What does a winger do in soccer?

A winger gives the team width. Wingers stay near the sideline, take on the fullback, and cross, pass back or cut inside to shoot. They also run back to help defend.

What is an inverted winger?

A winger who plays on the side opposite to their stronger foot, such as a right-footed player on the left. That makes it natural to cut inside and shoot.

Do wingers have to defend?

Yes. A winger follows the other team’s fullback and drops back beside the midfielders, so the team defends with more players.

Winger in soccer

A winger is a soccer attacker who plays wide on the left or right, to stretch the other team and to create chances from the side.

It suits quick players who love to dribble at a defender and are brave enough to try again after losing the ball.

Soccer is called football in most of the world. This guide is part of Futbol Island’s free football lessons for kids aged 7 to 12.

Where the winger stands

Diagram of the winger position in a 4-3-3 formation on a 11v11 soccer field, seen from above, with 11 players attacking up the picture. Goalkeeper: GK (1). Defenders: LB (3), LCB (5), RCB (4) and RB (2). Midfielders: LCM (8), DM (6) and RCM (10). Forwards: LW (11), ST (9) and RW (7). The winger is marked in gold. Open this diagram as a picture.

High and wide, near the sideline, on the left or the right of the forward line. In a 4-4-2 the wide midfielders do the same job from a little deeper.

With the ball

Stays wide to stretch the defense, which opens space in the middle for teammates.
Takes on the fullback one against one, then crosses or cuts inside to shoot.
Passes the ball back from the goal line to a teammate arriving in front of goal.

Without the ball

Tracks the other team’s fullback when that player runs forward.
Drops back beside the midfielders to help block the middle.
Presses from the front to trap the ball near the sideline.

Three habits to practise

Start wide
Stand near the sideline before the ball comes. It is easier to move inside late than to get wide late.
Attack the defender’s front foot
Dribble straight at the defender, then change direction quickly.
Look up before you cross
One look tells you where your teammates are. Then choose: cross, pass back or shoot.

Shirt number: 7 and 11

The right winger is usually 7 and the left winger is 11. The numbers are a coaching custom from the days when starters wore 1 to 11. Players today can wear any number.

In 7v7, 9v9 and futsal

In 7v7 the wide midfielders of a 2-3-1 are the wingers: they give width on each side and support the striker. In 9v9 the 3-2-3 has two wide forwards, and one of them comes inside to help when the midfield is outnumbered.

Formations with a winger

Questions about the winger

What does a winger do in soccer?
A winger gives the team width. Wingers stay near the sideline, take on the fullback, and cross, pass back or cut inside to shoot. They also run back to help defend.
What is an inverted winger?
A winger who plays on the side opposite to their stronger foot, such as a right-footed player on the left. That makes it natural to cut inside and shoot.
Do wingers have to defend?
Yes. A winger follows the other team’s fullback and drops back beside the midfielders, so the team defends with more players.

Lessons for this position

Player cards

Wingers in the Futbol Island card binder.

Futbol Island is a free football (soccer) learning game for kids aged 7 to 12. Every idea on this page is taught on a pitch with moving players, then checked with a quick quiz.

Play it on the island