Football for beginners
Eight plain-language guides to the game itself: the rules, offside, VAR, how long a match lasts, extra time and penalties, how tables and the Champions League work, and what stats like xG really mean.
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Part 1 · The game
- Lesson 1 of 8 · 6 min readFootball rules for beginners: the basics explained simplyFootball rules for beginners: 11 v 11, the pitch, how goals count, throw-ins, corners, fouls, free kicks, penalties, yellow and red cards and five subs.
- Lesson 2 of 8 · 6 min readOffside rule explained: Law 11 in plain EnglishThe offside rule explained simply: offside position, the second-last opponent, when it is an offence, and when you can't be offside (throw-ins, corners).
- Lesson 3 of 8 · 5 min readWhat is VAR in football? How video review worksWhat is VAR in football: the situations it can review, the "clear and obvious error" test, on-field reviews, semi-automated offside and the 2026/27 changes.
- Lesson 4 of 8 · 5 min readHow long is a soccer game? Football match length explainedHow long is a football match? 2 × 45 minutes, a 15-minute break, stoppage time (and why it got longer), youth games, and what "90 minutes" means for bets.
- Lesson 5 of 8 · 6 min readExtra time and penalties rules: how knockout ties are decidedExtra time and penalties explained: when extra time is played, 2 × 15 minutes, the shoot-out, sudden death, and how bets settle on 90 minutes vs to qualify.
Part 2 · Competitions & stats
- Lesson 6 of 8 · 5 min readHow league tables work: points, tiebreakers and promotionHow football league tables work: 3 points for a win, tiebreakers (goal difference vs head-to-head), promotion, relegation, play-offs and European places.
- Lesson 7 of 8 · 5 min readChampions League format explained: league phase to finalChampions League format explained: 36 clubs in one league phase, 8 matches each, top 8 to the round of 16, 9–24 to a play-off, 25–36 out, two-legged knockouts.
- Lesson 8 of 8 · 6 min readWhat is xG in football? Expected goals and key stats explainedWhat is xG in football? Expected goals, xGA, xG difference and xA with examples, what a 0.76 xG chance means, and how to use stats for over/under and BTTS.