World Cup players used to be stuck on the pitch — no matter what

Today, managers swap players in and out like chess pieces. But for the first 40 years of the World Cup, substitutions didn't exist. If a player got injured, his team simply played with 10 men — or even fewer. In the brutal 1954 semifinal between Hungary and West Germany, known as the Battle of Bern, both teams finished battered and bloodied with no relief from the bench.

FIFA finally allowed substitutions in 1970, but only two per match, and only for injured players. Over time, the rules relaxed — tactical subs became legal, the limit rose to three, and then came the biggest modern shake-up. During the COVID-19 pandemic, FIFA introduced five substitutions per match to manage player fatigue from a congested schedule. What was meant to be temporary became permanent, and the 2022 Qatar World Cup was the first to use the five-sub rule throughout.

The change has quietly revolutionized tactics. Managers can now reshape their entire attack or defense mid-game, making the bench almost as important as the starting eleven. Some critics argue it gives wealthier clubs and nations an unfair edge — deeper squads mean more quality options to bring on. Others say it protects player health in an era of relentless scheduling.