Competitions
This section covers the different competitions in the game, including international club competitions and national team competitions. But first, let's go over the basics.
Each nation's league is made up of one or more divisions, structured as follows:
- 1 First division
- 2 Second divisions
- 8 Third divisions
- 32 Fourth divisions
- 64 Fifth divisions
- … and so on
Each division contains 12 clubs. If there aren't enough human-managed teams to fill a division, bot-controlled clubs are used as placeholders.
General Rules for All Competitions
- Tactics and formation must be submitted at least 1 hour before kick-off.
- A team can use its submitted tactics/formation if it is considered legal (see Basic Rules), and if at least 8 outfield players plus a goalkeeper are present in the formation.
- If fewer than 8 outfield players + 1 goalkeeper are available, the team is assigned a random 4-4-2 bot formation.
- If the club does not have at least 9 players available, the match is automatically awarded as a 3-0 win to the opposition.
- If neither team can field at least 9 players, the game is registered as VOID (no points are awarded and no one progresses if it's a cup match).
Senior League Competition
The senior league is arguably the most important competition for any manager. It's where strategies are tested, rivalries are forged, and reputations are made. Every week is a new challenge as you strive to become the best in the nation.
League Competition Rules
If two or more teams have the same number of points, their position on the table is determined using the following criteria, in order:
- Goal difference
- Goals scored (Goals For)
- Goals conceded (Goals Against)
- Head-to-head results between the clubs in question
- Total number of victories during the season
- First better result (chronologically)
- Random draw
Relegation and Promotion
First Division:
- The last 3 teams are relegated to the Second Divisions.
- The first and second placed teams qualify for international competitions.
Second Divisions:
- The last 4 teams are relegated to the Third Division.
- The first placed team earns automatic promotion to the First Division.
- The two second placed teams play a promotion play-off for a spot in the First Division.
Third Divisions:
- The last 4 teams are relegated to the Fourth Division.
- The first placed team is promoted to the Second Division.
Fourth Divisions:
- The last 4 teams are relegated to the Fifth Division.
- The first placed team is promoted to the Third Division.
Fifth Divisions and Lower:
- The last 4 teams are relegated to the next lower division.
- The first and second placed teams are promoted to the higher division.
End of season prize money
| First Division | Second Division | Third Division | |||
| Pos | Money | Pos | Money | Pos | Money |
| 1. | 3.000.000 £ | 1. | 2.200.000 £ | 1. | 1.500.000 £ |
| 2. | 2.500.000 £ | 2. | 1.800.000 £ | 2. | 850.000 £ |
| 3. | 2.000.000 £ | 3. | 1.400.000 £ | 3. | 760.000 £ |
| 4. | 1.800.000 £ | 4. | 1.200.000 £ | 4. | 670.000 £ |
| 5. | 1.600.000 £ | 5. | 1.000.000 £ | 5. | 580.000 £ |
| 6. | 1.400.000 £ | 6. | 800.000 £ | 6. | 490.000 £ |
| 7. | 1.200.000 £ | 7. | 600.000 £ | 7. | 400.000 £ |
| 8. | 1.000.000 £ | 8. | 400.000 £ | 8. | 310.000 £ |
| 9. | 800.000 £ | 9. | 300.000 £ | 9. | 220.000 £ |
| 10. | 400.000 £ | 10. | 200.000 £ | 10. | 130.000 £ |
| 11. | 250.000 £ | 11. | 100.000 £ | 11. | 70.000 £ |
| 12. | 100.000 £ | 12. | 50.000 £ | 12. | 35.000 £ |
| Fourth Division | Fifth Division | Sixth Division | |||
| Pos | Money | Pos | Money | Pos | Money |
| 1. | 1.100.000 £ | 1. | 950.000 £ | 1. | TBA |
| 2. | 600.000 £ | 2. | 540.000 £ | 2. | TBA |
| 3. | 540.000 £ | 3. | 480.000 £ | 3. | TBA |
| 4. | 480.000 £ | 4. | 430.000 £ | 4. | TBA |
| 5. | 420.000 £ | 5. | 380.000 £ | 5. | TBA |
| 6. | 360.000 £ | 6. | 330.000 £ | 6. | TBA |
| 7. | 300.000 £ | 7. | 280.000 £ | 7. | TBA |
| 8. | 240.000 £ | 8. | 230.000 £ | 8. | TBA |
| 9. | 180.000 £ | 9. | 170.000 £ | 9. | TBA |
| 10. | 120.000 £ | 10. | 110.000 £ | 10. | TBA |
| 11. | 60.000 £ | 11. | 50.000 £ | 11. | TBA |
| 12. | 30.000 £ | 12. | 25.000 £ | 12. | TBA |
National Cup Competition
A knockout competition where even smaller clubs have a chance to earn glory.
Rules
- All clubs in the league participate in the cup competition.
- Each round is a single-elimination match—only one game is played per round.
- A game is played without any home advantage
- Fixtures are determined by a random draw—there are no seeded teams.
- A new draw is made for each round of the competition.
- The winner of each match advances to the next round.
- A minimum rating bonus is awarded only to the winning club, not the losing one.
Prize Money
| Round Reached | Money | Min Rating |
| Winner | 2.500.000 £ | 12 |
| 2. place | 1.500.000 £ | |
| Semifinal | 1.000.000 £ | 9 |
| Quarterfinal | 500.000 £ | 6 |
| Last 16 | 200.000 £ | 4 |
| Last 32 | 100.000 £ | 2 |
| Last 64 | 50.000 £ | 1 |
| Last 128 | 25.000 £ | 1 |
Money is distributed at the end of the season (usually in the last week of the pre-season)
International Club Competitions
There are two international club competitions:
- Champions Cup – contested by the previous season's league champions.
- Challenge Cup – contested by the previous season's league runners-up and national cup winners.
If the national cup winner is already playing in the Champions or Challenge Cup, the cup runner-up takes their place in the Challenge Cup. If both the cup winner and runner-up are already in the international competitions (as league champion and runner-up), then the third-placed team from the league is selected instead.
All matches are played as single-leg knockout rounds on neutral ground.
Prize Money
| Champions Cup | Challenge Cup | ||||
| Round Reached | Money | Min Rating | Round Reached | Money | Min Rating |
| Winner | 6.000.000 £ | 36 | Winner | 3.500.000 £ | 24 |
| 2. place | 4.000.000 £ | 2. place | 2.500.000 £ | ||
| Semifinal | 2.000.000 £ | 27 | Semifinal | 1.400.000 £ | 18 |
| Quarterfinal | 1.500.000 £ | 18 | Quarterfinal | 1.100.000 £ | 12 |
| Last 16 | 900.000 £ | 12 | Last 16 | 800.000 £ | 8 |
| Last 32 | 600.000 £ | 6 | Last 32 | 500.000 £ | 4 |
| Last 64 | N/A | 3 | Last 64 | 200.000 £ | 2 |
| Last 128 | N/A | 3 | Last 128 | N/A | 2 |
Money is distributed at the end of the season (usually in the last week of the pre-season).
National Team Competitions
Each nation has four national teams, divided by age:
- Under-17
- Under-19
- Under-21
- Senior National Team (no age limit)
National team competitions begin with the World Cup qualification phase, which takes place during the season, and conclude with the World Cup itself, played in the preseason.
World Cup qualifiers are played over two legs — home and away — while all World Cup matches are held on neutral ground.
Youth Competition
Youth League
Youth teams compete in the same division tier as their senior squads. This means that if the senior team is promoted or relegated, the youth team follows accordingly. However, this is only a structural link — from a competition perspective, there is no practical difference between youth teams playing in lower or higher divisions. The league tier name may change, but the youth competition itself remains the same.
The primary benefit of the youth league is match experience. Each youth player can earn up to 100 experience points from participating in youth matches. In addition, youth games offer exposure — standout performances can earn players a bonus rating point due to increased visibility and recognition from fans, managers, and scouts.
Rules- Youth players must be 18 years old or younger
- The youth league consists of 11 matchdays
- All games are played on neutral ground (no home advantage)
- Tickets to youth league matches are free
- Loaned players are not eligible to play for youth teams
| Pos | Money | Rating GKs | Rating DFs | Rating MFs | Rating FWs |
| 1. | 350.000 £ | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 2. | 300.000 £ | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 3. | 250.000 £ | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 4. | 225.000 £ | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 5. | 200.000 £ | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 6. | 175.000 £ | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 7. | 150.000 £ | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 8. | 125.000 £ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 9. | 100.000 £ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10. | 75.000 £ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 11. | 50.000 £ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 12. | 25.000 £ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
The numbers shown in the “Ratings” columns represent how many players in each category are eligible to receive a potential bonus rating point. These points are awarded randomly, and no player can receive more than one. Only players who meet the following criteria are considered for the bonus:
- Their current rating is below 14
- They are part of the youth team at the time the bonus is calculated
Youth Cup
This competition is played between the previous season's divisional youth league winners. It takes place during the first part of the season and follows a single-elimination format — each round is decided in a single match, played on neutral ground (no home advantage).
The winners of the Youth Cup qualify for the International Youth Cup later in the season.
| Round Reached | Money |
| Winner | 500.000 £ |
| 2. place | 350.000 £ |
| Semifinal | 200.000 £ |
| Quarterfinal | 150.000 £ |
| Last 16 | 100.000 £ |
| Last 32 | 50.000 £ |
| Last 64 | 5.000 £ |
| Last 128 | 2.500 £ |
International Youth Cup
This prestigious tournament takes place in the second half of the season and features the youth cup winners from every nation in the Dugout-Online world.
Just like the Youth Cup, the International Youth Cup follows a knockout format — each round is decided in a single match, played on neutral ground with no home advantage.
| Round Reached | Money |
| Winner | 1.000.000 £ |
| 2. place | 850.000 £ |
| Semifinal | 650.000 £ |
| Quarterfinal | 450.000 £ |
| Last 16 | 250.000 £ |
| Last 32 | 50.000 £ |
| Last 64 | 25.000 £ |
| Last 128 | 5.000 £ |
As an additional reward, both finalists receive bonus rating points for their players. The winning team is awarded 6 rating points, randomly distributed among its players, while the runner-up receives 3 rating points, also randomly distributed.