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One in five Fifa World Cup goals came from substitutes. Who benefits most? | FIFA World Cup 2026
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Argentina’s Nicolas Gonzalez and Lautaro Martinez comes on as substitutes to replace Nicolas Tagliafico and Rodrigo De Paul in Round of 16 match against Egypt. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
Of the 266 goals scored in the first 96 matches of the Fifa World Cup 2026, up to the quarterfinal stage, 50 have come from substitute players. This share underlines how substitutes are not only replacing tired legs, but deciding matches.
Teams are allowed to name 26 players in their Fifa World Cup squads, leaving a maximum of 15 players available on the bench in each match.
Of the 192 team appearances across the first 96 matches, 145 used all five substitutions. On average, teams made 4.8 substitutions per match, showing that coaches are almost always using their full quota.
But not every team has relied on substitutes equally.
Belgium and Switzerland have depended far more on goals from substitutes than Argentina or France, suggesting that some teams have relied on their bench to change matches while others have continued to depend on their starting lineups.
When Switzerland takes on Argentina in the quarterfinals, it will test whether Switzerland’s effective use of its bench can upset the defending champions.
First Published: Jul 09 2026 | 11:28 AM IST
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