In June, 32 teams participated in Paris for the second edition of the Kings World Cup Clubs. This is a seven-a-side football tournament structured around the Kings League format.
Created in 2022 by former Spain international Gerard Pique, the Kings League was designed as a `complementary` football experience that puts entertainment first. The Kings League is renowned for its many unconventional rules. Matches are 40 minutes long and must have a decisive winner, with rules like unlimited substitutions and a significant dice roll at the 18th minute adding elements of chaos and excitement.
The Kings League is also notable for the high-profile football figures it attracts to leadership positions. Gerard Pique serves as president of Kings League Spain, while other legendary players such as Kaka, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic hold similar roles. The list of team owners competing in this edition of the Kings World Cup Clubs includes stars like Neymar and Lamine Yamal.
The Kings World Cup Clubs tournament featured teams from various regions and wild cards. Here`s a look at the participating clubs and some of the key matches from the first round, along with the unique rules governing the competition.
Participating Teams
🇺🇸 Kings League Americas
- Olimpo United: Presided by Chicharito (ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United).
- Persas FC: Presidents include Zeein and Nicola Porcella.
- Los Chamos FC: One of the favorites for the title, led by star duo Juan Cisneros and Genaro Castillo.
- Galácticos del Caribe: Presided by Futbolitos and Alofoke. Star player: Kevin Cardona.
🇧🇷 Kings League Brazil
- Furia FC: Neymar and Cris Guedes among owners. Star players: Leleti and Matheus Dedo.
- Fluxo FC: Owned by Cerol and Nobru. The team includes Zé Roberto, ex-Brazil midfielder.
- Dendele FC: Presidents: Paulinho o Loko and LuquEt4.
- Desimpedidos Goti: Toguro and Yuri22 are the presidents. João Pedro, a World Cup Nations champ, is the star player to watch.
🇫🇷 Kings League France
- F2R: Led by Amine and supported by Samir Nasri and Jérémy Ménez.
- Unit3D: Among the favorites, this team is run by Squeezie, Djilsi and Maxime.
- Panam All Starz: French champs, backed by Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jules Koundé and Mike Maignan.
- Karasu: Owned by Kameto and coached by Sabry Bezahaf. Top performer: Matisse Henry.
🇩🇪 Kings League Germany
- Futbolistas Locos FC: Presidents include Chefstrobel, Kubaboiii and Kenan Yıldız (Juventus).
- Era Colonia: Features ex-Bundesliga players Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Moritz Leitner.
- G2 Football Club: Owned by Reeze and Rumathra and supported by German streamer Papaplatte.
🇪🇸 Kings League Spain
- Porcinos FC: The reigning 2024 World Cup champions are chaired by Ibai Llanos and Guanyar.
- Jijantes FC: One of the most popular teams in the Kings League universe, formed by sports journalist Gerard Romero.
- Los Troncos FC: Captained by ex-Espanyol legend Joan Verdú.
- Ultimate Móstoles: Winners of Kings League Spain, presided by DjMaRiiO.
- xBuyer Team: Snuck into the tourney on last-minute drama. Formed by the Buyer Brothers.
🇮🇹 Kings League Italy
- TRM FC: Italian champs, owned by TheRealMarzaa. Top performers: Alessandro Colombo and Francesco Caputo.
- Gear 7 FC: President: Manuuxo. Lost star Fran Hernández to injury pre-tournament.
- FC Zeta: Led by ZW Jackson and Luca Toni. MVP from first split: Matteo Perrotti (25 goals).
- Boomers: President: Fedez. Qualified via a dramatic double penalty goal from Simone Lo Faso.
🌍 Wild Card teams
- Kunisports: Kun Agüero`s squad returns as a fan favorite.
- La Capital CF: Team associated with Lamine Yamal makes its first KWCC appearance.
- Miami 7: Presidents include Jake Paul and Adin Ross, bringing American flair.
- Ultra Chmicha: Led by Ilyas El Maliki, big streamer from Morocco.
- Murash FC: Owned by Japanese streamer Junichi Kato.
- Jynxzi FC: Jynxzi, a massive U.S. Twitch creator, presides over the team.
- SXB FC: Run by Saudi creator SHoNgxBоNg.
- Zaytouna FC: Owned by global music star Gims.
Rules, president penalties and secret cards:
- ⏳ Game duration: Matches last 40 minutes, divided into two 20-minute halves with added stoppage time.
- 🔹 Ball drop: Similar to water polo, players line up on their goal lines and race to midfield as the ball is dropped from above.
- 🔹 First five minutes: Begins as 1 vs. 1 (one outfield player plus goalkeeper). Every minute, one additional player joins from each team until reaching seven vs. seven.
- 🔹 After minute five: Unlimited substitutions are allowed.
- 🔹 Minute 18 — 🎲 Dice roll: A dice is rolled from the stands, determining the number of players per team (1 vs. 1, 2 vs. 2, or 3 vs. 3) for the final two minutes of the first half.
- 🔹 Second half: Starts again as seven vs. seven, with the ball dropped from the cage.
- 🔹 Minutes 38-40: If the score is tied, a Double Goal rule applies, meaning all goals scored in this period count as two. If still tied after minute 40, the match moves to a Golden Goal phase, where the first team to score wins instantly. If no goal is scored during Golden Goal, a shootout decides the winner.
⚽ President penalties: Team presidents have the option to take a penalty kick during specific periods (minutes 5-18 in the first half and 20-38 in the second half). If a president doesn`t take their penalty before the 38th minute, it is automatically triggered just before the Double Goal or Golden Goal phase. A substitute player can take the penalty if the president is unavailable.
🃏 Secret cards: Before the match, each coach randomly selects a secret card. This card can only be used in the second half before the 38th minute. Cards are kept hidden from the opponent until played and can significantly influence the game`s outcome.
- Double Goal: Any goal scored for four minutes counts as two.
- Suspension: The opponent must remove one chosen outfield player for 4 minutes.
- Star Player: The coach designates a player whose first goal scored will count as two. This player wears a special armband.
- Shootout: One player attempts to score from midfield against the goalkeeper within 5 seconds. A touch by the keeper counts as a miss.
- Joker: Allows the team to use any other secret card or steal the opponent`s secret card.
- Penalty: Awards the team a standard penalty kick.
First Round Results & Fixtures
Here are some results from the initial matches:
- Sunday, June 1
- F2R 5, Murash 3
- Desimpedidos Goti 5, Zaytouna 3
- FC Zeta 5, Olimpo United 2
- Ultra Chmicha 4, Panam All Starz 5
- Galácticos del Caribe 5, ERA Colonia 4
- G2 Football Club 1, Ultimate Móstoles 3
- Furia FC 8, Kunisports 4
- Porcinos FC 5, Miami 7 4
- Monday, June 2
- Fluxo FC 6, Futbolistas Locos FC 3
- Boomers 4, Unit3d 9
- SXB FC 4, Jijantes 5
- Persas FC 2, La Capital CF 1
- Tuesday, June 3
- Los Troncos FC vs. TRM FC, 1 p.m.
- Gear 7 FC vs. KARASU, 2 p.m.
- xBuyer Team vs. Los Chamos FC, 3 p.m.
- Dendele FC vs. Jynxzi FC, 4 p.m.
