The competition devised by Piqué and Ibai operates with rules that stray from traditional football.
If the Kings League stands out for one thing, it is its ability to offer a fresh way to watch and enjoy football. The league created by Gerard Piqué and Ibai Llanos, among others, includes rules that diverge from the widely known version of the sport. With its first edition nearing its end, it is worthwhile to understand these rules in detail.
How Kings League 2023 matches work: rules, duration, time, and team size
The length of the matches and the types of cards that can be drawn during play are among the most distinctive elements of the Kings League compared with regular top-tier football. Yet there is more to it than that.
The rules
In the Kings League there are no draws and no traditional points table. The standings are determined by the balance of wins and losses for each team. If the score remains tied after regular time, the result is decided by a shootout. This shootout differs from the standard penalty contest in professional football, as players kick from the center of the field toward the goal until a shot is scored without stepping into the penalty area.
Another notable difference is player substitutions: teams may make unlimited changes. Warnings operate on a different clock as well. A player who earns a yellow card must remain off the field for two minutes, while a red card keeps a teammate out for five minutes. The kickoff has its own unique style: it resembles water polo more than traditional football, with the ball placed at the field center and both teams racing to gain initial possession.
Perhaps the most striking element are the so-called secret weapon cards. These can be used only once and may influence the game in dramatic ways, such as turning a penalty kick into a guaranteed goal, a goal with double value within the next two minutes, an exclusion of a rival player for a similar period, the appearance of a wildcard, a card draw (allowing a player to take the rival’s weapon when both draw it simultaneously), or a shootout, which carries the same effect as a penalty shoot-out.
How long will they last?
Regular Kings League matches consist of two halves of 20 minutes each, with additional time added similarly to contemporary football.
How many players are there in each team?
Each team begins with seven players on the field, and a squad of eleven in total. On match days they usually bring an extra player, often a former elite footballer who has participated at the highest levels. Names such as Ronaldinho and Javier Hernández have been involved in similar formats with clubs linked to the Kings League ecosystem, where management roles and team leadership often cross between soccer figures and media personalities.
End note: the structure blends athletic competition with showmanship, creating a distinct dynamic that keeps fans engaged and spectators eager for the next match.