As we gear up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it’s a good time to address some questions that might pop up while watching the matches. We’ve already touched on the new regulations for this year’s event, but now we’re shifting focus to another important topic.
Specifically, we’re talking about substitutions.
Here’s everything you need to know about substitutions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
How many substitutions can a team make during a match?
Let’s start with the basics:
How many substitutions does each team get in a World Cup match?
The answer actually depends on the match’s duration.
Each team can make up to five substitutions at the start. They also have up to three chances to substitute during the match. More about that soon.
In addition, according to FIFA guidelines, teams are allowed one “permanent concussion replacement” in each game. This is something that can be done “regardless of the number of substitutions already made.” Interestingly, if one team uses this type of substitution, the other team receives an extra “normal” substitution opportunity.
If the match extends into extra time (which only happens in knockout rounds), further substitutions become available.
And if a team doesn’t use all their permitted substitutions or opportunities, those can carry over to extra time. Plus, they can make one additional substitute, no matter how many of the five they’ve already used.
What are substitution opportunities?
FIFA increased the allowable substitutes from three to five during the COVID-19 pandemic and is keeping that rule for future tournaments. To keep the action flowing, they introduced “substitution opportunities,” capping it at three.
This means teams can interrupt play for substitutions only three times in a match, but there are a couple of things to note.
First, if both teams substitute at the same time, each team uses one substitution opportunity. Second, substitutions made during halftime don’t count against these opportunities.
When a match goes into extra time, teams can make one extra substitution, even if they’ve already used their three opportunities. Just like in regular time, if both teams substitute simultaneously during extra time, it counts as an opportunity used for both sides.
Substitutions made in the brief period between the end of regular time and the start of extra time won’t count against the opportunities either. Moreover, those done during the halftime break of extra time are exempt as well.
Is there anything else I should know?
If you’re tuning in on networks like FS1, keep an eye out for the scoring graphic that will help track the substitutes used and the ones remaining for each team. For example, when you see a gray notch indicating Mexico’s second substitution during the opening match, that’s a handy visual cue.
There’s more than just that; keeping tabs on substitutes is essential for each match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
