Structure

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

What is the English League Cup?

June 21, 2025

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…

football fans holding up red and white placards in a display

English Football Promotions and Relegations, 2024-25 Season

May 26, 2025

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…

wembley stadium filled with fans

What is the Community Shield Game?

May 19, 2025

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?

February 19, 2025

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

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…

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…

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…

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