Regulation

The IberCup shall be played in strict compliance with the rules of FIFA and IFAB (International Football Association Board). In matters of interpretation of FIFA rules, the original English text shall apply.

The club must be a member of a national football association affiliated to FIFA. In countries where football is operated by schools, participation is permitted for teams affiliated to duly recognised school football associations.

Teams are divided into groups of four to six teams, depending on the number of entries in the category.

The group stage standings are determined by points:

If two or more teams finish with the same number of points, the standings shall be decided in the following order:

1st Goal difference, goals scored minus goals conceded

2nd Greater number of goals scored

3rd Head-to-head result, result between the tied teams

4th Greater number of wins

5th Team with the lowest average age

Teams play against each other in the group stage in a single round-robin format.

Qualification for the Playoffs, Gold, Silver or Bronze, depends on the final group standing and the specific rules of each age category, refer to the category's technical sheet.

Should a team be disqualified or withdraw during the group stage, all of their results, past and future in this stage, shall be changed to 0-3 in favour of the opponent.

All Playoff matches are decided in a knock-out format.

Matches that finish level at the end of normal time shall be decided exclusively by a penalty shoot-out, no extra time, in accordance with FIFA rules.

All players registered on the match sheet, starting and substitute, are authorised to participate in the penalty shoot-out.

Before the start of the penalty shoot-out, only 16 players from each team may be eligible to take penalties and must remain on the pitch. All other players must remain off the pitch.

Should a team be disqualified or withdraw during the group stage, all results shall be changed to 0-3 in favour of the opponent.

Should a team be disqualified or withdraw during Playoff matches, the opposing team shall automatically advance in the competition.

FIFA rules shall apply, with a series of 5 kicks per team, where any player registered on the match sheet may take a penalty.

Should the teams remain level after the series of 5 penalties, the winner shall be determined by sudden death, one team scores and the other misses in their turn.

Note: Girls' teams in the 2015 category are eligible to compete in the boys' 2016 category.

All players must prove their age by means of the original identity card and/or passport, bearing a photo and date of birth.

Shirt numbers must remain fixed throughout the tournament. If changed, the match sheet must be updated in the IberCoach App before the opening whistle.

If a player changes their number between matches, the team manager must update this information in the IberCoach App before the start of the following match, otherwise all statistics for that player will be incorrect.

Rolling substitutions, unlimited and with re-entry, are permitted in all categories, provided they are authorised by the referee and carried out within the technical area or, if no such area is marked, at the halfway line.

An illegal substitution shall be penalised with a yellow card.

When substituting a goalkeeper, play must be stopped and the referee must be informed.

A player may only enter the field once their team-mate has left the legal playing area and the referee has given authorisation.

A player may represent the same club in different categories, respecting the age rules, but must be registered on the match sheet of all teams in which they play.

If a player represents a club in several age categories but is only registered with one team, they will not be allowed to play for the others. Should this occur, the player will be excluded from the competition and the team will forfeit by 0-3 any matches in which that player participated.

A player CANNOT represent two teams from the same club in the same category. The infringement results in the player's exclusion and a 0-3 forfeit in all matches in which they participated.

Teams that field players not listed on the registration form may be excluded from the tournament.

Player registration during the competition is not permitted. The deadline for player registration is 24 hours before the start of the first match. Once validation and accreditation have been completed, no further player registrations will be accepted.

There is no guaranteed stoppage time, except in cases of serious injury as managed by the referee. There is no extended half-time interval, teams change ends after the referee's whistle and the second half begins immediately.

All matches shall kick off punctually, in accordance with the published schedule.

Validation of the match sheet in the official App is mandatory up to 45 minutes before the start of the match.

All players registered in the competition must appear on the match sheet.

If a player does not appear on the match sheet, they may not be used in the match. The team official must contact the competition's administrative services to resolve the situation.

Any player or official not listed on the match sheet may not access the technical area.

The match sheet remains active with information from the previous match. If it needs to be updated, the team manager must make the changes in the IberCoach App before the start of the following match.

Even if there have been no changes to shirt numbers since the previous match, the team manager must always validate the match in the IberCoach App 45 minutes before kick-off, or the match may not start at the scheduled time.

All players on the team list are considered to have participated in the match, with disciplinary implications, particularly regarding suspensions.

Random checks of team lists and participant lists will be carried out.

Failure to validate the match sheet before the set deadline may result in the team forfeiting the match 3-0.

Shirt numbers on the back are compulsory and must correspond to those on the match sheet.

If a player does not have a number on their shirt, they must add one manually using tape, otherwise they will not be authorised to play.

Two players from the same team cannot wear the same number in the same match.

If a player changes their shirt number from the previous match, this information must be updated on the match sheet with the field staff before the start of the match.

No player may change their number during the same match. Non-compliance results in a yellow card and the player must leave the field to put on the correct shirt.

The player may only re-enter the field when wearing an authorised shirt number and with the consent of the referee.

The use of shin guards is compulsory in all matches.

Aluminium studs: prohibited in all 7-a-side and 9-a-side categories. In 11-a-side, only permitted for goalkeepers on natural grass. On artificial turf, aluminium is strictly prohibited for all players.

In the event of a clash of kit colours, the team that loses the coin toss must change kit or wear bibs.

All 11v11 matches shall be played with size 5 balls.

All 7v7 and 9v9 matches shall be played with size 4 balls.

The organisation will provide official match balls, but teams must also bring their own.

The organisation does not provide balls for pre-match warm-ups. Teams wishing to purchase balls for warm-up should contact the organisation.

All teams must be ready at the pitch no later than 15 minutes before kick-off, with valid documents for age verification, if requested.

Immediately after the end of each match, team managers or coaches must validate the match sheet online using