The inaugural UK season of the Baller League kicked off in London this week with all the spectacle expected of a format blending ex-professionals, influencers, and experimental rules.
But while Arsenal’s presence was impossible to miss, the on-pitch results were a reminder that name recognition is no guarantee of success.
N5 FC, managed by Jens Lehmann, Freddie Ljungberg, and Robert Pires, all central figures in Arsenal’s Invincibles side, were hammered 7–2 by Yanited in the opening match.
Meanwhile, Wembley Rangers AFC, led by Ian Wright and Chloe Kelly, also slipped to a narrow 3–2 defeat at the hands of M7 FC, managed by YouTuber Miniminter.
With all matches broadcast live on Sky Sports from the Copper Box Arena, the Baller League’s Monday night slot has could become appointment viewing, combining six-a-side football with a dash of chaos: no corners, rolling substitutions, and in the final minutes, wild ‘gamechanger’ rules like goalkeepers being forbidden from using their hands.
The structure may be unorthodox, including 12-player squads selected via a draft, and gimmicks that nod to 1990s MLS, but the competition is taken seriously. Players earn £400 per game, and matches run weekly until June, culminating in a ‘Final Four’ to crown the champions.
Despite their star-studded dugouts and Arsenal’s clear cultural footprint on the competition, both N5 FC and Wembley Rangers already have ground to make up.
What is Baller League UK? Full squads, rules, fixtures and origins of the viral six-a-side phenomenon
Baller League UK has officially arrived. The tournament blends street football flair, tactical experimentation, and social media spectacle, creating a six-a-side competition unlike anything in the traditional football pyramid.
With ex-Premier League icons, YouTubers, futsal players, and influencers all drafted into 12 squads, the Baller League’s UK launch brings the successful German model to London’s Copper Box Arena, where it will play out across 11 matchdays before a final showdown in June.
Who started Baller League?
Baller League was originally founded in Germany in 2024 by Felix Starck, supported by Mats Hummels and former Gunner Lukas Podolski.
The UK version, launched in 2025, follows the same six-a-side model.
Baller League UK rules – how does it work?
- 12 teams, each with 12-man squads
- 6 vs 6 format
- 30-minute matches, two 15-minute halves
- Rolling substitutions allowed
- No corners – if the ball goes behind the goal off the defending team three times, the attackers are awarded a penalty
- In the last three minutes of each half, special “Gamechanger” rules come into play, which may include:
- Goalkeepers not allowed to use hands
- 3 vs 3 play
- Goals scored from behind the offside line count double
Each team was selected through a player draft. Players receive £400 per match, and the top four teams after 11 matchdays will advance to the Final Four: two semi-finals and a final held on 11 June 2025.
Full list of Baller League UK 2025 teams, managers and players:
N5 FC (managed by Jens Lehmann, Freddie Ljungberg, Robert Pires)
- Squad: Owen Locke, Adrian Mariappa, Brian Ly, Charlie Wakefield, Dayo Adekayo, Chris Arba, Imran Kahani, Michael Class, James Alabi, Troy Molunda, Freddie Berrati, Callum Charlton
Wembley Rangers AFC (managed by Ian Wright, Chloe Kelly)
- Squad: Domingos Pires, Check Fayum, Ben Long, Stuart Cook, Oliver Cannon, Juan Pablo, Ruben Junior, Luke Gambin, Kaylen Kofi, Braden Shaw, Joseph Diomande, Nabid Eshari
Yanited (managed by Angry Ginge)
- Squad: Kadell Daniel, Michael Hector, Mohammed Mahyoub, Remy Clerima, Percy Kiangebeni, Medy Elito, Max Pitman, Harry Cain, Henry O’Shea, Daniel Thompson, Daniel Woods, Pharrel Mensah
Deportrio (managed by Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Gary Lineker)
- Squad: Bakary Sako, Adam Dawson, Francis Gerald Mapolo, Zach Fagan, Marvin Sordell, Charlie Kuehn, Tommy Scott, Raphael Gas, Alex Dyer, Ruben Singale, Tristan Goodridge, Leo Serri
M7 FC (managed by Miniminter)
- Squad: Jesse Waller-Lassen, Femi Akinwande, Stefan Ilic, Jean Belehouan, Toby Bull, Sam Fitzgerald, Arjun Young, Ramez Gonzalo, Arin Zaha, Lewis Garcia, Henry Wise, Zion Nditi
MVPs United (managed by Alisha Lehmann, Maya Jama)
- Squad: Lorenzo Spinelli, Ashton Peltier, Jake Chambers Shaw, Ross Derham, Josh Misoki, James Canton, Alfie Matthew, Declan McCarthy, Jay Beckford, Joe Edwards, Dwayne Suel, Esteban Salgado
SDS FC (managed by Sharky)
- Squad: Bruno Andrade, Bayley Brown, Ody Alfa, Cole Da Silva, David Marques Castanho, Calvin Dickson, Big John, Camillo Astreppo, Finley Chadwick, Michael Felibe, Hussein Mahdi, Tyler Edmundson
FC RTW (Rules the World) (managed by Clint 419)
- Squad: Michael Ndiweni, Josh Harrop, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Kevin Gonzalez, Oliver Bosworth, Karim Kamhouri, Erghis Pepy, Onuchi Oki, Yusuf Shentu, Alamiji Oluma, Sandro Kamara, Festus Chalet
VZN FC (managed by Tobi Brown)
- Squad: Henri Lansbury, Kurtice Herbert, Jerome Sinclair, Remy Mitchell, Montel McKenzie, Florian Kastrati, Michael Olive-Wigan, Barrell Mensah, Ethan McClear, Diego Dombaboni, Jami Kheresi, Luka Barusic
Trebol FC (managed by Luis Figo)
- Squad: Montel McKenzie, Vani Da Silva, Ciaran Clark, Isaac Modi, Ethan Oke, Reggie, Emi, Ryan Gorwell, Jordan Brown, Shani Omed, Aaron Steven, Nathan Bowen
Santan FC (managed by Dave)
- Squad: Michael Hill, Richard Kesey, Dominic Voss, Erick Kenco, Ranell McKenzie Lowes, Jamell Abou-Bakare, Rico Okinari, David Upu, Abdullah Gervardi, Jack Wilson, David Solidemi, Luka Valentine
26ers (managed by John Terry)
- Squad: J’ardell Stirling, Bilal Sayoud, Sak Hassan, Kojo Apenteng, Marcel Lewis, Jordon Ibe, Matt Chizzum, Emmanuel Rowe, Justin Dass, Spike Stegel, Vladislav Platinov, Jack Crook
Baller League UK 2025 full fixture schedule:
- Matchday 1: March 24
- Matchday 2: March 31
- Matchday 3: April 7
- Matchday 4: April 14
- Matchday 5: April 21
- Matchday 6: April 28
- Matchday 7: May 5
- Matchday 8: May 12
- Matchday 9: May 19
- Matchday 10: May 26
- Matchday 11: June 6
- Final Four Day: June 11
All matches are played on Monday nights and streamed live via Sky Sports and the Sky Sports app. For non-Sky subscribers, the competition is also available on NOW TV.