Football Terms Explained

A–Z glossary

Aggregate

The combined score over two legs of a knockout tie. How results work

Assist

The final pass or action that leads directly to a goal. Assists explained

Away goals rule

A former tiebreaker that counted away goals as worth more in two-legged ties. UEFA removed it from its club competitions from the 2021–22 season. How results work

Clean sheet

A match in which a team concedes no goals.

Derby

A match between two local or regional rivals.

Draw

A match that ends level. In league football, each team usually earns one point. How league tables work

Expected goals (xG)

An estimate of how likely a shot is to become a goal, based on similar shots in the past. Football statistics explained

Extra time

Two periods of 15 minutes played in some knockout matches when the score is level after 90 minutes. How results work

Fixture

A scheduled match between two teams in a competition. How fixtures work

Form

A team's recent sequence of results, often shown as W, D and L. Reading team form

Formation

The basic arrangement of a team's outfield players, such as 4-3-3. Formations explained

Goal difference

Goals scored minus goals conceded. Often used to separate teams level on points. How league tables work

Group stage

A phase of a tournament in which teams play in small groups before knockout rounds. How competitions work

Hat-trick

Three goals scored by one player in a single match.

Head-to-head

The results between two specific teams, used as a tiebreaker in some leagues. How league tables work

International break

A pause in club schedules so players can join their national teams. How fixtures work

Kick-off

The start of a match, and the scheduled start time of a fixture. Football fixtures

Knockout

A format in which the loser of a tie is eliminated. How competitions work

League phase

A single league table used in a competition's first stage, as in the UEFA Champions League from 2024–25. Champions League guide

Leg

One match of a tie played over two matches, home and away. How results work

Lineup

The players selected to start a match, plus named substitutes. Match centre

Low block

A defensive approach where a team defends deep in its own half. Pressing and possession

Matchweek

A round of fixtures in a league, also called a matchday or gameweek. How fixtures work

Offside

A Law of the Game restricting attackers from being ahead of the second-last defender when the ball is played to them.

Own goal

A goal a player scores into their own team's net.

Penalty shoot-out

A tiebreak in knockout matches in which teams take alternating kicks from the penalty mark. How results work

Possession

The share of the match in which a team has the ball. Possession explained

Postponed

A fixture moved from its scheduled date, to be played later. How fixtures work

Pressing

Actively closing down opponents to win the ball back. Pressing and possession

Promotion

Moving up to a higher division, usually by finishing near the top of a league. How competitions work

Relegation

Moving down to a lower division, usually by finishing near the bottom of a league. How competitions work

Season

The period in which a competition is played, such as August to May in most European leagues. How competitions work

Set piece

A restart from a stationary ball: corners, free kicks, throw-ins and penalties. How to analyse a match

Shot on target

A shot that would enter the goal if not stopped by the goalkeeper or a last defender. Shots explained

Squad

All players registered to a team for a competition. Football teams

Stoppage time

Time added at the end of each half for stoppages, also called added time. How results work

Table

A ranking of teams in a league by points and tiebreakers. Also called standings. How league tables work

Transfer window

A registration period in which clubs can sign players. How transfer windows work

VAR

Video Assistant Referee: officials who review clear and obvious errors in key match incidents.