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In a senior top-division official match, how many substitutes may competition rules allow a team to use before extra time?

Up to five, if competition rules allow.

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  1. Five ✔
  2. Three
  3. Seven

Why: For first teams in top divisions, official competition rules may allow up to five substitutes. Competition rules may allow one additional substitute in extra time.

Huh, didn't know that: Youth and grassroots football may use return substitutions, where a player comes back on later.

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Why did the substitute bring a ladder? He heard he was going up on the board.
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References

Answer: Five. For first teams in top divisions, official competition rules may allow up to five substitutes. Competition rules may allow one additional substitute in extra time.

  1. IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 3 The Players www.theifab.com/laws/latest/the-players
    The number of substitutes, up to a maximum of five, which may be used in any match played in an official competition
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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