How many players can a team have on the field at once in a full soccer match?

Eleven, and one of them must be the goalkeeper.

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  1. Eleven ✔
  2. Ten
  3. Twelve

Why: A match is played by two teams, each with at most eleven players on the field. One of the eleven must be the goalkeeper.

Huh, didn't know that: Youth leagues often play smaller games, like 7 or 9 a side, but the full Laws call for eleven.

The dad joke
Why did the soccer team bring string to the game? So they could tie the score.
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References

Answer: Eleven. A match is played by two teams, each with at most eleven players on the field. One of the eleven must be the goalkeeper.

  1. IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 3 The Players www.theifab.com/laws/latest/the-players
    A match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of eleven players; one must be the goalkeeper.
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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