What the football league pyramid is
The league pyramid is the structure of a country's divisions: few leagues at the top and many below, connected by promotion and relegation.
It is called a pyramid because at the top there is a single elite league and, as you go down, there are more and more leagues and clubs. Promotion and relegation connect each level with the next, so in theory any club can reach the top.
From Season 3 (7 January 2027) every country in ELDT has a pyramid of 5 levels, all of them 16-club leagues: 1 league at the top, 4 at the second level, 16 at the third, 64 at the fourth and up to 256 at the fifth, opened as managers arrive. Each league receives the champions of its 4 leagues below. 18 countries take part, 11 in the Americas and 7 in Europe, each with its own complete pyramid.
New managers enter at level 5: four promotions to reach the top flight. Where you finish each season decides which level you start the next one in.
See it in the game: the manager's guide.
Related terms
More on Competitions
See also: online football manager · guides on the blog