Soccer
What is the Kings League? Everything you need to know about Gerard Pique's football league
The Kings League has become one of football's biggest success stories in recent years, attracting millions of viewers with its unique blend of seven-a-side football, innovative rules and celebrity team owners.
Created by former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Piqué, the competition combines traditional football with entertainment, introducing concepts such as Secret Cards, rolling substitutions and one-on-one shootouts to create a faster, less predictable version of the game.
Since launching in Spain in 2022, the Kings League has expanded internationally and now features competitions across Europe and the Americas, while also staging the Kings World Cup and Kings World Cup Nations.
Here's everything you need to know about the Kings League.
What is the Kings League?
The Kings League is a professional seven-a-side football competition founded by Gerard Piqué and Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos.
Designed to appeal to a younger audience, the competition combines football with elements inspired by esports and online entertainment, creating a fast-paced spectacle built for streaming and social media.
Unlike traditional football leagues, the Kings League places just as much emphasis on fan engagement as it does on the action on the pitch, with matches featuring unique rules that can dramatically change the course of a game.
Today, the competition has expanded beyond Spain into several international markets and continues to grow its global audience.
Who founded the Kings League?
The Kings League was founded in 2022 by former Barcelona, Manchester United and Spain defender Gerard Piqué.
Following his retirement from professional football, Piqué set out to create a competition that reflected how younger audiences consume sport.
Working alongside one of Spain's biggest content creators, Ibai Llanos, Piqué developed a format that combines football with live entertainment, digital-first broadcasts and interactive features.
The competition has since become one of the fastest-growing football properties in the world, with millions tuning in across streaming platforms and social media.
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How does the Kings League format work?
The Kings League follows a league-and-playoff format.
Teams compete against one another during the regular season, earning points to determine the standings before the highest-ranked sides advance to the knockout stages.
The play-offs ultimately decide the league champion, with every match played under the competition's distinctive rules, including Secret Cards and one-on-one shootouts.
As the Kings League has grown, it has expanded beyond its domestic competitions to include international tournaments.
The Kings World Cup sees club teams from Kings League competitions around the world compete against one another, while the Kings World Cup Nations replaces clubs with national teams. Players represent their countries while continuing to play under the Kings League's unique seven-a-side format and innovative rules.
How many teams are in the Kings League?
The original Kings League in Spain features 12 teams, each led by a high-profile president.
As the competition has expanded internationally, new leagues have adopted similar formats, although the exact number of teams can vary depending on the competition.
Rather than representing traditional football clubs, Kings League teams are independent organisations built around their presidents, who are often former footballers, streamers or online personalities.
What are the Kings League rules?
While football remains at the heart of the competition, several unique rules separate the Kings League from the traditional game.
These innovations are designed to create more goals, more drama and more unpredictable matches.
- Seven-a-side football
Every team fields seven players instead of the traditional 11.
The smaller pitch and reduced number of players create more attacking opportunities and ensure the ball remains in play more frequently.
- Matches begin differently
Rather than kicking off with all seven players on the pitch, games begin with one player from each team contesting possession before additional players gradually enter the field at timed intervals until both sides have seven players.
The unusual opening creates frantic starts unlike anything seen in traditional football.
- Unlimited substitutions
Teams can make rolling substitutions throughout the match.
This allows coaches to maintain a high tempo and constantly change tactics without worrying about exhausting their substitution allocation.
- One-on-one shootouts
If a knockout match ends level, the winner is determined by one-on-one shootouts rather than traditional penalties.
Players start with the ball around halfway before attempting to beat the goalkeeper within a limited time, creating a dramatic finale that rewards both skill and composure.
- What are Secret Cards in the Kings League?
Perhaps the Kings League's most famous innovation is the Secret Card system.
Before each match, every team receives a randomly selected Secret Card that can be activated during the game.
Depending on the card drawn, teams may receive one of several advantages, including:
- A penalty kick.
- A one-on-one shootout.
- A temporary extra player.
- Double-value goals for a limited period.
- The opportunity to steal an opponent's Secret Card.
Because neither team knows which card the opposition holds, every match contains an additional tactical element that can transform the game in an instant.
What is Matchball Mode?
Towards the end of Kings League matches, the competition introduces Matchball Mode.
During this period, goals can carry increased value depending on the match rules in use, meaning teams are rarely out of contention until the final whistle.
The concept is designed to keep matches competitive for longer and create dramatic finishes, even when one side appears to be comfortably ahead.
How long are Kings League matches?
Kings League matches are significantly shorter than traditional football games.
Rather than lasting 90 minutes, fixtures are played over two 20-minute halves.
The shorter format encourages high-intensity football while making matches easier to watch for digital audiences.
Combined with the league's unique rules, the reduced playing time helps ensure games remain fast-paced from start to finish.
Who owns the Kings League teams?
One of the Kings League's defining features is that every club is led by a high-profile president, with many coming from the worlds of football, streaming and online entertainment.
Who owns the Kings League teams?
Rather than traditional club owners, each Kings League side is led by a high-profile president from the worlds of football, streaming or entertainment.
Some of the best-known team presidents include:
- Sergio Agüero – President of Kunisports
- Iker Casillas – President of 1K FC
- Ibai Llanos – President of Porcinos FC
- TheGrefg – President of Saiyans FC
- DjMaRiiO – President of Ultimate Móstoles
- Perxitaa – President of Los Troncos FC
- Rivers – President of PIO FC
- Gerard Romero – President of Jijantes FC
- Juan Guarnizo – President of Aniquiladores FC
- Spursito – President of Rayo de Barcelona
- xBuyer – President of xBuyer Team
Which famous players have played in the Kings League?
The Kings League has attracted numerous former professional footballers alongside amateur players selected through the league's draft.
Some of the biggest names to appear include:
- Ronaldinho – The Brazilian icon made a guest appearance for Porcinos FC, becoming one of the competition's biggest early attractions.
- Andrea Pirlo – The former Italy and Juventus midfielder featured as a special guest player.
- Javier "Chicharito" Hernández – The former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker has appeared in Kings League competitions.
- Joan Capdevila – Spain's 2010 FIFA World Cup winner has competed after retiring from professional football.
- Pablo Hernández – Former Leeds United and Spain midfielder has also featured.
- Javi Espinosa – The former Barcelona academy graduate and La Liga midfielder has been a regular competitor.
- Alberto Bueno – Former Rayo Vallecano, Porto and Spain youth international striker.
Alongside former professionals, every Kings League season also features players selected through a draft, giving lesser-known footballers the opportunity to compete alongside established stars and in front of a global audience.
Where can I watch the Kings League?
The Kings League is available to watch live on DAZN in most international markets.
DAZN holds the broadcast rights in territories worldwide, with the exception of Brazil, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Portugal, the United States, the Caribbean, Central America, Latin America, South America and Israel, where local broadcast arrangements apply.
Fans in eligible territories can watch every match live through the DAZN app or at DAZN.com, available on smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets, streaming devices, games consoles and web browsers.
If you don't already have the DAZN app:
- Download the free DAZN app from your device's app store.
- Or visit DAZN.com in your web browser.
- Sign in or create a free DAZN account.
- Search for Kings World Cup Nations to start watching live coverage.
