Fantasy Premier League

FPL basics: Leagues and cups

By The Scout 29 Jun 2023
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The Scout outlines all you need to know on classic and head-to-head mini-leagues and the FPL Cup

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FPL basics: What is FPL and how to play
FPL basics: How to pick a squad
FPL basics: Scoring points

After creating their squad in Fantasy Premier League, managers will automatically be allocated to global leagues, but it is easy to join and create "mini-leagues" to compete with friends, colleagues and others across the world.

New managers are automatically entered into the following global leagues:

  • Overall league featuring all registered teams
  • League for fellow managers from your country
  • League for supporters of your favourite Premier League team
  • League for managers starting the same Gameweek as you

Private leagues are where you compete against your friends. Just create a league and then send out the unique code to allow your friends to join.

You can compete in up to 25 private leagues. There is no limit on the number of teams in a single league.

See: Create an FPL mini-league

Managers can also join a public league of 20 randomly assigned teams. You can compete in up to three public leagues.

Head-to-head leagues

As well as the "Classic" mini-league, creating a "Head-to-Head mini-league" adds an extra level of enjoyment to FPL.

In "Head-to-Head", managers play directly against another team in the league each Gameweek.

The match result is based on the Gameweek score of each team minus any transfer points spent preparing for the Gameweek.

Three points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw. Teams are then ranked on points earned in Head-to-Head matches.

This format, in particular, can add an extra edge to rivalries and ramp up the competition. Managers only therefore need to beat their opponent to have a successful Gameweek. 

Overall FPL Cup

Managers are also automatically entered into the overall FPL Cup, which starts midway through the season.

For example, the top-scoring 8,388,608 managers will enter the first round of the cup.

How it works

Each qualifying team will be randomly drawn against another in the first round. The team with the highest Gameweek score minus any transfer points will progress to the second round and another random draw, the losers are out!

This process continues until the final Gameweek when the two remaining teams contest the final.

Also in this series

Part 1: What is FPL?
Part 2: How to pick a squad
Part 3: Managing your team
Part 4: How to make transfers
Part 5: How FPL points are scored
Part 6: How to use chips
Part 8: How to use the statistics menu

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