The national championship is the most important competition held in a country, and depending on the country there could be several hundreds of teams taking part. In each case, 18 teams play in a league. At the top of the league system are the 1st and 2nd leagues which are not tiered, followed by the 3rd league and beyond which are tiered. The number of the leagues at one level corresponds to always the double one of the level that is directly higher.

The mode of the competition is 'everybody against everybody' which consists of a home and away game. Each team therefore plays a game against every other team in the league at their home ground and away at their opponents. Through the course of the season each team will play 34 games.

A country's 1st league determines who the best team in the country is - the team finishing in 1st place. As a rule the best teams in a season qualify for the international competitions in the following season. The number of allocated starting positions as well as the mode of deciding the places on offer is dependant on the country's position in the 5 year ranking values.

The teams in the worst league positions are relegated to one league lower, whereas the best teams in the league are promoted (until 1st division) one league higher. The number of teams that are promoted and relegated is dependant on each league and can be deduced from the colouration of the league position occupied.

	Europe	America
	Champions League Participation	Copa Libertadores Participation
	Champions League Qualification	Copa Libertadores Qualification
	Europa League Participation	America League Participation
	Europa League Qualification	America League Qualification
	No Special Meaning	No Special Meaning
	Relegation to 2nd League	Relegation to 2nd League

	Promotion to next higher league
	No Special Meaning
	Relegation to next lower league

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