Structure

Learn all you need to know about the structure of world football

English Football Promotions and Relegations, 2023-24 Season

May 4, 2024

Which English soccer teams have been promoted and relegated after the 2023-24 season? Who's in the Football League playoffs? Which Premier League teams have made it into Europe? We're going to track everything here until it's all said and done. But first, some quick background. Updated May 27, 2024. Click here to skip the review…

Explained: No More Replays in the FA Cup

April 20, 2024

Now that the Football Association has done away with replays in the FA Cup, many are wondering why and what it means. We'll try to explain it here. The bottom line, as usual, is that it's all about money and power, both of which go together and flow from television. UEFA and the big clubs…

Our New Vodcast Series Is Out Now!

December 19, 2023

The first episode of our new vodcast series "Around the Grounds" has now been released on YouTube. The topic: the FA Cup Third Round. We've launched a new vodcast series on the Groundhopper Guides YouTube account. In the first episode, Brian and Paul dive into what makes the Third Round of the FA Cup so…

Empty stand at Turf Moor, home of Burnley Football Club

English Football Promotions and Relegations, 2022-23 Season

May 28, 2023

Which English soccer teams have been promoted and relegated after the 2022-23 season? Who's in the Football League playoffs? Which Premier League teams have made it into Europe? We're going to track everything here until it's all said and done. But first, some quick background. Final Update: May 29, 2023. Click here to skip the…

wembley stadium filled with fans

What is the Community Shield Game?

December 5, 2022

The FA Community Shield is the traditional opening game of the English football season. But what is the Community Shield, exactly? Who plays in it? And when and where does it happen? Let's break it down. First, the FA is the Football Association, the governing body of English football. They run the FA Cup and…

a group of football supporters in an otherwise empty stadium

What is the Copa del Rey?

November 11, 2022

(Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning Groundhopper Guides may receive some compensation if you make a purchase after clicking one of these links.) The Copa del Rey, or King's Cup, is the domestic cup competition in Spanish football -- the equivalent of the English FA Cup, or the Coppa Italia or…

View of a football game at Bayern Munich from the stands.

Promotion and Relegation in German Football

July 27, 2022

Promotion and relegation in German football is generally similar to English football, but there are some differences. Promotion to the Bundesliga involves a playoff as it does for the Premier League in England, but in Germany, one team must win a relegation playoff to stay up. German Football League Structure As in England, Germany has…

What is the Coppa Italia?

July 27, 2022

The Coppa Italia, or Italian Cup, is the domestic soccer cup competition in Italy. You can think of it as the FA Cup of Italy, but there are some important and interesting differences. Coppa Italia History The Coppa Italia was first played in 1922, but it didn't happen again until 1935. It then ran through…

When and Where is Euro 2024?

July 27, 2022

The 2024 Men's European Championships, known simply as Euro 2024, will be held June 14 to July 14, 2024, in Germany. For some background on the European Championships, read our post about Euro 2020. Which Countries Will Play in UEFA Euro 2024? A total of 24 countries will compete for Euro 2024, including Germany, who…

football fans showing a pregame display and throwing paper in the air

What is the DFB-Pokal?

July 27, 2022

The DFB-Pokal is the domestic cup competition in Germany -- their version of the FA Cup, if you will, but with significant differences. Here's a bit more about this annual competition. Why is it Called DFB-Pokal? Pokal is a German word for cup, and DFB stands for Deutscher Fußball-Bund, or German Football Federation. So a…

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