A Quickie Guide to the Different Positions in Soccer

This one is pretty self-explanatory: The goalkeeper (aka goalie) is responsible for, well, keeping goals out of the net. Needless to say, this position comes with a lot of pressure and it requires a variety of skills, including fast reflexes, agility, reading opponents, hand-eye coordination, and the ability to make quick decisions. It’s also key that goalkeepers communicate with their teammates throughout the game and direct the defense players to certain spots on the field — when communication is smooth and effective, it’s less likely that the ball will even need to be stopped by the goalkeeper at all.

While only one goalie plays at a time for each team, the USWNT has three goalkeepers headed to the World Cup this year, including Alyssa Naeher (pictured here).

Playing in the outfield, a defender’s role is to keep the opposing team as far away from the goalpost as possible and prevent them from scoring. Defenders are considered the backbone of the team; their primary job is to prevent forwards from passing forward (duh), dribbling toward the goal, or shooting. In short, they do whatever it takes to prevent their opponents from taking a shot. Being a successful defender requires grit, speed, strong passing skills, and the ability to push offensive players off the ball.

There are seven defenders on the US World Cup Team, including Kelley O’Hara (shown here).

The main role of a forward is to score goals, which is why these players frequently get the most attention (and are known for setting records or making achievements like hat tricks). You’ll first spot them kicking off at the beginning of the game (and again after halftime) and it’s almost always forwards who take penalty kicks. At the start of the game, forwards are positioned at the midfield line and once the game begins, they move toward the opponent’s goal. You won’t typically see a forward any closer to their team’s goalpost than the midfield line — their presence would interfere with defenders’ ability to do their jobs, and forwards always need to be prepared for the moment the ball comes back their way so they can seize the opportunity to score.

Six forwards will play for the US Team in the World Cup, including Alex Morgan (pictured here).

Positioned between the team’s defenders and forwards, midfielders excel at ball handling and passing skills — and knowing exactly when to pass and to whom. Midfielders are also responsible for stopping or slowing down opponents and preventing them from reaching their team’s last defensive line.

There are seven midfielders on the US Team, including Ashley Sanchez (shown here).