In June, 32 teams convened in Paris for the second edition of the Kings World Cup Clubs, a seven-a-side football tournament following the innovative Kings League format.
The Kings League was established in 2022 by former Spain international Gerard Piqué. He envisioned it as a `complementary` football experience, prioritizing entertainment above all else. Regardless of the specific competition, the Kings League is noted for its numerous unconventional rules. Matches last 40 minutes, with no draws allowed. Unique rules like unlimited substitutions and a mid-half dice roll can lead to unpredictable moments.
The Kings League is also known for the high-profile figures it attracts for leadership positions. Piqué serves as president of Kings League Spain, while other football icons hold similar roles. The list of presidents includes names like Kaká, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Zlatan Ibrahimović. For this Kings World Cup edition, Neymar and Lamine Yamal are among the team owners.
The Kings World Cup Clubs tournament runs from June 1 to June 14. You can watch all the matches on CBS Sports Golazo Network and YouTube.
Here`s your guide on what to expect before tuning in:
Participating Teams
🇺🇸 Kings League Americas
- Olimpo United: Led by Chicharito (former Real Madrid and Manchester United player).
- Persas FC: Presidents include Zeein and Nicola Porcella.
- Los Chamos FC: Considered a title favorite, led by star duo Juan Cisneros and Genaro Castillo.
- Galácticos del Caribe: Presided over by Futbolitos and Alofoke. Key player: Kevin Cardona.
🇧🇷 Kings League Brazil
- Furia FC: Owned by Neymar and Cris Guedes, among others. Star players: Leleti and Matheus Dedo.
- Fluxo FC: Owned by Cerol and Nobru. The team includes Zé Roberto, former Brazil midfielder.
- Dendele FC: Presidents: Paulinho o Loko and LuquEt4.
- Desimpedidos Goti: Toguro and Yuri22 are the presidents. João Pedro, a World Cup Nations champion, is the star player to watch.
🇫🇷 Kings League France
- F2R: Led by Amine, supported by Samir Nasri and Jérémy Ménez.
- Unit3D: Among the favorites, this team is run by Squeezie, Djilsi, and Maxime.
- Panam All Starz: French champions, 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 former Bundesliga players Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Moritz Leitner.
- G2 Football Club: Owned by Reeze and Rumathra, supported by German streamer Papaplatte.
🇪🇸 Kings League Spain
- Porcinos FC: The reigning 2024 World Cup champions, 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 former Espanyol legend Joan Verdú.
- Ultimate Móstoles: Winners of Kings League Spain, presided over by DjMaRiiO.
- xBuyer Team: Qualified for the tournament in a dramatic finish, formed by the Buyer Brothers.
🇮🇹 Kings League Italy
- TRM FC: Italian champions, owned by TheRealMarzaa. Top performers: Alessandro Colombo and Francesco Caputo.
- Gear 7 FC: President: Manuuxo. Lost star Fran Hernández to injury before the tournament.
- FC Zeta: Led by ZW Jackson and Luca Toni. MVP from the 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, a prominent 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.
Understanding the Rules: Penalties, Cards, and Gameplay
- ⏳ Match Duration: Games are 40 minutes long, divided into two 20-minute halves, plus added stoppage time.
- 🔹 Ball Start: Players line up on their respective goal lines. The match begins when the ball is dropped from a cage suspended above the center of the pitch, prompting a race to gain possession, similar to water polo.
- 🔹 Opening Minutes: The match starts with a 1 vs 1 format (one outfield player plus the goalkeeper per team). Each minute, another player from each side enters the game until the standard 7 vs 7 is reached.
- 🔹 Substitutions: After the five-minute mark, unlimited substitutions are permitted.
- 🔹 Minute 18 – 🎲 Dice Roll: A giant dice is rolled from the stands. The outcome determines the number of players on the pitch for the remaining two minutes of the first half (e.g., 1v1, 2v2, 3v3).
- 🔹 Second Half Start: The second half restarts at 7 vs 7, again beginning with a ball drop.
- 🔹 Final Minutes (38-40): Goals scored during this period count as two (`Double Goal`). If the score is tied at the end of 40 minutes, the match goes to a `Golden Goal` period (first goal wins). If still no winner, a shootout decides the match.
⚽ President`s Penalty: Team presidents have the option to take a penalty shot themselves between the 5th and 18th minutes of the first half and 20th and 38th minutes of the second half. If not taken within these times, it`s triggered automatically before the final `Double Goal` phase. A substitute player can take it if the president is unavailable.
🃏 Secret Cards: Before the match, each coach randomly draws a `Secret Card`. These cards can be played only in the second half, before the 38th minute, and can significantly influence the game`s outcome. The opponent doesn`t know which card is held.
- Double Goal: For four minutes, any goal scored counts as two.
- Opponent Suspension: Forces the opponent to play with one less outfield player for 4 minutes. (Goalkeeper excluded).
- Star Player: Designates one player whose next goal will count as two. The player wears a special armband.
- Midfield Shootout: A player gets a one-on-one chance against the keeper from midfield, with 5 seconds to score. If the keeper touches the ball, it`s a miss.
- Joker: Allows the team to either use any other Secret Card or steal the opponent`s card.
- Standard Penalty: Awards the team a regular penalty kick.
How to Watch the Kings World Cup Clubs Matches
All times U.S./Eastern – matches on CBS Sports Golazo Network and YouTube
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.
