How do rolling substitutions work?

An unlimited number of substitutions may be made, and a player who has been replaced may take further part in the match.

• A substitution may be made at any time, whether the ball is in play or not, except during a timeout.
• The player coming off leaves via their own team's substitution zone and does not need a referee's permission.
• The referees do not need to authorise the substitute to enter.
• The substitute enters only after the player being replaced has left, and via their own team's substitution zone.
• The substitution is complete when the substitute has fully entered the pitch after handing the bib to the player being replaced.
• Until the procedure is complete, a substitute cannot restart play by taking a kick-in, penalty kick, free kick, corner kick or goal clearance, or by receiving a dropped ball.
• If the player leaving uses a place other than their substitution zone for a reason the Laws do not provide for, the referees stop play (though not immediately if they can apply advantage) and caution that player. Play restarts with an indirect free kick to the opposing team.
• Names of all players and substitutes must be given to the referees before the match starts. In an official competition a maximum of nine substitutes may be used, and the competition rules state how many may be named.