14
Substitutions
Who comes on when someone goes off, and how to set up your bench.
Order of automatic substitutes
| Player off | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keeper | Keeper | Defender | Midfielder | Winger | Forward |
| Defender | Defender | Midfielder | Winger | Forward | Keeper |
| Midfielder | Midfielder | Defender | Winger | Forward | Keeper |
| Winger | Winger | Forward | Midfielder | Defender | Keeper |
| Forward | Forward | Winger | Midfielder | Defender | Keeper |
Extended bench and injuries
- The main substitute set for that position comes on first.
- If there is none, the backup substitute for that position.
- Then the standard logic of the table.
- The "extra" player only comes on if you name him in your substitutions, or last.
- Since 2025 you can give bench players an individual order to use if they come on for an injury, and set substitutions conditional on an injury in a specific position.
- For a substitution or a position swap, the target position must be free.
- If the captain goes off, a new one is chosen, usually but not always the best (ch. 3).