When discussing how big a soccer team is, it’s important to differentiate between the types of teams, namely the matchday squad and the overall team roster. Let’s break it down.
Matchday Squad
A standard soccer team that takes to the field in a professional match consists of 11 players:
- 1 Goalkeeper – Guards the goal and prevents the opposing team from scoring.
- 10 Outfield Players – These are divided among defenders, midfielders, and forwards.
In many soccer leagues and tournaments, teams are also allowed to have substitute players on the bench. The number of substitutes can vary, but it’s often around 7 players. However, out of these 7 substitutes, only 3 are typically allowed to be used during the match, though some competitions have different rules.
Overall Team Roster
While the matchday squad itself is relatively small, the overall team roster for a professional soccer club can be significantly larger. The total number of players in a soccer team’s overall roster can vary, but professional clubs typically maintain a squad of 23-30 players. This includes:
- First-team players
- Reserve players
- Youth prospects
Categories within the Team
A soccer team usually includes players with varying roles and areas of expertise. Below is an example:
- Goalkeepers: Usually, a team will have 3 goalkeepers—one starting goalkeeper and two backups to account for injuries, suspensions, or rotation.
- Defenders: Around 8-10 players who can play in various defensive positions including center-backs, full-backs, and wing-backs.
- Midfielders: Around 8-10 midfielders with roles that can include defensive, central, and attacking midfielders.
- Forwards: Around 4-7 players who play in attacking positions such as strikers and wingers.
Youth and Reserve Teams
Professional soccer clubs also have youth academies and reserve teams:
- Youth Teams: These teams are part of the club’s developmental system, featuring various age groups starting from under-18s and below, aiming to nurture young talent.
- Reserve Teams: Also known as “B teams” or “Under-23 teams”, these squads consist primarily of younger players who are on the cusp of breaking into the first team.
International Teams
In international competitions, such as the FIFA World Cup, the rules can differ slightly in terms of squad size. National teams are typically allowed to name a provisional squad of around 35 players, which they then trim down to a final squad of 23 players. This final 23-man squad includes:
- 3 Goalkeepers
- 20 Outfield Players
Conclusion
Understanding the size of a soccer team requires recognizing the distinction between the starting lineup, the available substitutes, and the broader squad. While only 11 players take the field at any given time, professional clubs maintain large rosters to ensure they can cope with injuries, suspensions, and ensure continuous player development. Therefore, a soccer team can range from a 23-man roster to as many as 30 or more, depending on the club’s structure and competition rules.