Why do teams have to bring three goalkeepers to the World Cup?

ONE thing in common between every team at the 2022 World Cup is the inclusion of at least three goalkeepers in their squads.

Gareth Southgate will be hoping that he can lead England to glory in Qatar but after a poor run of form leading up to the tournament, the Three Lions are no longer favourites.

Defeat to Italy, who did not qualify for the tournament this year, and a draw to Germany were the final matches for England ahead of their trip to Qatar this winter.

If they are to overturn their form and find success at the World Cup, England must beat the best of the best and all of these teams have one thing in common – the fact that three goalkeepers are included in their squads.

Why do teams have to bring three goalkeepers to the World Cup?

Teams seem to always bring three goalkeeping options to the World Cup and with an increased option of 26-player squads in 2022 this will remain the same.

While it makes logical sense to have three goalkeepers in a squad in case one of the first two choices pick up an injury and leave the squad with no cover, the trend is enforced.

Introduced in 1934, a FIFA rule stated that three members of each squad must be goalkeepers.

This was after USA went to the inaugural World Cup in 1930 with just one goalkeeper – the man who kept the first clean sheet in the tournament’s history.

The rule remains in place, as ahead of the 2022 World Cup, FIFA stated among their list of rules: “Three players must be goalkeepers”.

Therefore, we will once again see each squad have at least three goalkeepers included as 32 teams search for World Cup glory.

On one occasion, North Korea’s coach tried to bypass this rule by naming striker Kim Myong-won as their third choice goalkeeper in 2010 before FIFA informed the country that he would only be allowed to play if he was between the sticks.

Unfortunately, Myong-won wasn’t given the opportunity to show his skills in goal.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk