Tournament System
Understanding different tournament formats and how they work
1v1 Formats — Official Wording
League (double round) — 8 players
“Championship — 8 players, 14 matchdays, double round (home & away)”
Groups + Playoffs (single-leg)
“Cup — 2 groups of 4, top 1–2 advance, playoffs single-leg on neutral venue”
Groups + Playoffs (two-leg)
“Tournament — group stage, playoffs decided on aggregate (home & away)”
Playoffs (single-leg)
“Cup — straight knockout, every tie is a single match”
Playoffs (two-leg)
“Playoffs — home & away ties decided on aggregate”
UEFA Champions League style (Swiss + Playoffs)
“Swiss League Phase: 36 players, 8 matches (4 home, 4 away). Places 1–8 advance directly to Round of 16, 9–24 play two-leg play‑in; 25–36 eliminated. Then standard two‑leg playoffs to the final (final — single match).”
Playoff Tiebreak Policy (1v1)
- • Draws are not allowed in playoffs.
- • Single‑leg tie: if the score is a draw — play one more match between the same players and then submit a decisive score into the original tie.
- • Two‑leg tie: if the aggregate is tied — play one more match and then submit a decisive score into the second leg.
- • No away‑goals rule. No ET/penalties are recorded in system; only decisive winner scores are accepted.
Tournament Types Overview
FCPitch offers various tournament formats for 1v1 matches, each designed for different competitive scenarios. Choose the format that best fits your goals and schedule.
🏆 League
Round-robin format where every player plays every other player
⚡ Single Elimination
Knockout format - lose once and you're out
🔄 Double Elimination
Two chances - lose twice and you're eliminated
👥 Group Playoff
Group stage followed by knockout playoffs
🔄 Double League
Two round-robin seasons with playoffs
🏆 League Tournament
The classic round-robin format where every player plays every other player exactly once. Perfect for determining the true champion through comprehensive competition.
How it works:
- • Each player plays every other player once
- • Points: 3 for win, 1 for draw, 0 for loss
- • Player with most points wins
- • Tiebreakers: head-to-head, goal difference
Best for:
- • Determining true champion
- • Long-term competitions
- • Fair comparison of all players
- • 4-8 players recommended
⚡ Single Elimination
The classic knockout format. Lose once and you're out. Fast-paced and exciting, perfect for quick tournaments.
How it works:
- • Bracket format
- • Lose once = eliminated
- • Winner advances to next round
- • Final two teams play for championship
Best for:
- • Quick tournaments
- • High stakes competition
- • Single day events
- • 4, 8, 16, or 32 teams
🔄 Double Elimination
Teams get a second chance! Lose once and you drop to the losers bracket. Lose twice and you're eliminated. More fair than single elimination.
How it works:
- • Winners bracket and losers bracket
- • First loss = drop to losers bracket
- • Second loss = eliminated
- • Grand final between bracket winners
Best for:
- • Fair competition
- • Multiple day tournaments
- • Teams want second chances
- • 8+ teams recommended
👥 Group Playoff
Teams are divided into groups for round-robin play, then the best teams advance to knockout playoffs. Combines the fairness of group play with the excitement of elimination.
How it works:
- • Teams divided into groups
- • Round-robin within each group
- • Top teams advance to playoffs
- • Knockout format for playoffs
Best for:
- • Large tournaments (12+ teams)
- • World Cup style competition
- • Multiple day events
- • Balanced group competition
🔄 Double League
Two complete round-robin seasons followed by playoffs. Teams play each other twice (home and away), then the best teams compete in playoffs.
How it works:
- • Two round-robin seasons
- • Each team plays others twice
- • Combined standings determine playoffs
- • Top teams advance to knockout
Best for:
- • Long-term competitions
- • Professional leagues
- • Fair home/away balance
- • 6-10 teams recommended
Tournament Tips
🎯 Choosing the Right Format
- • Consider your team's schedule
- • Think about tournament duration
- • Match format to team count
- • Consider competitive level
📈 Success Strategies
- • Practice before tournaments
- • Study your opponents
- • Maintain team chemistry
- • Stay focused throughout
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I join a tournament?
A: Tournaments are automatically created for your season. You'll be enrolled in tournaments based on your assigned club when the season starts.
Q: Can I leave a tournament after joining?
A: You're automatically enrolled in tournaments based on your season registration. Once a tournament starts, you cannot leave.
Q: What happens if I don't show up for a match?
A: You'll receive a forfeit loss, and your opponent gets the win. Repeated no-shows may result in tournament disqualification.
Q: How are tournament brackets generated?
A: Brackets are generated automatically based on player Skill Ratings to ensure balanced competition.