Leagues
The league system is the backbone of MFL. Ten divisions, a proper pyramid, and real stakes at every level. This is where your club builds its identity.
The Pyramid
There are 10 divisions. From top to bottom: Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron, Stone, Ice, Spark, Flint. Diamond sits at the peak with just 12 teams in a single league. Each division below roughly doubles the number of leagues, so there's room for everyone.
Every league follows the same format:
- 12 teams per league (standard)
- Double round-robin - you play every opponent twice, once at home and once away
- 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss
Tiebreakers
When teams finish level on points, here's how it shakes out:
| Priority | Tiebreaker |
|---|---|
| 1st | Total points |
| 2nd | Goal difference |
| 3rd | Goals scored |
| 4th | Fair play |
OVR Requirements
Higher divisions demand stronger squads. Each division has a minimum OVR (overall rating) requirement for your starting lineup. You can't just park a weak squad in Diamond and hope for the best. You need the players to back it up. As you climb, the talent bar rises with you.
Promotion and Relegation
At the end of each season, your league position determines what happens next:
- 1st place -- automatically promoted to the division above
- 2nd and 3rd place -- enter Playoffs for a chance at promotion
- 10th, 11th, 12th place -- automatically relegated to the division below
- 9th place -- enters a relegation playoff to fight for survival
- 4th through 8th -- safe, staying put
The system tries to maintain consistency in league assignments season to season, so your club faces familiar opponents. This is how rivalries form, and rivalries are what make a league memorable. When promotion or relegation happens, teams follow a set path. For example, winners of Leagues 1 and 2 move up to League 1 in the division above, winners of Leagues 3 and 4 move up to League 2, and so on.
On average, this produces 1.75 promotions and 3.5 relegations per league. More teams go down than come up, so the upper tiers of the pyramid fill gradually over time.
Consistent Paths and Rivalries
Leagues are structured so that promotion and relegation follow set paths. Clubs face familiar opponents season after season unless they move up or down. This consistency helps build rivalries.
When promotion or relegation happens, teams know exactly which league they're heading to:
- Leagues 1 and 2 in a division promote to League 1 in the division above
- Leagues 3 and 4 promote to League 2 in the division above
- And so on down the line
Relegation follows the same logic in reverse. This creates a clear, predictable path through the pyramid.
Edge Cases
What happens with an odd number of leagues in a division?
In a 1:1 promotion/relegation scenario (one lower league feeding into one upper league), the 2nd-place team from the lower division is automatically promoted with no Direct Playoff. The upper division league also experiences fewer relegations.
What if there aren't enough upper division leagues for all promotions?
Affected lower division leagues still provide promotion opportunities for the top 3 teams. Winners are promoted directly, runners-up play a Direct Playoff against each other, and 3rd-place teams enter the playoff bracket. In some cases, all three top finishers from a league may be promoted directly.
What if there aren't enough lower division leagues for all relegations?
Teams ranked 10th-12th still face relegation, but 9th-place teams are safe (no playoff). To ensure promotions match or exceed relegations, a second chance system ranks all relegated clubs by points per match, goal difference per match, goals scored per match, and fair play. The top-ranked relegated clubs keep their spot in the upper division.
Registration Rules
You must register your club for each season. Miss that window and bad things happen:
- Unregistered clubs are automatically relegated and cannot be listed for sale at their current division's value during the season
- Late registration is possible but comes with a points penalty - you start in the hole
- 5 or more forfeits in a season = you lose all $MFL rewards for that season (though agents still receive their share from player contracts)
- 5 or more starters below 60% energy in your lineup = automatic forfeit for that match
Register on time and keep your squad healthy. Neglect either and you'll pay for it.
Late Registration
If you miss the main registration window, late registration is available until Matchday 5 begins. To qualify, your club must have:
- At least 18 players under contract, including at least 2 goalkeepers
- A valid saved lineup on the tactics page
If there's a league with an odd number of participants in your division, you'll be slotted in and the schedule will be recomputed. If not, you may be offered a spot in the division below instead.
Penalties for late registration:
- A flat 1-point deduction
- An additional 1-point deduction per missed matchday at the time of your request
For example, registering late after Matchday 2 means a 3-point penalty (1 for late registration + 2 for two missed matchdays).
Clubs that do not register at all are placed in a Reserve Pool. Reserve Pool clubs are demoted to the division below and cannot join the main competition until the next season. They can still participate in other events like Rapid Plays and earn up to 50% XP through training.
FAQ
What if an owner has multiple clubs in the same division?
They get placed in different leagues within that division. You'll never face your own club. The system handles this automatically during league assignment. If promotion or relegation would place two clubs from the same owner in the same league, one club is moved to a different league. If that's not possible, the club set to be promoted stays put and the next club in the standings goes up instead.