--- title: "Guide: What Is United?" description: "Guide: What Is United?" url: https://support.goalunited.org/en/articles/186-guide-what-is-united collection: "Intermediate Guides" updated: 2026-10-17 language: en alternates: [fr, de, it, pl, es, tr] --- # Guide: What Is United? Guide: What Is United? United is goalunited's social competition layer is a system of player-created and game-organised tournaments, leagues, and cups that sit alongside the official league structure. United events are optional, flexible, and designed to let you compete against specific opponents on your own terms. Unlike official competitions, United matches have special rules that make them low-risk for your squad: players do not lose energy, injuries and yellow/red cards are reset after each match, and there are no financial rewards from your stadium or gastronomy. The focus is pure competition and tactics. > **Info:** United matches do not count toward player experience or technique. They are for competition, tactical testing, and social play, not squad development. > **Success:** United is the best place in the game to test new formations and tactics against real opponents before committing them to league matches. No energy cost and no card carryover means there is no risk to your squad. ## **The United Lounge** Everything United-related is managed through United → Lounge in the main menu. Here you can: - Browse all public United events, past, ongoing, and upcoming. - Search and filter events by type, size, and settings. - Create your own events. - Observe events as a spectator (Premium account). - Access United Special events organised by goalunited FA. ## **United Event Types** ### **United Cup** A knockout competition for a set number of participants. All matches use single-leg elimination. If fewer than half the announced maximum sign up, the event is cancelled and all fees are refunded. ### **United League** A round-robin league for 4–20 teams. Return matches (home and away) are possible for leagues with up to 10 teams. If fewer teams than announced register, the league resizes and the participation fee is partially refunded. Cancelled if fewer than 4 teams join. ### **United Tournament** A hybrid format: starts with a group/league phase, then advances to knockout rounds. Best of both worlds for medium-sized competitions.

Event Type	Format	Cost Per Team
United Cup	Knockout, single-leg	150 GU STARS or a United Cup coupon
United League	Round-robin (4–20 teams)	Varies by number of match days (~100 STARS per match) or United League coupon
United Tournament	Group phase + knockout	Depends on event size
United 1on1	Single match vs. one opponent	100 GU STARS or a 1on1 coupon

## **Creating Your Own Event** Creating a United event takes about two minutes. Key decisions: - Type — Cup, League, or Tournament. - Number of participants → how many clubs can enter. - Public or private → private events require a personal invitation from the contact page; you can also add a password to limit access. - Match dates → choose specific calendar dates, or compress everything into a single day for fast-paced competition. - Advanced options → Ladder Mode (for ranking points), Handicap mode (to equalise teams of different strengths), strength/country/layer/ladder filters for participants. - Pay for everyone - as the host, you can choose to cover the full entry cost, making the event free for all other participants. > **Info:** Use filters to create balanced competitions. A strength filter of ±5 around your team's level ensures all participants are genuinely competitive with each other. ## **United 1on1** The 1on1 is the quickest and most flexible United format, a direct match between two clubs. Access via United → United 1on1. ### **Instant Match** The fastest option. The system finds you a public opponent within a few minutes, or you can create a private match and share a 6-digit code with a specific manager. The match begins within 15 minutes of creation. ### **Manual Match** You set a start time between 90 minutes and one week in the future. Allows both managers to plan their formation carefully. You can have up to 10 manual 1on1 matches scheduled simultaneously.

1on1 Rule	Detail
Cost	100 GU STARS per team, or a 1on1 coupon
Time slot blocked	2 hours 45 minutes — you cannot schedule another match within that window
No energy loss	Players play at full capacity with no energy drain
Cards/injuries	Reset after the match — no carryover to official competitions
Ladder mode	Optionally play for ranking points on the United ladder

## **United Special** United Special events are organised by 'goalunited FA' (the game itself) rather than individual managers. They run as regular cups, leagues, or tournaments but always offer a GU STARS prize for the winner. The prize equals 50% of the total registration fees collected. If fewer teams than expected sign up, participation fees are reduced and the prize scales down accordingly. - Find United Special events on the home page after login or at United → Lounge → United Special tab. - Use GU STARS or matching United coupons (e.g. a United League coupon to join a United Special League). - Participation per day is limited, but limits increase during special events like GUFA Clash competitions. > **Info:** United Special events are the most efficient way to earn GU STARS through gameplay without spending real money. Regularly entering them, especially with coupon cards you have earned, can meaningfully supplement your STARS balance. ## **Top Teams** Top Teams are special AI-controlled clubs found at United → Top Teams. Playing against them a set number of free times per day can win you exclusive staff members and player bonuses not available anywhere else:

Top Team	Reward for Winning
Tactics United	Daniel Kent (Tactics Coach) — reduces yellow cards by 20%
Morale Masters	Motivational Speaker staff upgrade — boosts player morale at half-time
Les Galactiques de Paris	+10 team spirit per win (max 30 times per season)
SilverStars	+1 endurance to 2 field players per win (max 25 times per season)
Mentality Monsters	Team Psychologist staff upgrade — gives 110% performance phase in second half

> **Info:** Top Teams give free matches with meaningful rewards and no risk to your squad (United rules apply). Prioritise the Tactics United challenge every day if you want to earn Daniel Kent — yellow card reduction has a direct impact on every official match you play. [Intermediate guides](https://support.goalunited.org/collections/32)