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What is the VS1 Football Championship
The VS1 Football Championship (VS1FC) is an invitational 1v1 major off-season league to knockout World Championship built for professional players around the globe, founded by Charly Musonda Jr. Here's a look at what to expect, and everything you need to know about the new Summer League coming soon – that turns footballers from pro clubs into prize athletes the likes of the UFC, with players bringing their own goalkeeper and competing in a cage designed as a studio-set, where it's player vs player and story vs story.
Purpose
The Championship will bring together professional footballers from leagues across the world and give them an equal stage and opportunity to gain global visibility and supplement their earnings during the off-season. It offers all active pros (ages 18–40) a chance to stay sharp, compete at an elite level, and maintain rhythm — while still enjoying the freedom, recovery, and balance the off-season allows.
Miami Design District
The VS1 Football Championship will take place in Miami at the iconic Miami Design District, inside a purpose-built venue known as The Clubhouse.
A private sanctuary, with limited access to players only and invited guests — The Clubhouse will be designed with the standards of modern elite sports amenities in mind, combining luxury and performance— it will feature a unique 1v1 cage transformed into a studio set, state-of-the-art fitness and recovery zones, medical and physiotherapy facilities, player lounges, media studios, and locker rooms.
Storytelling
For eleven months each season, football revolves around clubs, systems, and the names on the front of the shirt. It’s about history, tradition, and collective identity — but rarely about the individual stories of the players themselves. Their backgrounds, personalities, and journeys often get lost behind club narratives.
"VS1FC aspires to flip that perspective. It brings football back to its essence — the individual and the moment. Where it’s not about who you play for, but telling your individual story, breaking down your game and allowing players to connect directly with the audience for who they truly are."
How long does it last
VS1FC takes place late May through early June and lasts a total of 18 days, split across three stages: Qualifiers, Divisional Rounds and the Playoffs.
How Does it Work
VS1FC is an invitational that consists of 80 players spread equally across 5 continental divisions (Europe, Africa, Asia, North America and South America) and two player types: Franchise Players who are automatically invited, and Challengers who are invited but must come through the qualifying rounds. Each player brings their own goalkeeper and competes within their continental division with hopes of making the playoffs.
At the start of the Regular Season – each player receives a $35,000 balance from VS1FC. In every match both players put $5,000 at stake, winner takes all. The top performers in the standings within their division then move onto the Playoffs to compete in win or go home knockout football.
How is VS1 Match Played
VS1 Football games take place in a uniquely designed cage – two 14-minute halves totaling 24 minutes of action where players take turns being the attacker and defender through possessions holding strikes in which the attacker has three opportunities to score within a 20 second window – the player with the most points wins the game.
The Showdown
The tournament ends with The Showdown – the last two players standing face-off for the World Championship and $150,000 in prize money.
Who is eligible
The tournament is designed for all Pro Players (age 18-40) playing within leagues worldwide who want to stay sharp, earn, and compete at the highest level, while still enjoying the freedom and recovery that the off-season provides. Recent Free Agents in between contracts and Rising Stars (age 16-21) with a pro debut at their club are also eligible as Challengers.
Franchise Player
Franchise Players are established professionals with proven experience in elite leagues or standout VS1FC performances. They’re invited directly into the main Championship as marquee competitors representing each division.
Challenger
Challengers are rising stars, free agents, and pros from smaller markets who qualify through the opening “Sprint” round. They fight for visibility, opportunity, and a chance to earn their place among the world’s best.
How to Participate
The VS1 Football Championship matchmakers send invites to select athletes, who can accept or decline to participate. Equally any pro athlete currently playing within a traditional football league can directly declare themself eligible for an invite request.