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What is the English League Cup?
What is the League Cup, also known as the EFL Cup or Carabao Cup? There are a lot of things about English soccer that are unfamiliar for the American fan, starting with the fact that the Premier League is only one of several competitions going on during the season. We have a guide to all…
English Football Promotions and Relegations, 2024-25 Season
Which English soccer teams have been promoted and relegated after the 2024-25 season? Who's in the Football League playoffs? Which Premier League teams will make it into Europe? We're going to track everything here until it's all said and done. But first, some quick background. Updated June 3, 2025, with everything all set! Click here…
What is the Community Shield Game?
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…
What is the Football League Trophy, or EFL (Vertu) Trophy?
Here's an introduction to the Football League Trophy, also known as the EFL (Vertu) Trophy. English soccer has many tournaments, including the FA Cup and the League Cup, aka the EFL Cup. Both of those are considered lesser competitions than the actual league season, especially for the clubs in the Premier League and the Championship,…
English Football Promotions and Relegations, 2023-24 Season
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
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!
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…
English Football Promotions and Relegations, 2022-23 Season
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…
What is the Copa del Rey?
(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…
What is the Coppa Italia?
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…
