<p>A pandemic-era rule giving competition organizers the option to let teams use five substitutes in a match was extended Friday through 2022.</p>.<p>FIFA can now apply the policy at next year's World Cup in Qatar.</p>.<p>"The decision follows a global analysis of the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on football," the International Football Association Board said in a statement.</p>.<p>The interim rule was introduced last May to help players avoid injury and ease their workload. They resumed playing in a congested schedule after a near-total shutdown of the sport because of the pandemic.</p>.<p>The latest extension covers competitions "scheduled to be completed by Dec 31, 2022" — including the World Cup but not domestic competitions that start in 2022 and run into 2023.</p>.<p>Teams can use five substitutes instead of three in the regulation 90 minutes and a sixth in extra time of knockout games. </p>
<p>A pandemic-era rule giving competition organizers the option to let teams use five substitutes in a match was extended Friday through 2022.</p>.<p>FIFA can now apply the policy at next year's World Cup in Qatar.</p>.<p>"The decision follows a global analysis of the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on football," the International Football Association Board said in a statement.</p>.<p>The interim rule was introduced last May to help players avoid injury and ease their workload. They resumed playing in a congested schedule after a near-total shutdown of the sport because of the pandemic.</p>.<p>The latest extension covers competitions "scheduled to be completed by Dec 31, 2022" — including the World Cup but not domestic competitions that start in 2022 and run into 2023.</p>.<p>Teams can use five substitutes instead of three in the regulation 90 minutes and a sixth in extra time of knockout games. </p>