Kings League

Seven-a-side football league

Football league

Kings League

Founded| 10 November 2022; 2 years ago (2022-11-10)
Country| Spain
Broadcaster(s)| Twitch
YouTube
TikTok
Website| kingsleague.pro

The Kings League is a seven-a-side football league established in 2022 by former player Gerard Piqué.[1] The league, originally introduced in Spain, features rules that differ from traditional football regulations, such as a tie-breaker penalty shootout, unlimited substitutions, and the implementation of secret weapons, to add an element of dynamism and entertainment to the games.[2]

As of 2025, Kings League has expanded with leagues in Hispanic America (Kings League Americas), Italy (Kings League Italy), Brazil (Kings League Brazil), France (Kings League France) and Germany (Kings League Germany), with plans to expand into the Middle East and North Africa region (Kings League MENA).

## Format

[edit]

The Kings League follows an Apertura and Clausura-style format in which each season is divided into two splits: the Winter Split and the Summer Split. Both splits have their league stage and playoffs. During the league stage, the twelve teams play eleven matchdays and face every other team once. Based on their rankings at the end of the league stage, the top eight teams advance to the playoffs. Each matchday features six forty-minute matches, divided into two twenty-minute halves, played consecutively on the same ground.[3][4]

For the inaugural season, players were given the opportunity to apply and were selected through a draft process that took place on 27 December 2022.[5] Prospective players underwent physical and skill testing before the top prospects were drafted. Each team can have twelve players on the roster: the draft involved selecting ten players, with the two additional roster slots reserved for guest players. These players are known as the 11th and 12th Players, usually footballers or streamers. The 12th player can change on each match day, while the 11th player is meant to stay with the team for the entire season.[6][7]

## Rules

[edit]

The Kings League's rules were created through a social media voting process. Fans were given the opportunity to contribute and vote on the rules.

The unconventional rules include a tie-breaker penalty shootout from the center of the field, the use of offsides, the allowance of handballs for throw-ins, unlimited substitutions, yellow cards resulting in a 2-minute exclusion, and red cards resulting in a 5-minute exclusion until a substitute can enter. The game starts with the ball in the center of the field and players starting from the back line. Games are divided into two 20-minute halves, and special "secret weapons" are included that each team can use once per game from halftime up until the end. These secret weapons include the following:

* Penalty – An automatic penalty kick.
* Shoot-out – A penalty scenario where the player starts from midfield and has a one-on-one breakaway with the opposing goalkeeper. The player must shoot within five seconds but can make as many moves as possible in up to five seconds between starting that breakaway and taking the shot. As mentioned, penalty shootouts to break ties also use this format. This variation originated in the United States and was used in first the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the 1970s and 1980s and then in Major League Soccer (MLS) for its first four seasons (1996–1999).
* Double Goal—The team playing the card has its goals count double for the next 4 minutes, excluding president penalties.
* Suspension – The team playing the card can remove an opposing player from the field for 4 minutes.
* Star Player – The team playing the card can designate a player as their Star Player, signified by an armband similar to a captain's armband—all goals from this player up until the 39th-minute count double.
* Joker – The team can activate one of the other cards or alternately cancel or steal the opposing team's card.

Player numbers can also range from 0 to 99.[8]

Late in the 2023 Winter Split, the "league cards" were introduced, reducing the number of players on the pitch for the last two minutes of the first half, temporarily turning the match into a one-on-one, two-a-side, three-a-side, four-a-side, five-a-side or six-a-side game. The cards would later be replaced by a giant dice, which was rolled onto the pitch at the 18-minute mark. The six-a-side option was replaced with a variation of the one-on-one game featuring an outfield player and a goalkeeper who is not allowed to leave the box. This would be changed in the 2025 Winter Split, as the five-a-side and four-a-side optionswould be eliminated; the three-a-side, two-a-side and one-on-one spots would each get two faces.

Starting with the 2023 Summer Split, it was decided that goals would have double worth for both teams beginning in the 39th minute. It was amended for the Kings Cup so that if the score were tied at the end of the 38th minute, the game would switch to a golden goal instead of the double goal rule: if either team scores in that period, the match ends immediately; otherwise, the teams have to proceed to the penalty shoot-out. The double-goal rule applies in any scenario other than a tied score in the 38th minute.

## Draft and market

[edit]

The Kings League and Queens League have a draft and trade system based on North American sports. The trading system uses a virtual economy in which the league supplies teams a fixed amount of "Euros" (100 million). Players can be exchanged for "Euros" (in player swaps, for draft picks, or a combination), but no real currency is involved.[9][10] The drafts and markets are held over a similar period. The first Kings League transfer window in April 2023 consisted of buyout clauses and bidding options (with the player then choosing). It was held in a one-day live event.[9] The combined Kings and Queens League market ahead of the 2024 season, held as a one-week transfer window, instead used simple asset exchanges as the means of trade.[10]

## Broadcast

[edit]

Kings League matches are available to watch for free through live streaming on the league's official Twitch, YouTube and TikTok channels, as well as on the individual channels of the team chairpersons.[11]

The first Kings League Spain tournament achieved an average audience of 450,000 viewers in the first round, peaking at 780,000 viewers. In subsequent rounds, the viewership continued to grow significantly: in the second round, the average audience was 558,200 viewers, with a peak of 945,000 viewers; in the third round, a match was viewed by more than 1.3 million people.[12]

On 13 March 2023, it was announced that Catalan public broadcaster Televisió de Catalunya would air the Spain Winter Split playoffs final, held on 26 March, live on its main channel TV3.[13]

On 3 May 2023, Gerard Piqué announced an agreement with Mediaset España that would see the 8 p.m. game of each match day of both the Kings and Queens League Spain air on Cuatro, starting with the opening match day of the Summer Split later that week.[14]

## Competitions

[edit]

### International

[edit]

* Kings World Cup Clubs
* Kings World Cup Nations

### Leagues

[edit]

* Kings League Spain
* Kings League Américas
* Kings League Italy
* Kings League Brazil
* Kings League France
* Kings League Germany
* Kings League MENA

### Other related competitions

[edit]

#### Queens League

[edit]

Main article: Queens League

The Kings League has a sister competition for female players, which is called the Queens League.[11] Shortly after the inaugural season of the Kings League started, Oriol Querol, CEO of Kings League and Kosmos Holding director, announced the Queens League, a competition for women.[15] From May 2023, Queens League matches will be played on Saturdays, ahead of Kings League matches on Sundays. Former Spanish players like Priscila Borja and Willy offered themselves to join the Queens League.[16] Ibai Llanos of Porcinos, was the first Kings League chairperson to confirm the creation of his women's team, Porcinas. Former player Borja Fernández offered to coach the team.

The Queens League was officially launched on 24 February 2023, with all of the Kings League teams taking part in the new tournament; some have changed branding for the women's team, and some have introduced female streamers as chairpersons.[17]

#### Prince Cup

[edit]

On 10 February, the creation of a small tournament for kids during August and December was announced on ChupChup, with Piqué comparing this tournament to LaLiga Promises.[18]

The inaugural edition of the Prince Cup started on 31 August 2023,[19] and culminated on 3 September with Los Troncos FC defeating Jijantes FC in the final.[20]

The inaugural tournament concluded on 25 November 2023, with Porcinos FC defeating Ultimate Móstoles in the final.

#### Fantasy League

[edit]

Kings League has an official fantasy league, sponsored by Kolex.[21]

## Teams organisation

[edit]

Gerard Romero, chairman of Jijantes FC

### Kings League Spain

[edit]

Kings League Spain teams  Team  | Manager  | Chairperson

|
|

1K FC |  José Morales |  Iker Casillas
Aniquiladores FC |  Sergio Verdirame |  Juan Guarnizo
El Barrio |  Marc Fernandez |  Adri Contreras
Jijantes FC |  Pau Moral |  Gerard Romero
Kunisports |  Martín Posse |  Sergio Agüero
Los Troncos FC |  Èric Bartra |  Jaume Cremades (Perxitaa)
PIO FC |  Pol Coma |  Samantha Rivera (rivers)
Porcinos FC |  Nacho Castro |  Ibai Llanos
Rayo de Barcelona |  Efrén Guillén |  Martí Miràs (Spursito)
Saiyans FC |  Daniel Romo |  David Cánovas (TheGrefg)
Ultimate Móstoles |  Álex Martínez |  Mario Alonso (DjMaRiiO)
xBuyer Team |  Víctor González |  Javier (xBuyer) and Eric Ruiz (MiniBuyer)

#### Future club

[edit]

Team  | Manager  | Chairperson

|
|

La Capital CF |  Arnau Jariod |  Lamine Yamal and  Lautaro del Campo (La Cobra)
Santiago Matías, also known as Alofoke, co-chairs Galácticos del Caribe

### Kings League Americas

[edit]

Kings League Americas teams  Team  | Manager  | Chairperson(s)

|
|

Atlético Parceros |  Manuel Lanzarote |  James Rodríguez and Angerson García (Pelicanger)
Club de Cuervos |  Jacques Passy |  Natalia García (NataliaMX) and Iván Navarrete (Pipepunk)
Galácticos del Caribe |  Lucas Ayala |  Angelo "Will" Valdés and Vincent Pérez (Los Futbolitos) and Santiago Matías (Alofoke)
Los Aliens 1021 |  David Cabrera |  Edwin Castro (Castro)
Los Chamos FC |  Jos Gartland |  Donato Muñoz (TheDonato), Flavio Broianigo (YOLO) and  Steven Santos (RDjavi)
Muchachos FC |  Rafael Puente Jr. |  Jero Freixas
Olimpo United |  Alejandro Castro |  Javier Hernández (Chicharito)
Peluche Caligari |  Enrique Esqueda |  Álex (Escorpión Dorado) and Gabriel Montiel (Werevertumorro)
Persas FC |  Víctor Chaires |  Andy Merino (ElZeein) and Nicola Porcella
Raniza FC |  Ángel Reyna |  Diego Balsa (BarcaGamer) and  Alana Flores (AlanaLaRana)
Real Titán |  Pol Font |  Germán Garmendia (HolaSoyGerman) and  Conterstine
West Santos FC |  Fernando Espinosa |  Luis Villa (Westcol) and  Austin Santos (Arcángel)

#### Future club

[edit]

On March 31, 2025, it was announced that Kunisports would be transferring from Kings League Spain to the Kings League Americas after the conclusion of the 2025 Kings World Cup Clubs in June.

Team  | Manager  | Chairperson(s)

|
|

Kunisports |  Martín Posse |  Sergio Agüero
Luca Toni, seen here during the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final, is co-chairman of FC Zeta

### Kings League Italy

[edit]

Kings League Italy Teams  Team  | Chairperson(s)

|

Alpak FC |  Alessandro Pagliari (Frenezy)
Black Lotus FC |  Samuel Afriyie (OFFSamuel) and  Sérgio Cruz
Boomers |  Federico Lucia (Fedez)
Circus FC |  Simone Buratti (GrenBaud)
FC Caesar |  Damiano Coccia (Er Faina) and  Andrea Pirrera (En3rix)
FC Zeta |  Antonio Pellegrino (ZWJackson) and Luca Toni
Gear7 FC |  Emanuele Nocera (Manuuxo)
Punchers FC |  Pier Francesco Gentili (Pierino) and  Gabriel Gentili (Gnabrii)
StallionsA |  Gianmarco Tocco (Blur)
TRM FC |  Francesco Marzano (TheRealMarzaa)
Underdogs FC |  Mirko Cisco
Zebras FC |  Luca Campolunghi
Owing to his success in popularizing funk ostentação, KondZilla co-chairs Funkbol Clube

### Kings League Brazil

[edit]

Kings League Brazil Teams  Team  | Chairperson(s)

|

G3X FCA |  Alexandre Borba Chiqueta (Gaules) and  Kelvin Oliveira
Furia FCA |  Neymar and  Cris Guedes
Loud SC |  Victor Augusto Costa Camilo (Coringa)
Fluxo FC |  Lucio dos Santos Lima (Cerol) and  Bruno Goes dos Santos (Nobru)
Nyvelados FC |  Nyvi Estephan
Desimpedidos Goti |  Tiago Toguro and  Yuri Brida (Yuri 22)
FC Real Elite |  Allan Rodrigues (O Estagiário) and  Ludmilla Oliveira da Silva (Ludmilla)
Capim FC |  Luan Kovarik (Jon Vlogs) and  Iran de Santana Alves (Luva de Pedreiro)
Dendele FC |  Aliffe Henrique de Carvalho (Paulinho o Loko) and  Lucas Gagliasso (Luqueta)
Funkbol Clube |  Hariel Denaro Ribeiro (MC Hariel),  Michel Elias, and  Konrad Cunha Dantas (KondZilla)
2 teams TBD (to be revealed in time for 2025 Winter)
Foot2Rue, also known as F2R, is co-chaired by French streamer AmineMaTue

### Kings League France

[edit]

Kings League France Teams  Team  | Chairperson(s)

|

Foot2RueA |  Mohamed Amine Mahmoud (AmineMaTue),  Samir Nasri, and  Jérémy Ménez
360 Nation |  Aurélien Tchouaméni,  Jules Koundé, and  Mike Maignan
Wolf Pack FC |  Adil Rami
Unit3d |  Lucas Adrien Hauchard (Squeezie),  Sidjil Mahiddine Ben Gana (Djilsi), and  Maxime Biaggi
Karasu |  Kamel Kebir (Kameto) and  Hamza Kerdali (Hamza)
Generation Seven |  Miguel Mattioli (Michou) and  Eduardo Camavinga
PANAM All-Starz |  Pauleta (Pfut)
FC Silmi |  Pierre-Alexis Bizot (Domingo)
Mario Götze is currently co-chairman of Vice Versa FC, alongside Ebru Önal. He previously co-chaired Youniors FC, with Younes Zarou, during the 2024 Kings World Cup

### Kings League Germany

[edit]

Kings League Germany Teams  Team  | Chairperson(s)

|

ERA Colonia |  Maik Taschenbier (Zarbex) and Felix Nier (Filow)
Youniors FCA |  Younes Zarou,  Hugo Goedert (LetsHugo), and  Adam Wolke (SkylineTV)
Kaktus Kickers |  Maximilian Stemmler (Trymacs)
Vice Versa FC |  Mario Götze and  Ebru Önal (Ebru)
No Rules FC |  Hasan and Nick Salihamidžić (Die Brazzos),  Jordan Almani and Semih Jackson (Jordan und Semih)
Tiki Tacker Fußball Freunde |  Kevin Teller (Papaplatte),  BastiGHG and  Jann-Fiete Arp
G2 Football Club |  Dominik Reezman (Reeze) and Wieland Welte (Rumathra)
Futbolistas Locos FC |  Kenan Yıldız,  Jakub Dogan (Kuba) and Domenic Strobel (Chefstrobel)
4 teams TBD (to be revealed in time for 2025 Summer)

### Kings League MENA

[edit]

Kings League MENA Teams  Team  | Chairperson(s)

|

SXB FC |  Ahmed Alqahtani (SHoNgxBoNg)
Ultra Chmicha |  Ilyas El Maliki
Teams TBD
As the opening ceremony performer for the 2024 Kings World Cup Final, Maluma was given his own Wildcard team to chair for the tournament, known as Medallo City

### Other teams

[edit]

The following teams have participated in the Kings World Cup Clubs via Wildcard spots.

Team  | Chairperson

|

Deptostra FC |  Céline Dept and Eden Hazard
FIVE FC  |  Rio Ferdinand and Jeremy Lynch
Murash FC |  Junichi Kato
Limon FC |  Tuğkan Gönültaş (Elraenn)
UA Steel |  Mykhailo Lebiha (Leb1ga) and Andriy Shevchenko
Medallo City |  Juan Luis Londoño (Maluma)
Miami 7 |  Jake Paul and Adin Ross
Jynxzi FC |  Nicholas Stewart (Jynxzi)
Zaytouna FC |  Gandhi Alimasi Djuna (Gims)

A Previously appeared at the 2024 Kings World Cup before entering their respective leagues.
MENA May appear in Kings League MENA.

## Performance by team

[edit]

### Kings World Cup Clubs

[edit]

Team  | Titles  | Runners-up  | Editions won  | Editions runner-up

|
|
|
|

Porcinos FC | 1  | 0  | 2024 |
G3X FC | 0  | 1  |  | 2024

### Kings League Spain

[edit]

Team  | Titles  | Runners-up  | Splits won  | Splits runner-up

|
|
|
|

Ultimate Móstoles | 2  | 2  | 2023 Kings Cup, 2025 Winter  | 2023 Kingdom Cup, 2024 Winter
El Barrio | 1  | 1  | 2023 Winter | 2023 Summer
xBuyer Team | 1  | 1  | 2023 Summer | 2024 Summer
Porcinos FC  | 1  | 0  | 2023 Kingdom Cup  |
Saiyans FC  | 1  | 0  | 2024 Winter |
Jijantes FC  | 1  | 0  | 2024 Summer  |
Los Troncos FC | 0  | 2  |  | 2023 Kings Cup, 2025 Winter
Aniquiladores FC | 0  | 1  |  | 2023 Winter

### Kings League Américas

[edit]

Team  | Titles  | Runners-up  | Semi-final  | Splits won  | Splits runner-up  | Splits semi-final

|
|
|
|
|
|

Raniza FC | 1  | 0  | 1  | May 2024 |  | May 2025
Olimpo United | 1  | 0  | 0  | December 2024  |  |
Los Chamos FC | 1  | 0  | 0  | May 2025  |  |
Real Titán | 0  | 1  | 1  |  | May 2024 | December 2024
Persas FC | 0  | 1  | 1  |  | December 2024  | May 2024
Galácticos del Caribe | 0  | 1  | 1  |  | May 2025  | May 2024
West Santos FC | 0  | 0  | 1  |  |  | December 2024
Los Ailens 1021 | 0  | 0  | 1  |  |  | May 2025

### Kings League Italy

[edit]

Team  | Titles  | Runners-up  | Semi-final  | Splits won  | Splits runner-up  | Splits semi-final

|
|
|
|
|
|

TRM FC | 1  | 0  | 0  | 2025 Winter  |  |
FC Zeta | 0  | 1  | 0  |  | 2025 Winter  |
Gear7 FC | 0  | 0  | 1  |  |  | 2025 Winter
Boomers | 0  | 0  | 1  |  |  | 2025 Winter

### Kings League Brazil

[edit]

Team  | Titles  | Runners-up  | Splits won  | Splits runner-up

|
|
|
|

Dendele  | 0  | 1  |  | 2025 Summer
Furia FC | 1  | 1  | 2025 Summer  | 2024 Supercopa Desimpedidos
G3X FC  | 1  | 0  | 2024 Supercopa Desimpedidos  |

### Kings League France

[edit]

Team  | Titles  | Runners-up  | Semi-final  | Splits won  | Splits runner-up  | Splits semi-final

|
|
|
|
|
|

PANAM All Starz | 1  | 0  | 0  | 2025 Winter  |  |
Karasu | 0  | 1  | 0  |  | 2025 Winter  |
Foot2Rue | 0  | 0  | 1  |  |  | 2025 Winter
Unit3d | 0  | 0  | 1  |  |  | 2025 Winter

### Kings League Germany

[edit]

Team  | Titles  | Runners-up  | Splits won  | Splits runner-up

|
|
|
|

Futbolistas Locos FC | 1  | 0  | 2025 Winter  |
ERA Colonia | 0  | 1  |  | 2025 Winter

* The 2025 Winter split was known as the "Road to Paris" tournament, and did not operate like a traditional Kings League split.

## Expansion

[edit]

See also: Kings League Américas, Kings World Cup Clubs, and Kings World Cup Nations

### 2024

[edit]

#### Kings League Américas

[edit]

In March 2023, Oriol Querol stated that the goal was to expand the Kings League format to multiple countries, hoping to organize a Kings League world championship featuring the best teams from each region by autumn 2024. An international competition was realized ahead of this schedule, with the inaugural Kings World Cup set to take place from May to June 2024 in USA.[22]

During the ChupChup live stream on 14 July 2023, Querol announced the creation of the Américas Kings League (later rebranded to Kings League Américas), a competition with teams from Spanish-speaking countries across the American continent, which began play in 2024 in Mexico City. During the Kings & Queens Finals event on 29 July, it was revealed that Mexican footballer Javier Hernández would be chairman of a team in the league.[23]

#### Kings World Cup 2024

[edit]

On 7 November 2023, a new tournament was announced, tentatively named the Kings League World Cup. It was announced as featuring 20 teams from the Kings League, with 10 teams from Spain and 10 from the Americas, along with teams from other countries, totaling 32 teams.[24] It was held in Mexico from 26 May to 8 June 2024.[25]

Following the announcement, it was confirmed that former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimović would preside over the competition.[26]

The first two teams external to the existing competitions in Hispanic America and Spain were two Brazilian teams on 9 March 2024: G3nerationX FC (G3X FC for short) led by streamer Gaules and FURIA FC, headed by streamer O Estagiario of Esports organization Furia Esports and former futsal player Alessandro Rosa Vieira (Falcão) in collaboration with Brazilian international Neymar.[27]

More entries were later added:

* 18 March 2024 – Two additional European teams were announced: Team Amine (later named Foot2Rue) from France led by streamer AmineMaTue and Youniors FC of Germany led by streamer Younes Zarou and Mario Götze, the goalscorer of the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final for Germany.[28]

* 25 March 2024 – Two more European teams were announced: English team FIVE FC, led by retired Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand and Jeremy Lynch of the F2Freestylers, and Belgian team Deptostra FC led by TikToker Céline Dept and retired Lille, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Belgium winger Eden Hazard.[29]

* 1 April 2024 – Two Asian teams were announced: Murash FC, led by Japanese YouTuber Junichi Kato, and SXB FC, led by Saudi YouTuber SHoNgxBоNg and retired Al-Hilal and Saudi Arabia forward Yasser Al-Qahtani.[30]

* 8 April 2024 – Italian team Stallions was announced, led by Italian streamer Blur (Tumblurr) and retired AS Roma player Francesco Totti, a 2006 World Cup winner with Italy.[31]

* 15 April 2024 – Turkish team Limon FC was announced, led by streamer Elraenn.

* 22 April 2024 – The penultimate team was announced: Ukrainian team UA Steel, led by Ukrainian streamer Mykhailo Lebiha (Leb1ga) and retired AC Milan and Ukraine striker and 2004 Ballon d'Or winner Andriy Shevchenko.

* 6 May 2024 – During the initial tournament draw, the last invited president was revealed as Columbian singer and rapper Maluma with his team Medallo City.[32]

The Kings World Cup officially began on Sunday, 26 May 2024, with Saiyans FC beating Youniors FC 2–0 in the opening match.[33] The tournament was played in its initial phase in Mexico City. The so called 'Final Four' changed its location and was held at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey,[34] where Porcinos FC became the champion after defeating G3X FC 5–3 in the final. [35]

### 2024/25

[edit]

#### Kings League Italy

[edit]

Before Stallions' opening match in the Kings World Cup against Medallo City, Blur presented a trailer revealing that Italy would host the third incarnation of the Kings League after the original in Spain and the second in Hispanic America. Ibrahimović, who played for Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan, was also announced as the league president, and a 2024 date was given.[36][37] On 18 November 2024 in Turin, the 12 clubs that would participate in the new national competition were announced

Lottomatica.Sport is the league's first principal sponsor, and the league's current regular venue is the Fonzies Arena in Milan, which first hosted the Kings World Cup Nations.[38]

#### Kings League Brazil

[edit]

Retired Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain player Ronaldinho, the 2005 Ballon d'Or winner and 2002 World Cup winner with Brazil, featured as a 12th player for Porcinos in Week 8 of the Season 1 Winter Split. On 26 February, shortly before his appearance, Gerard Piqué announced him as the chairman of one of the teams for the upcoming Brazilian version of the league.[39] While Ronaldinho's chairman role never materialized, Kings League Brazil would launch in March 2025 with 10 teams. Teams in Kings League Brazil include their two returning Kings World Cup Clubs – G3nerationX FC (G3X FC), now co-chaired by Gaules and G3X and Porcinos FC player and 2025 Kings World Cup Nations winner and MVP Kelvin Olivera, plus FURIA FC, with streamer Cris Guedes and Brazil international Neymar da Silva as its co-chairmen.[40]

#### Kings League France

[edit]

France was announced as the host of the fifth version of the Kings League on 9 March 2025 with a launch the following month.[41] The teams that participated in the inaugural season were revealed on 24 March 2025, which was also the day of the draft, with competitive League of Legends French and English presenter Laure "Bulii" Valée as co-host.[42]

Play began on 6 April 2025. The league's regular venue is a new Cupra Arena in Villepinte, Seine-Saint-Denis in the northeastern suburbs of Paris near Charles de Gaulle Airport.[43]

#### Kings League Germany

[edit]

On 25 March 2025, the sixth Kings League, Kings League Germany, was announced with a launch date of 12 April 2025. The 2014 World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger was announced as their league president.[44] Due to the already-existing six-a-side Baller League and five-a-side Icon League, both sharing the same blend of football and social-media focused entertainment as Kings League, the German branch was only able to initially announce six out of its planned eight teams for the inaugural campaign, including Younes Zarou's Youniors FC and a separate side from Mario Götze named Vice Versa FC. The seventh team, owned by German esports club G2 Esports and named "G2 Football Club", was announced on 2 April 2025.[45] The final team, Futbolistas Locos FC, was revealed on 11 April. The league has a 20% minority ownership from RTL Group subsidiary We Are Era, with games broadcast on streaming service RTL+ as well as on other platforms.[46]

The German Kings League regular venue is a Cupra Arena at the MMC Studios in Cologne, which has historically been the filming location for RTL programming.

#### Kings World Cup Nations

[edit]

A second international tournament, the Kings World Cup Nations, was announced for 2025, this time with players forming national teams to represent their countries.[47] At the Kings League Italia launch on 18 November, it was announced that Italy would host the tournament, with the final to be held at Juventus Stadium in Turin.[48]

#### Kings World Cup Clubs 2025

[edit]

Before the start of the 2024-2025 season, in an introductory video for the campaign uploaded on 7 September 2024, the 2025 edition of the Kings World Cup, renamed to the Kings World Cup Clubs due to the announcement of Kings World Cup Nations, was announced to happen at the end of the season. Spain would send Porcinos FC, the defending champions of the competition, automatically, alongside four teams from Kings League Spain. They were to be joined by four teams from the Americas Kings League and teams from four then-unknown Kings Leagues, as well as "wildcard" teams from other countries, for a 32-team tournament. The first wildcard team to be announced was on 16 February 2025, being Moroccan side Ultra Chmicha (led by content creator Ilyas El Maliki) after the country's semi-final performance at the 2025 Kings World Cup Nations.[49] France would be announced as the hosts for the competition on 24 March 2025 during the Kings League France team introduction and draft.[50]

On 31 March 2025, more information was known about the 2025 Kings World Cup Clubs. The official team allocations were as follows:

* Kings League Spain (5 teams) - Porcinos FC (defending KWC champions), Jijantes FC (2024 Summer champions), Ultimate Móstoles (2025 Winter champions), Los Troncos FC and xBuyer Team (the 2 best non-qualified teams from aggregate regular season points accumulated from 2024 Summer and 2025 Winter).
* Américas Kings League (4 teams) - Olimpo United (2024 Summer champions), Los Chamos FC (2025 Winter champions), Galácticos del Caribe and Persas FC (the 2 best non-qualified teams from aggregate regular season points accumulated from 2024 Summer and 2025 Winter).
* Kings League Italia (4 teams): TRM FC (2025 Winter champions), FC Zeta (2025 Winter runners-up), GEAR7 and Boomers (Split 1's playoff semi-finalists).
* Kings League Brazil (4 teams): Furia FC (2025 Winter champions), Dendele FC (2025 Winter runners-up), Desimpedidos Goti and Fluxo (Split 1's playoff semi-finalists).
* Kings League France (4 teams) - Panam All Starz (2025 Winter Champions), KARASU (2025 Winter runners-up, Foot2Rue (F2R) and Unit3d (Split 1's playoff semi-finalists).
* Kings League Germany (3 teams) - Futbolistas Locos FC (Winner of the "Road to Paris" qualifying tournament), ERA Colonia (runners-up of "Road to Paris") and G2 FC (invited by Kings League on 15 May after initially missing out in 3rd place).
* Wildcards - 8 teams total: The already-announced Ultra Chmicha, as well as Kunisports (moving from Kings League Spain to Américas Kings League), La Capital CF (chaired by Lamine Yamal and Lautaro del Campo, aka La Cobra, and will replace Kunisports in Kings League Spain) and Miami 7 (an American team with Jake Paul and Adin Ross as chairpersons) were announced on that day.[51]. Returning team Murash and new team Jynxzi FC (another American team with Jynxzi as chairperson) were announced on 15 May, while the returning SXB FC and new club Zaytouna FC (chaired by Congolese artist Gims) were revealed as the final Wildcards before the draw on 26 May.

### 2025/26

[edit]

#### Kings League MENA

[edit]

On 27 May 2025, SURJ Sports Investment, the sports arm of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, and Kings League announced a partnership to launch a new Kings League in the Middle East and North Africa region, which would be officially known as the Kings League MENA. The league is expected to begin play in late 2025 in Saudi Arabia.[52][53]

## Criticism

[edit]

### Format

[edit]

One of the most controversial aspects of the league is its use of secret card rules, which allow teams to draw bonuses such as penalties, goal multipliers, and head-starts before the match begins. The community has decided most of the rules through social media polls.[54][failed verification]

The second matchday featured a mysterious player for the xBuyer Team wearing a lucha libre mask and outfit, known only as "Enigma". There has been speculation that the player could be a famous professional; the identity of Enigma is unknown, with most speculation thinking he may be former Cádiz forward Nano Mesa, a free agent at the time.[55]

La Liga president Javier Tebas has criticized the Kings League, calling it a "circus." Piqué did not rebut this, but defended the league, saying that in order to attract a younger audience, football must create shorter and more entertaining content.[56][57]

### Use of Camp Nou

[edit]

FC Barcelona permitting the Kings League to use its flagship stadium, Camp Nou, for the 2023 Final Four event was criticized, as the Final Four was scheduled to take place on the same weekend as a women's Clásico between FC Barcelona Femení and Real Madrid Femenino. The Kings League prevented the women's Clásico from being able to be played at Camp Nou, something which had sold out the stadium before and which instead had to be played at the much smaller Johan Cruyff Stadium. Criticism of the decision targeted FC Barcelona for prioritizing the Kings League over one of its own teams.[58][59][60]

### Corruption allegations

[edit]

Referee Manuel Titos quit the Kings League after the conclusion of the 2023 Winter Split, posting a statement in which he accused the league's organisers of trying to influence referees' decisions.[61] During a livestream, he presented as evidence for these allegations a clip from a match in which he apparently already knew which secret weapon a team had before it was shown to him.[62]

In response, Kunisports chairman Sergio Agüero defended the league during a live chat with Porcinos FC chairman Ibai Llanos, claiming that Titos had issues behind the scenes with unnamed people from the league organization.[63]

### Player buyouts

[edit]

Exclusivity became a requisite for Kings League players after the conclusion of the second split of the 2023 season, which resulted in some players voluntarily leaving the competition to continue 11-a-side careers, with others choosing to stay. In August 2023, Tercera Federación side FE Grama called for the Kings League to be subjected to formal regulations after Porcinos FC and xBuyer Team triggered the buyout clause of two Grama players, Nadir Louah and Adri Gimeno, who had previously featured in the league, so that they would leave Grama and continue to play exclusively in the Kings League.[64]

## See also

[edit]

* Baller League, a seven-a-side competition in Germany and the United Kingdom

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Steve McCaskill (2 January 2025). ""It's an entirely new ecosystem": How Gerard Pique's Kings League is disrupting the world's most popular sport". SportsPro.
2. ^ "Welcome to the Kings League..." BBC. 1 May 2024.
3. ^ "Reglamento". Kings League (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 January 2023.
4. ^ "KINGS League - Reglamento" (PDF). Kings League (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 January 2023.
5. ^ Pérez, Álvaro (10 November 2022). "Nace Kings League: el torneo de fútbol dirigido por Gerard Piqué, Ibai Llanos, Casillas y muchos otros". Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 November 2022.
6. ^ "Kings League: Capitanes, equipos, formato y como participar en la liga de fútbol 7 de Ibai y Piqué". millenium.gg (in Spanish). 11 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
7. ^ "Jugador 12". Kings League (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 January 2023.
8. ^ "Kings & Queens Reglamento Oficial" [Kings & Queens Official Rules] (PDF). Kings League (in Spanish). 28 March 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
9. ^ a b "Mercado de fichajes de la Kings League: cómo funciona, cláusulas y cuánto dura". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 3 April 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
10. ^ a b "Mercato de fichajes de la Kings y Queens League: cuándo empieza, fechas, cómo funciona y normas". MARCA (in Spanish). 2 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
11. ^ a b Dotras, Oriol (10 November 2022). "Así será la Kings League, el proyecto de Piqué que "quiere cambiar el fútbol", con Casillas y Agüero". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
12. ^ "¿Qué es la Kings League y cómo funciona el negocio de Piqué que está triunfando?". Vozpópuli (in Spanish). 16 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
13. ^ "TV3 farà una nit temàtica dedicada a la final de la Kings League". Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (in Catalan). 13 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
14. ^ "Gerard Piqué llega a Mediaset España: La Kings League InfoJobs y la Queens League Oysho se verán en Cuatro a partir de este fin de semana". El Desmarque (in Spanish). 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
15. ^ "Queens League announced". Twitter (in Spanish). 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
16. ^ "Queens League announced". Relevo (in Spanish). 8 February 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
17. ^ del Río, Marc (24 February 2023). "Todo lo que tienes que saber sobre la Queens League". Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 February 2023.
18. ^ "Prince Cup announced". Diario Sport (in Spanish). 3 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
19. ^ Calvo, Daniel (31 August 2023). "Así hemos vivido la jornada 1 de la Prince Cup Sprinter: Resultados, sorpresas, polémica..." Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 September 2023.
20. ^ Calvo, Daniel (3 September 2023). "Los Troncos, primeros campeones de la historia de la Prince Cup Sprinter: Los príncipes del sufrimiento". Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
21. ^ "Ya puedes descargar el nuevo 'Kings League Fantasy'". Kings League (in Spanish). 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
22. ^ "Neymar will join famous Kings League". Bolavip US. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
23. ^ Salazar, Fernando; Hall, Andy (29 July 2023). "Will Chicharito be named president of the Kings League in Mexico?". Diario AS. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
24. ^ "Tournament". kingsleague.pro. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
25. ^ SER, Cadena (8 March 2024). "Nace la Kings World Cup 2024 con sede en México | Fútbol | Deportes". Cadena SER (in European Spanish). Retrieved 29 September 2024.
26. ^ "Ex-PSG Sensation Joins Kings League as World Cup President". OneFootball. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
27. ^ M, Krishna Prasad (19 March 2024). "Sidelined With Injury, Neymar Jr. Joins Hands With Gerard Pique To Become Part of Kings League". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
28. ^ archysport (18 March 2024). "Mario Götze Joins New Football Project "Kings League" Alongside World Stars Piqué, Neymar, and Ibrahimovic!". Archysport. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
29. ^ "Kings League: Gerard Pique discusses unorthodox football event". BBC Sport. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
30. ^ "SXB FC - SHoNgxBoNg". kingsleague.pro. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
31. ^ "Francesco Totti Returns to Play in Kings World Cup". www.ilmessaggero.it. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
32. ^ "Maluma se une a la Kings League como presidente del Medallo City". Estadio Deportes (in Mexican Spanish). 6 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
33. ^ "Youniors F.C. vs Saiyans FC". kingsleague.pro. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
34. ^ "51.237 personas disfrutan de Maluma y la Final Four del Mundial". kingsleague.pro. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
35. ^ "¡Porcinos, campeón de la Kings World Cup en una final histórica!". kingsleague.pro. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
36. ^ Kings League; Ibrahimović, Zlatan (25 May 2024). "Kings League Italia". YouTube (in Italian and English). Retrieved 27 May 2024.
37. ^ Rotondaro, Vittorio (27 May 2024). "Ibrahimovic presenta la Kings League Italia: aperte le iscrizioni per il Draft (Goal.com Italia)". Goal (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
38. ^ "Kings League Lottomatica.Sport Italy – Acquista subito i biglietti!". TicketOne (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2025.
39. ^ Márquez, Víctor (27 February 2023). "Piqué suelta el 'bombazo': Ronaldinho será el primer propietario de la Kings League en Brasil". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 February 2023.
40. ^ Burton, Chris (1 April 2025). "Neymar sensibly resists urge to take 'penalty from the president' at Kings League Brazil amid injury-enforced absence at Santos". Goal.com. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
41. ^ "Kings League en France. Diffusion TV, équipes… Ce que l'on sait de l'événement présidé". Maville (in French). 10 March 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
42. ^ Kings League France – Presentation & Draft Day (Live-streamed video) (in French). Kings League. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
43. ^ "Kings League France". Kings League. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
44. ^ Ağacı, Evrim. "Gerard Piqué's Kings League Set To Launch In Germany". The Pinnacle Gazette. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
45. ^ Sayal, Rabia (2 April 2025). "G2 Esports enters traditional sports with G2 Football Club". Esports Insider. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
46. ^ "Media giant Bertlesmann buys position in Kings League's German plan". Inside World Football. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
47. ^ Calvo, Daniel (7 October 2024). "Kings World Cup Nations: Estas son las selecciones que disputarán el Mundial de naciones de la Kings League". Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2024.
48. ^ Blázquez Gil, Mario (18 November 2024). "Kings World Cup Nations: El Juventus Stadium será la sede de la final del primer Mundial de Selecciones de la Kings League". Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 November 2024.
49. ^ Alami, Aymen (17 February 2025). "Ilyas El Maliki's 'Ultra Chmicha' Set to Shake Up Kings League". Morocco World News. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
50. ^ "Kings League: France to Host Club World Cup in 2025". Footboom. 26 March 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
51. ^ Gil, Mario Blázquez (31 May 2025). "Jake Paul presenta su equipo para el Mundial de la Kings League en colaboración con Adin Ross". Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 April 2025.
52. ^ "SURJ Sports Investment and Kings League partner to launch Kings League MENA". SURJ Sports. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
53. ^ "Kings League se alía con fondo saudí para lanzar una liga en Oriente Medio y Norte África". Forbes Chile (in Spanish). 28 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
54. ^ "Reglamento". Kings League (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 February 2023.
55. ^ "Who is Enigma, and what is Pique's Kings League?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
56. ^ "Gerard Piqué's New Football League is Being Labelled "A Circus"". Hypebeast. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
57. ^ "The Kings League is a circus... a fun circus in which more than a million people see Ibai, Piqué, Casillas or Kun - Crast.net". 16 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
58. ^ "Otro pelotazo de la Kings League: jugará su Final Four en el Camp Nou". Relevo (in Spanish). 20 January 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
59. ^ "Laporta veta el Clàssic femení per la roda de premsa de la Kings League | Principal.cat". Principal (in Catalan). 24 March 2023.
60. ^ "La final four de la Kings League tanca la porta del tot a un Barça-Madrid al Camp Nou". CCMA (in Catalan). 21 January 2023.
61. ^ "Titos, ex árbitro de la Kings League, deja entrever la corrupción de la liga: "Me negué a que me piten desde arriba"". Cuatro (in Spanish). 30 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
62. ^ "Titos entrega las pruebas de la 'corrupción' en la 'Kings League' de Piqué: "Alguno se piensa que me he caído del árbol"". Cuatro (in Spanish). 31 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
63. ^ "Agüero defiende la transparencia de la King's League de Piqué: "Titos no fue educado ni respetuoso"". Cuatro (in Spanish). 30 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
64. ^ "Guerra entre los clubes modestos y la Kings League: la FE Grama pide que la RFEF regule la competición de Piqué". 20 Minutos (in Spanish). 9 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Official Twitch chanel