Soccer tournament formats explained: round robin, groups and knockouts
Updated October 25, 2026
The format decides how many matches every team plays, how long the day lasts and how disappointed the losing teams feel at lunchtime. Here is how the common formats work, what each one costs in field time, and when to use it.
Round robin (everyone plays everyone)
Every team plays every other team once. It is the fairest format and guarantees the most games, but the match count grows quickly: n teams play n × (n − 1) ÷ 2 matches.
| Teams | Matches | Games per team |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | 10 | 4 |
| 6 | 15 | 5 |
| 8 | 28 | 7 |
Groups, then knockouts
Split the teams into small round-robin groups, then send the top one or two from each group into quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final. Sixteen teams in four groups of four play 24 group matches, then 7 knockout matches if two go through from each group. Every team is guaranteed three games, and the day still ends with a final.
Pair group winners with runners-up from another group in the first knockout round so teams from the same group do not meet again straight away.
Straight knockout
Lose and you are out. It needs the fewest matches — a team count minus one — but half the teams go home after one game, which is hard on young players who travelled for the day. If the number of teams is not a power of two (8, 16, 32), some teams get a bye into the second round.
Plate, shield and placement matches
Give knocked-out teams something to play for. Teams that finish third and fourth in their groups go into a plate (or shield) competition with its own knockout and final, and everyone plays the same number of games. Placement matches (5th v 6th, and so on) do the same job for a single bracket.
Festivals for the youngest players
Many associations want the youngest age groups to play in festivals: lots of short games, no league tables and often no published results. The idea is maximum playing time and no elimination. Check your country’s rules below before you plan a cup for under-10s.
Official formats by age in the US
US Soccer’s Player Development Initiatives set these small-sided formats. From 2026-27 most youth bodies use an August 1–July 31 age year.
| Age group | Format |
|---|---|
| U8 and younger | 4v4 |
| U9–U10 | 7v7 |
| U11–U12 | 9v9 |
| U13 and older | 11v11 |
Rules, lead times and fees vary by county, district and region, and they change. Check the current rules with your own association before you book anything.
Which format should you choose?
Test any of these in the schedule maker to see the match count and how long the day will run on your fields.
- Up to six teams in an age group: a single round robin.
- Eight to sixteen teams: groups of four, then knockouts, plus a plate for the teams that go out.
- Large fields with little time: groups of three or four, then a straight knockout from the quarter-finals.
- The youngest age groups: a festival with rotating opponents and no table.
Common questions
How many matches does a round robin need?
n × (n − 1) ÷ 2, where n is the number of teams: 6 for four teams, 10 for five, 15 for six and 28 for eight.
What is a plate competition?
A second competition for teams knocked out of the main one — usually the teams that finish lower in their groups — so they keep playing for a trophy.
What happens with an odd number of teams?
In a round robin, one team sits out each round. In a knockout, some teams get a bye into the next round so the remaining field is 4, 8 or 16.