Kings League: The Rules, Teams, Format & Star Players

On November 10, 2022, Gerard Pique, the former Barcelona star, launched a unique 7-a-side football competition called The Kings League.

Surprisingly, in its first year, the league has surpassed expectations both in terms of engagement and commercial success.

So, what exactly is The Kings League, and why has it captured the hearts of so many?

Football has been a cherished sport for generations, captivating audiences globally with the thrill of kick-offs and nail-biting finishes. However, what if there was a way to heighten the excitement and attract a whole new audience?

Interestingly, there are no ticket sales, and the games can’t be found on any television channel, whether in Spain or beyond. Despite this, hundreds of thousands of eyes, mostly young ones, are already tuning in through phones, tablets, and computers via the Internet.

Curious to learn more?

Here’s everything you need to know about this incredible 7-a-side phenomenon.

What Is The Kings League?

The Kings League is a seven-a-side football competition situated in Barcelona.

The Kings League plays its home games at the Cupra Arena, situated in the port of Barcelona. This arena is part of the Logistics Activities Area (ZAL) of the Port of Barcelona.

Piqué collaborated with influential football figures and Internet streamer Ibai Llanos to bring this unique league to life. The league stands out due to its unconventional rules, adding an exciting twist to the traditional football format.

Among the innovative rules are tie-breaker penalty shootouts, unlimited substitutions, and the introduction of secret weapons, injecting dynamism and entertainment into the games.

Teams in The Kings League are led by esteemed football personalities, including Manchester City’s record goalscorer, Sergio Kun Agüero, and Real Madrid goalkeeping legend, Iker Casillas. The rosters boast a mix of young local talents and retired Spanish league professionals, creating a diverse and dynamic playing field.

What sets The Kings League apart is not only its engaging gameplay but also the involvement of prominent personalities and the infusion of modern streaming culture.

This innovative approach has garnered attention, making The Kings League a compelling addition to the football scene, capturing the enthusiasm of both local and global audiences

King’s League is more for people to have fun and enjoy themselves. I was able to play two matches, actually one-and-a-half. I’m really happy with the way the tournament is being organised.” -Aguero

What Is The Kings League Format?

The Kings League adopts a format similar to Apertura and Clausura, featuring two splits in each season: the Winter Split and the Summer Split.

Each split has its league stage and playoffs.

In the league stage, the twelve teams compete in eleven matchdays, playing against every other team once. The top eight teams, determined by their rankings at the end of the league stage, proceed to the playoffs.

Each matchday includes six forty-minute matches, split into two consecutive twenty-minute halves, all played on the same field.

In the inaugural season, players had the chance to apply and were selected through a draft process held on December 27, 2022. Prospective players underwent physical and skill testing, with the top prospects chosen in the draft.

Teams can have a roster of twelve players: the draft involves selecting ten players, leaving two additional roster slots for guest players known as the 11th Player and 12th Player, typically footballers or streamers.

The 12th Player can change on each match day, while the 11th Player remains with the team for the entire season.

What Are The Kings League Rules?

The Kings League has a unique set of rules, which were established through a voting process on social media. Fans had the chance to contribute and vote on these rules.

Some of the unconventional rules include a tie-breaker penalty shootout from the center of the field, the use of offsides, allowing handballs for throw-ins, unlimited substitutions, yellow cards resulting in a 2-minute player exclusion, and red cards leading to a 5-minute exclusion until a substitute can enter. ‘

The game kicks off with the ball at the center, players starting from the back line, and consists of two 20-minute halves.

Also, there are special “secret weapons” each team can use once per game, such as a penalty kick in their favor, a shootout advantage, a 2-minute exclusion of an opposing player, double points for 2 minutes, a wildcard, and the ability to steal an opposing team’s secret weapon card.

Player numbers can range from 0 to 99.

In the later part of the 2023 Winter Split, “league cards” were introduced.

These cards reduced the number of players on the field for the last two minutes of the first half, transforming the match into one-on-one, two-a-side, three-a-side, four-a-side, five-a-side, or six-a-side games.

These cards were later replaced by a giant dice rolled onto the pitch at the 18-minute mark, with the six-a-side option replaced by a variation of the one-on-one game featuring an outfield player and a goalkeeper restricted to the box.

Starting from the 2023 Summer Split, it was decided that goals would be worth double for both teams in the last two minutes of the game.

This rule was modified for the King’s Cup, where if the score was tied by the 38th minute, the game would shift to a golden goal: if either team scores during this period, the match ends immediately; otherwise, the teams proceed to a penalty shootout.

The double-goal rule remains in effect in any scenario other than a tied score in the 38th minute.

How Popular Is Kings League?

The Kings League has undeniably achieved tremendous success, drawing impressive weekly viewership of over 600,000 to 700,000 fans tuning in, and at one point, they hit a milestone of over 1,370,000 live viewers for a single match.

The league’s popularity hasn’t gone unnoticed by major companies. Notable sponsors include Adidas, Spotify, and even McDonald’s delivery service is among the advertisers.

An interesting development is the league’s recent sponsorship deal with Casio, announced by Gerard Piqué. This collaboration came about after his ex-girlfriend Shakira playfully referenced Casio in her viral Bizarrap hit, which has garnered 257 million views on YouTube.

Despite the usual setting of games within an industrial pavilion on the outskirts of Barcelona’s port, with minimal in-person spectators, there’s a remarkable twist.

On March 26, Barcelona FC’s Camp Nou stadium hosted the four best teams in the competition which was a massive sellout.

What Are The Names Of The Teams In The League?

The twelve Kings League teams are as follows:

Which Footballers Have Played In The League?

Javier Saviola and Sergio Agüero, two of the most renowned Argentinian players, have featured prominently in the tournament, both playing for Agüero’s team, Kunisports.

Saviola’s signing was announced in January 2023, and in his debut game, he faced off against the former Espanyol striker Raúl Tamudo. Tamudo is famous in La Liga for his Tamudazo—a goal against FC Barcelona in 2007 that secured the title for Real Madrid.

In addition to these stars, World Cup winner Joan Capdevila also played in the King’s League, representing Saiyans FC.

Sergio García and Rubén de la Red play for Ultimate Móstoles, while former Celta Vigo winger Fabián Orellana is part of XBUYER TEAM.

Alberto Bueno, the ex-Real Madrid winger, is a key player for the team managed by Iker Casillas, 1K FC, and currently holds the title of the league’s top scorer with 9 goals in 7 matches played.

Who is Enigma In The Kings League?

If you’ve watched the xBuyer Team play, you might have noticed a player who stands out on the field.

Known as “Enigma,” this player wears a Mexican wrestling mask and gloves throughout the match to remain unidentified. He also covers his arms to prevent his tattoos from being recognized.

Surprisingly, Enigma is none other than the Spanish forward Nano Mesa.

Who Are The Sponsors of the Kings League?

The Kings League has rapidly garnered sponsorship from various nations and industries, featuring major globally recognized brands.

Here is a list.

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