How to Create a Soccer Lineup for Your Team
Create professional soccer lineups for your football team in minutes. Whether you coach a 5-a-side futsal team or an 11v11 youth squad, Mingle Sport's free lineup builder helps you set formations, manage substitutions, and track playing time — all in one app.
Mingle Sport is trusted by 300,000+ grassroots football players worldwide. Our lineup tool works for any team size and integrates seamlessly with attendance tracking, substitution management, and minutes-played analytics.
What is a Soccer Lineup?
A lineup shows which players start on the field and in what formation they'll play. It's essential for match preparation, communicating tactics to your team, and sharing on social media before kickoff.
In Mingle Sport, a lineup includes:
Starting players positioned in your chosen formation (e.g., 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 3-5-2)
Bench players ready for substitutions
Squad overview showing who's attending the match
Lineup versions: Mingle Sport tracks lineup changes throughout the match. Your starting lineup is Version 1. Each substitution or formation change creates a new version. For example: if you make substitutions at minute 45 and 60, you'll have 3 lineup versions — giving you a complete record of who played when.
Supported Team Sizes and Formations
Mingle Sport supports lineups for all grassroots football formats:
| Format | Common Formations |
|---|---|
5v5 / Futsal | (1-2-2), (2-2-1), (1-2-1) |
7-a-side | (2-3-1), (3-2-1), (2-1-2-1) |
8v8 | (3-3-1), (2-3-2), (3-2-2) |
9v9 | (3-2-3), (3-4-1), (2-4-2) |
11v11 | (4-3-3), (4-4-2), (3-5-2), (4-2-3-1) |
Choose from our preset formations or customize player positions to match your tactical plan. Long-press any player and drag them to a new position.
How to Create a Lineup in Mingle Sport (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Create Your Match
Lineups are linked to matches. Create a match in the Schedule section of the Mingle Sport app or via Homebase (our desktop web app). Add the opponent, date, time, and location.
Step 2: Open Match Control
Open Match Control from your match screen — it's your all-in-one hub for lineups, substitutions, and scorekeeping. You'll find the Match Control button in the match overview, or navigate via the Lineup tab.
Note: Only team admins and members with scorekeeping permissions can create or edit lineups.
Step 3: Select Your Squad
Choose which players are attending. Mingle Sport automatically lists players who RSVP'd "Going" — saving you time checking availability. You can also add guest players or remove players who can't make it.
Step 4: Create Your Starting Lineup
Build your starting XI (or starting 5, 7, 8, 9 depending on format):
Start fresh or re-use a previous lineup to save time
Select your team size (5v5, 7v7, 8v8, 9v9, or 11v11)
Choose your formation from our preset list (4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2, and more)
Assign players to positions by tapping each spot
Step 5: Customize Player Positions
Want to tweak the formation? Long-press any player and drag them to a different position. This is helpful when:
Your preferred formation isn't listed
You want to make tactical adjustments (e.g., pushing a midfielder higher)
You're experimenting with hybrid formations
Step 6: Assign Bench Players
Players not in the starting lineup automatically become bench players. They're ready to substitute in during the match, and their playing time is tracked separately.
Step 7: Share Your Lineup
Your lineup is automatically visible to all team members. Ready to share more widely?
Within Mingle Sport:
Publish with a push notification to alert all team members
Use "Hide lineup" in Match Control settings if you want to keep it private until closer to kickoff
On Social Media:
Share directly to Instagram, WhatsApp, X (Twitter), or download as an image
The shareable graphic includes player photos, positions, and match details — perfect for Instagram Stories or matchday posts
Using Lineups for Substitution Management
Mingle Sport's lineup builder is integrated with Match Control, making substitution management simple:
Create additional lineup versions for planned substitutions
Swap players between field and bench during the match
Track every change — all lineup versions are saved automatically
You can plan substitutions before, during, or after the match. Each substitution creates a new lineup version, giving you a complete match record.
Track Playing Time Automatically
One of Mingle Sport's most powerful features: automatic playing time tracking.
When you use lineups and make substitutions in Match Control, Mingle Sport calculates minutes played for every player — automatically. No more manual spreadsheets or guessing who played how long.
Why tracking minutes matters:
Ensure fair playing time across your squad (critical for youth development)
Have data-backed conversations with players and parents
Meet league compliance requirements for minimum playing time
Monitor workload across the season to prevent burnout
Where to view minutes played:
In the app: Match overview tab
On desktop: Homebase analytics
Privacy option: Hide minutes from the team if needed (coach-only view)
Watch the Demo
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create lineups on desktop?
Lineups are created in the Mingle Sport mobile app (iOS and Android). At the moment they're not available on Homebase (desktop)
What sports are supported?
Currently football (soccer) and futsal.
Is the lineup builder free?
The basic line-up builder is for free and you can create a line-up for any team size, any formation. The premium version cost a few cups of coffee a month and unlocks substitution management and advanced admin permissions.
Can I copy a lineup from a previous match?
Yes — when creating a new lineup, choose "Re-use previous lineup" to start with your last formation. Then adjust for player availability.
How do I change the formation mid-match?
Open Match Control, create a new lineup version, and select a different formation. The change is tracked with a timestamp.
Who can see my lineup?
By default, all team members can see the lineup. Use "Hide lineup" in settings to restrict visibility to admins and scorekeepers only.
Summary: Why Use Mingle Sport for Lineups?
✓ Works for any team size — 5v5, 7-a-side, 8v8, 9v9, 11v11, futsal
✓ All common formations included — 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 3-5-2, and 20+ more
✓ Integrated with attendance — only available players shown
✓ Substitution management built-in — plan rotations, track changes
✓ Automatic playing time tracking — no spreadsheets needed
✓ Share on Instagram, WhatsApp, X — professional matchday graphics
✓ Free for all teams — no premium required for lineups
