Groups then a knockout, or a knockout only?
Groups first means every team gets at least two or three games, even the ones that lose their first. That's the format most one-day tournaments use, and the one to pick when people have paid to play. A knockout on its own is quicker and needs fewer pitches, but half the teams go home after one game.
Groups are dealt in the order you type the teams, like seeding pots: the first team goes into Group A, the second into Group B, and so on. Put your strongest teams first and they start in different groups.
- Groups of four are the usual size: three games each, and a group is done in three rounds.
- Top two through: each winner meets a runner-up from another group first. With 2, 4 or 8 groups, two teams from the same group can't meet again until the final.
- Not a power of two? The bracket is padded with byes, and the byes go to the top seeds.
How many games is that?
Worth knowing before you book pitches. Group games plus knockout games, top two through from each group:
- 8 teams in 2 groups of 4: 12 group games and 3 knockout games, 15 in all.
- 12 teams in 3 groups of 4: 18 group games and 5 knockout games, 23 in all (2 byes in the first knockout round).
- 16 teams in 4 groups of 4: 24 group games and 7 knockout games, 31 in all.
- 24 teams in 6 groups of 4: 36 group games and 11 knockout games, 47 in all (4 byes in the first knockout round).
Running it on the day
Short games keep a tournament moving: ten minutes each way is plenty for 5-a-side, with a couple of minutes between games. Play every group's first round at once if you have the pitches, and agree before the first game how ties in a group are settled (goal difference, then goals scored, then head to head, then a penalty shootout).
Just want everyone to play everyone? The fixture generator makes a round-robin and a league table. Need names for the teams? Try the team name generator.
If the same group plays every week once the tournament's over, Squadcard handles who's in, picks fair teams and lets everyone rate everyone after the game.
Start a squadQuestions
Is the tournament generator free?
Yes. No sign-up and nothing to install. Your teams and scores stay in your browser.
How many teams can I put in?
From 4 to 32. Groups need at least 6 teams, so with 4 or 5 it's a knockout, or use the fixture generator for a round-robin.
How are the groups drawn?
In the order you type the teams: first team to Group A, second to Group B and so on, round again. List your strongest teams first to keep them apart, or shuffle the list for a random draw.
What happens with an odd number in the knockout?
The bracket is padded to the next 4, 8, 16 or 32 with byes, and the top seeds get them: they go straight into the next round.
Can teams from the same group meet again in the knockout?
With 2, 4 or 8 groups and the top two through, not until the final: each group winner plays a runner-up from another group, and the bracket keeps each group's two qualifiers in opposite halves.