continue: seven is the minimum.