Updated after the completion of Season 3.

When Top 100 Regen launched, its hierarchy came from the real world.

The 100 clubs were allocated to five divisions using Opta rankings. Real Madrid began at the summit; clubs such as Maccabi Haifa and New England Revolution started deep in Division 5.

At the start of S3 we took our first proper look at how much that world had already changed.

Now Season 3 is complete — including the play-offs — we can go one step further.

The answer is: a lot.

By the numbers

At launch, the combined value of all 100 squads was approximately £12.71 billion.

By the end of S3 it was around £16.70 billion.

That’s an increase of almost £4 billion — roughly 31%.

The average squad rating has risen from 85.26 to 88.04.

Of the 100 clubs:

• ⭐ 73 have a higher average squad rating than at launch
• ➡️ 17 are unchanged
• ⬇️ Only 10 are rated lower

And once S3’s promotions and relegations are applied to the S4 line-up:

• 🔼 25 clubs will be above their original S1 division
• 🔽 29 will be below it
• ➡️ 46 remain in the same tier

More than half the Game World will therefore begin S4 somewhere other than the division in which Opta originally placed them.

One important caveat: the rules changed too

Not all of the increase in squad strength and value should be treated as pure manager-driven growth.

The Game World’s rules have evolved.

In S1 we operated a 30-player split squad cap:

• maximum 19 first-team players
• minimum 11 youth players

For S3 this was replaced by a simple 40-player overall squad cap.

That gives clubs considerably more freedom to retain senior players, prospects and transferable assets simultaneously. It naturally contributes to higher total squad values and, potentially, higher squad-average ratings.

The transfer rules changed too.

In S1 and S2, the maximum cash component of a transfer was £99 million.

For S3 we reduced that to £50 million.

That is why the S1 and S2 record-transfer lists contain walls of £99m deals while S3 contains numerous £50m transfers — often supplemented by players in exchange.

So the numbers below reflect both manager decisions and an evolving ruleset.

The pyramid is getting flatter

The most striking change isn’t at the top.

It’s underneath it.

Average squad ratings among the teams which finished S3 in each division were approximately:

The average D1 squad is only fractionally stronger than it was when the Game World began.

The average D5 squad is more than five rating points stronger.

At launch there was roughly an 8.6-point gap between the average D1 and D5 squads.

By the end of S3, that gap was only around 3.25 points.

The ranges overlap enormously:

D1: 88–92
D2: 86–91
D3: 85–89
D4: 86–89
D5: 85–88

A strong Division 5 squad can now have the same average rating as a weaker Division 1 squad.

That simply wasn’t true when Regen began.

The great squad rebuilds

Some of the most dramatic transformations have happened at clubs which began near the bottom.

Derby are the most extreme example.

They began as a 76-rated D5 club worth only £36.6m.

By the end of S3 their squad was rated 88 and worth approximately £142.5m.

And after two seasons of building without escaping Division 5, they finally finished third in S3 and won automatic promotion.

Royal Antwerp tell a similar story: from a 76-rated £37.9m squad to an 87-rated side worth roughly £154.7m, followed by promotion through the D5 play-offs.

Maccabi Haifa have gone from 78 and £31.6m to 87 and roughly £144.7m.

Mamelodi Sundowns started at 81 and £44.2m. By the end of S3 they were rated 88, worth around £147.5m, and heading for Division 3.

The bottom of the pyramid isn’t what it used to be.

Value isn’t everything

There is an important qualification.

Building an expensive, highly rated squad doesn’t automatically make you successful.

Sparta Praha are perhaps the perfect example.

Their squad has risen from 76 to 86, one of the biggest improvements anywhere in the Game World, yet they finished only 13th in Division 5.

For much of the season Royal Antwerp had the same problem: enormous squad growth without corresponding league progress, before finally winning promotion through the play-offs.

Union Berlin made huge early investments and built an 87-rated squad — yet finished bottom of D5.

That’s encouraging.

If trading success simply converted mechanically into league position, there wouldn’t be much of a game.

The clubs who have rewritten their place in the world

The most spectacular transformation isn’t financial.

It’s geographical.

Real Sociedad: D4 → D1

Real Sociedad began in Division 4.

Then:

S1: D4 champions
S2: D3 runners-up
S3: 3rd in D2

They will start S4 in Division 1.

Three seasons, three consecutive promotions.

Girona: D5 → D2

Girona began all the way down in Division 5.

S1: promoted via play-offs
S2: promoted from D4
S3: D3 play-off winners

They will begin S4 in Division 2.

Again: three seasons, three promotions.

Al Nassr: back-to-back champions

Al Nassr finished only 10th in D5 in S1.

Then they won Division 5 in S2.

And Division 4 in S3.

They will play in Division 3 next season.

Mamelodi Sundowns: 11th in D5 to D3

Mamelodi’s progression has been less immediate but just as striking:

S1: 11th in D5
S2: 3rd in D5
S3: 2nd in D4

They too begin S4 in Division 3.

New England Revolution: D5 → D3

New England were one of the lowest-ranked clubs when the Game World launched.

They finished second in D5 in S1, won Division 4 in S2 and consolidated with ninth place in D3 this season.

They have established themselves two full divisions above their starting point.

Upward mobility

Twenty-five clubs will begin S4 above the division in which they started:

Sociedad and Girona are obviously the headline acts, but the breadth of movement matters just as much.

And some have gone the other way

Twenty-nine clubs will start S4 below their original level.

There are some enormous falls.

Club Brugge: D2 → D5
Olympiacos: D3 → D5
OGC Nice: D3 → D5
Feyenoord: D3 → D5

Elsewhere, Liverpool’s D1 → D2 fall lasted only one season before they returned as S3 champions, while Aston Villa have also fought their way back to D1 through the play-offs.

Atalanta and Brighton have become early Regen yo-yo clubs.

The pyramid isn’t simply producing upward mobility. It is producing churn.

A Game World with its own history

This may be the biggest change of all.

At the beginning, saying that Real Sociedad were a Division 4 club or Liverpool were a Division 1 club didn’t really tell us anything about their history in the Game World.

There wasn’t any history.

Those were simply the divisions an external ranking had assigned them.

That is no longer true.

Real Sociedad are a Division 1 club because they earned three promotions.

Girona are a Division 2 club because they climbed there from Division 5.

Liverpool are a Division 1 club because they were relegated and fought their way back.

Al Nassr are in Division 3 because they won consecutive titles.

Club Brugge are in Division 5 because they fell there.

The Opta seedings still echo through the Game World. Real Madrid, Bayern München and Manchester City remain among its strongest clubs.

But three seasons of transfers, promotions, relegations, play-offs, manager changes and rule changes have begun replacing that inherited hierarchy with one created inside the game itself.

Season 1 established the hierarchy.

Season 2 disrupted it.

Season 3 began to create a new one.

And that is probably the best sign yet that Regen is working.

Full club data

The full comparison table includes all 100 clubs, their original Opta ranking, S1 and S3 squad strength and value, divisional movement and manager changes.

Note: the embedded comparison sheet was created during S3 and some individual squad values have subsequently changed. The figures in this updated article use the end-of-S3 snapshot.

Season 3 of Top 100 Regen is over — and three seasons in, this Game World has well and truly developed a history of its own.

Bayern München ended Real Madrid’s two-year hold on Division 1. Manchester City somehow managed to win three cups without winning the league. Liverpool bounced straight back from relegation. Real Sociedad completed an extraordinary three-season climb from Division 4 to Division 1. Al Nassr won a second consecutive divisional championship.

And Bayern weren’t finished there: their youngsters also won the Top 100 Youth Cup.

Here’s how S3 finished.

Bayern break the Madrid monopoly

The Division 1 title went all the way to the final night.

Bayern München and Real Madrid entered the last round level on 79 points, with Manchester City just two points behind. When it was over:

Andrew Kelly’s Bayern München are the S3 champions, ending James Mckenzie’s run of consecutive titles with Real Madrid.

For Kelly it is a particularly impressive achievement: he won Division 2 with Villarreal in S1 and has now won Division 1 with Bayern.

At the bottom, Atalanta, Athletic Club, Brighton & Hove Albion and Lille OSC were relegated.

Atalanta and Brighton have already become genuine yo-yo clubs: both went D1 → D2 → D1 → D2 across the first three seasons.

Liverpool bounce straight back

Liverpool’s first ever relegation in S2 proved brief.

They dominated Division 2, finishing champions on 88 points, with Manchester United second on 77.

But perhaps the story of the whole Game World sits immediately behind them.

Real Sociedad’s third place completed a remarkable sequence:

S1: Division 4 champions
S2: Division 3 runners-up
S3: Division 2 third place

Three seasons. Three promotions.

A club originally placed in Division 4 by the Opta rankings will begin S4 in Division 1.

Aston Villa joined the promoted trio after beating Porto 1–0 in the play-off semi-final and Fiorentina 3–2 in the final.

Union Saint-Gilloise, Lazio, AC Milan and Slavia Praha were relegated.

Girona keep climbing

Division 3 produced another of Regen’s great journeys.

Bologna bounced straight back from relegation by winning the division on 84 points, just one ahead of Ajax. Galatasaray took the third automatic promotion place.

Ajax themselves have now climbed from their original D4 allocation into D2.

But Girona went one better.

They began the Game World in Division 5, won promotion in S1, climbed again in S2 and reached the S3 play-offs from fourth place.

A penalty shoot-out victory over Lyon put them into the final, where goals from Roberto Firmino and İlkay Gündoğan gave them a 2–1 win over Benfica.

So Girona’s journey now reads:

D5 → D4 → D3 → D2

Like Real Sociedad, they have been promoted in every season the Game World has existed.

Leeds United, Osasuna, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Mainz were relegated from D3.

Back-to-back titles for Al Nassr

Division 4 belonged to two clubs which started life in Division 5.

Al Nassr won the league with 89 points, following their S2 Division 5 title with another championship.

Jimmy Gouldie’s side have therefore gone:

S1: 10th in D5
S2: D5 champions
S3: D4 champions

Behind them, Mamelodi Sundowns finished second with 84 points and 94 goals, while Strasbourg claimed the third automatic promotion place.

Sundowns' own journey has been dramatic: 11th in D5 → 3rd in D5 → 2nd in D4. They will start S4 in Division 3.

The final promotion place went to Flamengo. They beat Maccabi Haifa in the semi-final before defeating Salzburg 2–1 in the final.

Fenerbahçe, Stade Rennais, Club Brugge and Olympiacos were relegated.

Derby finally escape Division 5

Las Palmas ran away with Division 5, finishing champions on 87 points.

Wolfsburg took second and Derby County third.

Derby’s promotion is significant for another reason. They began S1 with a 76-rated squad and have since built one rated 88 — the biggest rating increase anywhere in the Game World.

For two seasons that squad-building hadn’t resulted in promotion. This time it did.

Royal Antwerp took the fourth promotion place after two nerve-shredding shoot-outs: first beating Getafe 2–0 on penalties, then drawing 1–1 with Como before winning the final shoot-out 4–1.

Antwerp also started with a 76-rated squad. They too will finally leave D5 behind.

Manchester City’s cup treble

Bayern won the league.

But if S3 had a cup king, there is no contest.

Paul Rimmer’s Manchester City won:

• 🏆 Top 100 Regen Cup
• 🏆 SMFA Champions Cup
• 🏆 SMFA Super Cup

The Champions Cup final provided an appropriate finale to the season.

City faced the newly crowned D1 champions Bayern München in Luzhniki. Savinho put City ahead after 51 minutes before Baena equalised for Bayern on 62.

It finished 1–1.

In the shoot-out, Moraes saved Harry Kane’s opening penalty and Musiala later missed. City converted all four of theirs, Savinho scoring the decisive kick.

Manchester City 1–1 Bayern München
City win 4–1 on penalties.

Remarkably, it is City’s third consecutive SMFA Champions Cup. Paul Rimmer has won the competition in S1, S2 and S3.

City still haven’t won Division 1.

Football, eh?

Bournemouth take the SMFA Shield

The other international final produced five goals at Wembley.

Tottenham took the lead through Brennan Johnson, but Bournemouth responded through Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert before Timothy Weah made it 3–1.

Vušković pulled one back late on, but Bournemouth held on.

AFC Bournemouth 3–2 Tottenham Hotspur

Simon Thomas therefore adds the SMFA Shield to Bournemouth’s Regen Shield triumph from S2.

Arsenal won this season’s Top 100 Regen Shield, while Internazionale took the Charity Shield.

Bayern’s youngsters do it too

Bayern’s senior side weren’t the club’s only S3 champions.

Pane Trifunov’s Youth Cup competition culminated with Bayern beating Arsenal 3–1 in the semi-final, while Liverpool defeated Internazionale 4–1 in the other semi.

The final was another five-goal game:

Bayern München 3–2 Liverpool

So Bayern finish S3 as both Division 1 champions and Youth Cup winners.

The full S3 honours

A new hierarchy

When Top 100 Regen began, the five divisions were essentially an Opta ranking converted into a Game World.

Three seasons later, that description doesn’t really work any more.

Real Sociedad have travelled from D4 to D1. Girona have gone from D5 to D2. New England Revolution have risen from D5 to D3. Al Nassr have won consecutive divisions. Mamelodi Sundowns are heading from D5 into D3. Ajax have climbed from D4 to D2.

Meanwhile Liverpool have been relegated and returned. Atalanta and Brighton have gone down, up and down again. Club Brugge have fallen from D2 to D5.

The original hierarchy hasn’t disappeared.

But it has been thoroughly messed with.

Which was rather the point.

S1 → S3: How the Game World Has Changed

When Top 100 Regen launched, clubs were allocated based on Opta ratings — from Real Madrid at the summit to Maccabi Haifa and New England Revolution deep in Division 5. Two seasons on, the game world looks very different. Some clubs have transformed beyond recognition. Others have slipped from where they started. Here’s the full picture.

By the Numbers

• 📈 Total value growth: +£2.29 billion (£12.71B → £15.00B)
• ⭐ 71 clubs improved their overall rating
• ⬇️ Only 9 clubs saw a rating decline
• 📊 Average squad rating rose from 85.26 to 86.92
• 🔼 22 clubs promoted vs their S1 starting division
• 🔽 23 clubs relegated vs their S1 starting division
• ➡️ 55 clubs remain in the same division as S1

The overall trend is clear: the game world has grown significantly in quality. Almost three quarters of clubs are stronger squads than they were on day one, and total market value across all 100 clubs has risen by nearly £2.3 billion.

Biggest Value Gainers

The clubs that have grown the most in value are largely those that started from the lower divisions — proof that active squad management can make an enormous difference in a short time.

Maccabi Haifa deserve a special mention. They started as the lowest-rated managed club in the game world (Opta rank 359, rated 78, valued at just £31.6M). They are now in Division 4 with an 87-rated squad worth £130.9M — a +£99.3M increase and a +9 rating jump in two seasons.

Biggest Value Declines

Some clubs — particularly those who started with inflated values from high-profile real-world players — have seen market value fall significantly.

Bayern München remain one of the strongest clubs in D1 despite the value drop — they still carry a 92 average rating. Their decline reflects squad turnover rather than a loss of quality.

Biggest Rating Jumps

Divisional Movement

🔼 Promoted (22 clubs)

🔽 Relegated (23 clubs)

Full Club Data

The full comparison table for all 100 clubs — including Opta rank, original manager, current manager, division movement, rating change, and value change — is embedded below.

Can’t see the table? View the full S1 vs S3 comparison here.

Pane (Freiburg) is very kindly organising this season’s Youth Cup.

Please register your team by completing and submitting the very simple form here.

The Youth Cup will consist of One Match Per Round Knockout System.

The matches will be played on Saturday.

The winner advances to next round.

In case of a Draw there will be a reverse fixture played on the next Wednesday.

In case of a second draw, this will be the criteria to determine the winner:

1. Aggregate score
2. Goals scored
3. Virtual coin toss

Attilio Bonnici (Torino) three month ban (second offence) from 15 September to 14 December 2025. Must sell Washington and Rakov external and buy back Broggio and Verhounig.

Youth Shield Draw

Draw for Knockout Stage of Youth Cup

The inaugural Top 100 Regen Youth Cup delivered shock results, heroic over achievements, and crushing disappointments as pre-tournament predictions crumbledNote: I’ll do a separate post for the knockout draws.

The group stage dust has settled on the Top 100 Regen gameworld’s first Youth Cup, and the results paint a fascinating picture of how pre-tournament seedings translate to actual performance. While most managers successfully navigated the challenge of arranging fixtures and fielding eligible players, some spectacular individual failures created drama alongside genuine sporting narratives.

🏆 The Magnificent Seven: Group Winners

PSG (Group F) - 21 points, +26 GD, 31 GF

Original Seed: 6th → Performance Rank: 1st
Manager: André Guerra

Absolutely sensational from Guerra’s PSG side. The Parisians didn’t just win their group—they obliterated it with 31 goals in 7 matches while conceding just 5. This represents the tournament’s finest managerial performance, turning the 6th seed into unstoppable group stage dominance.

Strasbourg (Group D) - 19 points, +13 GD, 18 GF

Original Seed: 11th → Performance Rank: 2nd
Manager: Thomas Askew

The tournament’s standout tactical achievement. Askew’s Strasbourg rose 9 positions from their seeding to deliver a masterclass in tournament management. Six wins from seven games tells the story of meticulous preparation meeting flawless execution.

Barcelona (Group A) - 18 points, +14 GD, 19 GF

Original Seed: 1st → Performance Rank: 6th
Manager: Scott Mckenzie

The pre-tournament favorites delivered exactly as expected. Mckenzie’s Barcelona did what top seeds should do—win their group with authority. Efficient rather than spectacular, but ultimately successful.

Porto (Group B) - 18 points, +16 GD, 19 GF

Original Seed: 2nd → Performance Rank: 4th
Manager: Hugo Costa

Costa’s Porto lived up to their seeding with clinical efficiency. The Portuguese giants combined defensive solidity with clinical finishing to dominate Group B exactly as their 2nd seed suggested they would.

Chelsea (Group C) - 18 points, +17 GD, 22 GF

Original Seed: 3rd → Performance Rank: 3rd
Manager: Glen Mullan

Perfect seed-to-performance correlation from Mullan’s Chelsea. The Blues delivered exactly what their 3rd seeding predicted—dominant group stage football with the second-highest goal tally among winners.

Valencia (Group G) - 17 points, +6 GD, 14 GF

Original Seed: 22nd → Performance Rank: 8th
Manager: Jay Jones

The tournament’s biggest overachievement belongs to Jones. Taking Valencia from 22nd seed to group winners represents exceptional tournament management. Their defensive approach conceded just 11 goals—proof that tactical discipline trumps star ratings.

Real Sociedad (Group E) - 16 points, +7 GD, 19 GF

Original Seed: 10th → Performance Rank: 10th
Manager: Steven Allington

Allington delivered exactly what Real Sociedad’s seeding suggested. Perfect correlation between pre-tournament expectations and group stage reality—the hallmark of consistent management.

📈 Magnificent Overachievers

Jay Jones (Valencia) - Seed 22 → Group Winner

The tournament’s ultimate managerial masterpiece. Jones transformed Valencia from Pot 3 afterthoughts into group champions through defensive excellence and tactical discipline.

Thomas Askew (Strasbourg) - Seed 11 → 2nd Overall Performance

Askew’s tactical brilliance elevated Strasbourg 9 positions above their seeding. The French side’s 19 points from 7 games represents tournament management at its finest.

yamil Mc02 (Ajax) - Seed 20 → 5th Overall Performance

The Amsterdam academy manager reminded everyone why Ajax is synonymous with youth development. Despite facing PSG’s brilliance, Mc02 delivered 18 points and automatic qualification.

Pane Trifunov (Freiburg) - Seed 14 → 11th Overall Performance

Trifunov’s attacking philosophy yielded 23 goals for—the highest tally among all qualified teams. The German efficiency machine nearly upset Barcelona for top spot in Group A.

The ⭐⭐strongest⭐⭐ (Tottenham) - Seed 29 → 9th Overall Performance

Spurs' manager finally delivered when it mattered, rising 20 positions from Pot 4 seeding to automatic qualification with 16 points—a masterclass in exceeding expectations.

📉 The Disappointing Underperformers

Paul Rimmer (Manchester City) - Seed 13 → 25th Performance

The most disappointing managerial performance of the tournament. Rimmer’s City scraped fourth place with just 10 points while watching Porto and RB Leipzig dominate Group B. A massive underachievement from the 13th seed.

James Mckenzie (Real Madrid) - Seed 5 → 17th Performance

Los Blancos' manager failed to deliver on Pot 1 expectations. Third place and 13 points from the 5th seed represents significant underperformance in Group E.

Ash L (Monaco) - Seed 8 → 22nd Performance

The principality’s manager stumbled badly, dropping 14 positions from seeding. Fourth place with 11 points was barely sufficient for qualification—a far cry from Pot 1 billing.

Salvatore Zerbo (Juventus) - Seed 9 → 30th Performance

The Old Lady’s manager endured the tournament’s biggest seeding collapse, dropping 21 positions. Just 9 points in PSG’s group was worryingly poor from such experienced management.

Tharanidharan (Roma) - Seed 37 → Qualified 32nd

While technically qualifying, Roma’s manager needed every point to scrape into the knockout stages from the final qualification spot—hardly the performance expected even from lower seeding.

❌ Group C: The “Group of Duds”

Group C became the tournament’s cautionary tale, with three managers failing spectacularly in their basic responsibilities:

The Forfeit Failures:

• Mattia Bertonati (Atalanta) - 5/7 forfeits
• Jamie Alldridge (Mainz) - 5/7 forfeits
• Carlos Azevedo (Benfica) - 5/7 forfeits

These individual managerial failures turned Group C into a mockery, allowing Glen Mullan’s Chelsea to cruise through virtually unopposed. While most of the tournament’s 56 managers handled their responsibilities professionally, these three transformed their group into a non-competition through personal organizational failures.

The Survival Stories: Hrodulf Van (Union Saint-Gilloise) managed 3 forfeits yet still qualified for the knockouts—a testament to footballing quality overcoming administrative chaos. Valter Martins (Lens) inherited a poisoned chalice, taking over from Giuseppe Trovato (who had already forfeited 2 games) only to forfeit his first match in charge. Not the ideal start to his managerial tenure, but the Portuguese manager gets a Shield lifeline to prove himself.

🔍 The Seeding Reality Check

Perfect Predictions (Seed = Performance):

• Steven Allington (Real Sociedad) - 10th seed, 10th performance
• Glen Mullan (Chelsea) - 3rd seed, 3rd performance
• Hugo Costa (Porto) - 2nd seed, 4th performance (close)

Biggest Positive Seeding Gaps:

1. Jay Jones (Valencia): +14 positions (22nd → 8th)
2. Thomas Askew (Strasbourg): +9 positions (11th → 2nd)
3. yamil Mc02 (Ajax): +15 positions (20th → 5th)
4. The ⭐⭐strongest⭐⭐ (Tottenham): +20 positions (29th → 9th)
5. André Guerra (PSG): +5 positions (6th → 1st)

Biggest Negative Seeding Gaps:

1. Salvatore Zerbo (Juventus): -21 positions (9th → 30th)
2. Ash L (Monaco): -14 positions (8th → 22nd)
3. Paul Rimmer (Manchester City): -12 positions (13th → 25th)
4. James Mckenzie (Real Madrid): -12 positions (5th → 17th)
5. Walter Gogh (Dortmund): Eliminated through forfeits

❌ COMPLETELY ELIMINATED

Teams with 4+ Forfeits: Atalanta (5/7 forfeits), Derby County (5/7 forfeits), Mainz (5/7 forfeits), Benfica (5/7 forfeits), Dortmund (4/7 forfeits), Milan (4/7 forfeits). Bottom Group Finishers: Lille (Group D 8th), Galatasaray (Group E 8th). Total Eliminated: 8 teams.

Seeding Order Explanation:

Primary: Points (highest first)

Secondary: Goal Difference (highest first)

Tertiary: Goals For (highest first)

Top Seeds: PSG leads with 21pts, +26GD, 31GF

Strasbourg second with 19pts, +13GD, 18GF

Chelsea third with 18pts, +17GD, 22GF

This performance-based seeding ensures the strongest group stage performers get the most favorable knockout draw positions!

YOUTH CUP KNOCKOUT ROUND OF 32 (Ordered by group performance)

PSG
Strasbourg
Chelsea
Porto
Ajax
Barcelona
RB Leipzig
Valencia
Tottenham
Real Sociedad
Freiburg
Palmeiras
Nice
Crystal Palace
Newcastle
Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid
Union Berlin
Bournemouth
Real Betis
Inter
Monaco
Lazio
Villarreal
Manchester City
FenerbahceFC
København
Racing Club
Osasuna
Juventus
Union Saint-Gilloise
Roma

YOUTH SHIELD ROUND OF 32 (Losers in Youth Cup 1st Round will drop into Shield).

Getafe
Athletic Bilbao
Arsenal
New England Revolution
Burnley
Anderlecht
Fiorentina
Bologna
Slavia Praha
Bayern Munich
Mamelodi Sundowns
Lens
Al Nassr
West Ham
Everton
Rangers

🛡️ Youth Shield Stories

The Youth Shield provides redemption opportunities, led by Никола М. (Getafe) whose 9 points and -2 goal difference represents solid tournament management from the Serbian manager.

Fredrik Johansson (Bayern Munich) finds his Bavarian giants in unfamiliar Shield territory after managing just 6 points. A humbling experience for one of European football’s most prestigious academies.

Valter Martins (Lens) faces the challenge of rebuilding after inheriting Giuseppe Trovato’s mess. Taking over a side that had already forfeited twice under the previous manager, Martins' own forfeit in his debut match wasn’t ideal. However, Lens still possesses the technical quality to challenge for Shield silverware if the new Portuguese manager can stabilize the situation.

📊 Manager Performance Rankings

Tournament Standouts:

1. André Guerra (PSG) - Tactical perfection
2. Thomas Askew (Strasbourg) - Ultimate overachiever
3. Jay Jones (Valencia) - Defensive masterclass
4. Glen Mullan (Chelsea) - Delivered on expectations
5. yamil Mc02 (Ajax) - Amsterdam excellence

Biggest Disappointments:

1. Mattia Bertonati (Atalanta) - 5 forfeits, eliminated
2. Jamie Alldridge (Mainz) - 5 forfeits, eliminated
3. Carlos Azevedo (Benfica) - 5 forfeits, eliminated
4. Salvatore Zerbo (Juventus) - Massive underperformance
5. Paul Rimmer (Manchester City) - Failed to deliver on seeding

🔮 Knockout Stage Implications

The performance-based seeding creates fascinating possibilities:

André Guerra’s PSG enters as overwhelming favorites, their 21-point group stage suggesting a different class entirely. Thomas Askew’s Strasbourg provides the most likely challenge, while traditional powerhouses managed by James Mckenzie (Real Madrid) and Paul Rimmer (Manchester City) face uphill battles from unfavorable positions.

The knockout stages beginning September 21st will determine whether group stage form translates to cup success. For managers like Jay Jones and Thomas Askew, this represents validation of exceptional tournament planning. For others like Paul Rimmer and Salvatore Zerbo, it’s a chance for redemption.

Final Verdict

The inaugural Youth Cup proved that pre-tournament seedings mean little when managers meet the reality of tournament football. While individual failures created unnecessary drama, the majority of participants delivered professional performances that created genuine sporting narratives.

André Guerra, Thomas Askew, and Jay Jones have set the managerial standard for future tournaments. Their tactical excellence and organizational competence deserve to be rewarded in the knockout stages.

For the underperformers, the lesson is clear: reputation means nothing when the fixtures begin. In the Top 100 Regen gameworld, only results matter.

Tournament Grade: A-
Exceptional individual performances with minor organizational hiccups

The Youth Cup knockout stages begin September 21st, with 32 teams ready to battle for ultimate glory

Attilio Bonnici (Torino)

Must sell Bourigeaud and Wolf externally when their bans end.

Already on fresh transfer ban until 8 September.

Tozé Trappatoni (Feyenoord)

Still serving extended ban (same end date: 8 September) for pre-agreed transfer during ban.

Previously banned managers

Mike Scallotti (Leverkusen) - permanent

Tharanidharan (Roma)

Armando Pierone (Bologna)

Patrik Breznicky (Salzburg)

Jibriil Mohamed (Stade Brestois)

jay jones (Fulham)

30 August

Group F

Roma 🆚 Derby County

6 September

Group A

Newcastle 🆚 Mamelodi Sundowns

Group D

Strasbourg 🆚 Fiorentina

Group F

Derby County 🆚 Athletic Bilbao

13 September

Group A

Anderlecht 🆚 Newcastle

Rangers 🆚 Mamelodi Sundowns

Milan 🆚 Barcelona

Group B

Crystal Palace 🆚 RB Leipzig

Everton 🆚 Man City

Bologna 🆚 Porto

Group C

Mainz 🆚 Osasuna

Benfica 🆚 Union Saint-Gilloise

Group D

Racing Club 🆚 Nice

Group E

Galatasaray 🆚 Al Nassr

Group F

Athletic Bilbao 🆚 Real Betis

Roma 🆚 Juventus

Derby County 🆚 PSG

Group G

Dortmund 🆚 Getafe

Fenerbahce 🆚 Monaco

The Eligibility Crisis That’s Reshaping Everything

Three weeks into the group stage of the inaugural Top 100 Regen S1 Youth Cup, and what should be the tournament’s midpoint has instead become a watershed moment defined by administrative carnage. With 13 teams already suffering forfeit losses for fielding ineligible players aged over 21, and four crucial weeks still remaining, the competition has transformed from a showcase of youth football into a battle for bureaucratic survival.

The damage is mounting daily, with some teams seeing their campaigns effectively ended by age violations while others scramble to ensure compliance as the pressure intensifies.

The Forfeit Fallout (So Far)

Complete Campaign Collapses:

• Derby County: All 3 matches forfeited - zero points with 4 weeks left
• Atalanta: All 3 matches forfeited - mathematical elimination

Major Damage (2/3 forfeits each):

• Slavia Praha: Title challenge in ruins
• Benfica: Pot 6 reputation shattered
• Mainz: German embarrassment continues
• Lille: French failures mounting

Single Strike Victims: Manchester City, Bournemouth, Racing Club, Al Nassr, Bayern Munich, Crystal Palace, Roma

With 4 weeks remaining, every team must now fear the next round of eligibility checks.

Current Group Standings (Week 4 of 7)

GROUP A - Four-Horse Race for Automatic Spots

Any of the top four could still win the group with 12 more points available.

GROUP B - Leipzig Leading, City Chasing

Manchester City’s single forfeit has left them needing a strong finish.

GROUP C - Top Heavy with PSG and Betis Perfect

The group’s quality depth means even Bayern Munich face an uphill battle.

GROUP D - Palmeiras Control Their Destiny

Three teams locked on 4 points creates fascinating final weeks.

GROUP E - The Forfeit Chaos Group

Union Saint-Gilloise’s 6 points make them prime 5th place candidates.

GROUP F - Valencia’s Perfect Administration

The most administratively clean group - no major forfeit scandals.

GROUP G - Revolution’s Remarkable Run

New England Revolution’s top-4 position defies all pre-tournament predictions.

What’s at Stake in the Final Four Weeks

Automatic Qualification Race

28 spots for group winners and runners-up plus best two 3rd/4th place teams.

Current Projection:

• Certain Qualifiers: Teams with 6+ points are virtually guaranteed
• Danger Zone: Teams with 3-4 points face crucial final weeks
• Miracle Needed: Teams with 0-1 points are effectively eliminated

Best 5th Place Battle (4 spots available)

Current 5th Place Standings:

1. Union Saint-Gilloise - 6 points, +3 GD (commanding position)
2. Burnley - 4 points, +1 GD
3. FC København - 4 points, 0 GD
4. Arsenal - 4 points, 0 GD
5. Inter - 4 points, 0 GD

With 12 more points available, the 5th place race will go to the final week.

The Administrative Tightrope

Every remaining match carries double jeopardy - teams must not only perform on the pitch but ensure perfect eligibility compliance. The specter of forfeits hangs over every squad selection, with academy staff now as crucial as coaches.

The Pressure Points:

• Teams currently in qualification spots know one forfeit could destroy their campaign
• Struggling teams face the temptation to risk questionable eligibility decisions
• The final weeks will test administrative departments as much as playing squads

What’s Coming Next

Week 5 (30 August): Crucial for teams on 3-4 points Week 6 (6 September): Qualification picture becomes clearer
Week 7 (13 September): Final group matches, 5th place playoffs decided 21 September: Knockout rounds begin

With 28 matches per team still to play across all groups, this tournament is far from over. But one thing is certain: the teams that reach the knockout rounds will be those that mastered both football and paperwork.

The administrative chaos has created opportunities for some and destroyed dreams for others. In the final month, survival depends as much on your compliance officer as your center-forward.

Crucial Week 5 Fixtures (23 August)

The Qualification Deciders

GROUP A - Everything Still to Play For

• Freiburg vs Newcastle: Battle for 2nd/3rd place between two 6-point teams
• Barcelona vs Mamelodi Sundowns: Must-win for Barca to avoid slipping out of top 4
• Milan vs Anderlecht: Crucial 5th place battle between 3-point teams
• Tottenham vs Rangers: Spurs can extend their lead against pointless Rangers

GROUP B - City’s Crunch Time

• Manchester City vs RB Leipzig: City’s biggest test against the perfect Germans
• Porto vs Slavia Praha: Porto can secure qualification with a victory
• Everton vs Burnley: Critical 5th place battle - loser likely eliminated
• Bologna vs Crystal Palace: Palace can seal qualification vs pointless Bologna

GROUP C - Top Heavy Finish

• PSG vs Real Betis: Perfect records clash in group decider
• Ajax vs Juventus: Two 6-point teams fighting for automatic qualification
• Bayern Munich vs Athletic Bilbao: German giants need points desperately
• Roma vs Derby County: Battle of the forfeit victims

GROUP D - Three-Way Title Race

• Real Sociedad vs FC København: 6pts vs 4pts - qualification implications
• Arsenal vs Palmeiras: Gunners face the perfect Brazilians
• Real Madrid vs Al Nassr: Los Blancos must beat the forfeit-hit Saudis
• Lazio vs Galatasaray: Italians vs eliminated Turks

GROUP E - Fifth Place Fight Central

• Union Saint-Gilloise vs Bournemouth: 6pts vs 6pts - massive for 5th place race
• Chelsea vs Osasuna: Two qualified teams with pride at stake
• Villarreal vs Atalanta: Leaders vs forfeit-devastated Italians
• Benfica vs Mainz: Battle of the administratively doomed

GROUP F - Valencia’s Victory Lap

• Monaco vs Getafe: 7pts vs 0pts - Monaco inch toward qualification
• Union Berlin vs Valencia: Can anyone stop the perfect Spaniards?
• Inter vs Dortmund: Crucial 5th place battle - 4pts vs 3pts
• Fenerbahce vs West Ham: Turkish side vs eliminated Hammers

GROUP G - Revolution’s Resilience Test

• Atletico Madrid vs Nice: 7pts vs 3pts - Atletico closing in on qualification
• Strasbourg vs Lens: Joint leaders vs qualification chasers
• New England Revolution vs Lille: MLS miracle continues vs forfeit-hit French
• Fiorentina vs Racing Club: 3pts vs 1pt - last chance saloon

The Big Questions

Can Barcelona Recover? The tournament’s top seeds find themselves in genuine danger of missing qualification. A loss to Mamelodi Sundowns could be catastrophic.

Will City’s Forfeits Cost Them? Manchester City’s single administrative error has left them needing results. The Leipzig test will show if they can handle pressure.

Revolution’s Reality Check: New England Revolution’s fairy tale continues, but can they maintain their stunning 4th place with three weeks of pressure ahead?

Fifth Place Mathematics: Union Saint-Gilloise’s 6 points make them favorites for a playoff spot, but with multiple teams on 4 points, the battle is wide open.

Administrative Watch

Every team selection now carries double jeopardy. With 13 teams already suffering forfeits, the pressure on compliance departments has never been higher. One wrong birth certificate check could destroy a campaign built over months.

The next four weeks will determine not just who reaches the knockouts, but who’ll be remembered for football excellence versus administrative excellence.

Four weeks down, four weeks to go. At the halfway point, survival depends equally on your striker’s finishing and your secretary’s filing.

Competition Format and Rules

We use the friendly fixture schedule to arrange matches. Home team managers must send friendly requests for all their home games. Away team managers must accept all friendly requests. If you sent a request and it hasn’t been accepted or you are expecting a request but you haven’t received it, the quickest way to resolve the matter is to message the other manager.

Managers who fail to arrange their games, or who fail to field eligible players (i.e., aged 21 or younger on 10 June 2025) will forfeit their match 3-0. Managers who forfeit will not be included in the end of season prize draw, and may be excluded from the knockout stages.

Group Stage

• 7 pots of 8 teams each
• 7 groups of 8 teams (one from each pot)
• 7 matches per team in group stage
• Group games start on 2 August every Saturday using the friendly fixture schedule

Qualification to Knockout Stage

• Top 4 from each group (28 teams)
• 4 best 5th place teams (4 teams)
• Total: 32 teams advance to knockout stage
• ** Knockout games will be played every Saturday and Wednesday from 21 September**

Youth Shield

• 3 worst 5th placed teams, all 7 6th placed teams and 6 best 7th placed teams enter Youth Shield
• worst 7th placed team and all last placed teams eliminated
• 16 teams in Youth Shield competition will be joined by 16 losers from the 1st Round of the Youth Cup knockout round

Tournament Seeding - 56 Teams

📊 Pot Strength Analysis

• Pot 1: 81-84 average
• Pot 2: 80-81 average
• Pot 3: 78-80 average
• Pot 4: 77-78 average
• Pot 5: 76-77 average
• Pot 6: 74-76 average
• Pot 7: 70-74 average

🏅 POT 1 (Teams 1-8)

🏅 POT 2 (Teams 9-16)

🏅 POT 3 (Teams 17-24)

🏅 POT 4 (Teams 25-32)

🏅 POT 5 (Teams 33-40)

🏅 POT 6 (Teams 41-48)

🏅 POT 7 (Teams 49-56)

We use Challonge.com to shuffle the seeds and draw the teams into groups. You can see all fixtures for the Group Stage here.