An outfield player in soccer is any player on the team who is not the goalkeeper. That means defenders, midfielders, wingers, and forwards are all outfield players.

Simple example

If a team has 11 players on the field, 1 is the goalkeeper and the other 10 are outfield players.

So when someone says “the outfield players,” they mean everyone who plays in open field roles rather than in goal.

What they do

  • Defenders try to stop the other team from scoring.
  • Midfielders help connect defense and attack.
  • Forwards focus on scoring or creating chances.

Quick wording note

In soccer, “outfield player” is the standard term for a non-goalkeeper, especially in formal or coaching contexts.