In a Fantasy Premier League head-to-head league, each team plays another team every Gameweek, and the higher score after transfer deductions wins 3 points. If both adjusted scores are the same, each team gets 1 point.
Core head-to-head rules
Here are the basic rules for a head-to-head league.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match result | Gameweek score minus transfer points |
| League points | Win 3, draw 1, loss 0 |
| Fixtures | Generated at the start of the league's first Gameweek; the league is then locked |
| Odd number of teams | An average team joins and scores the Gameweek average |
| Tie in the table | Most total points; then shared position |
| Private league size | Up to 16 teams |
| Next season | Create a new league |
The table in a head-to-head league is built from match points, not from total FPL points alone. That means one strong Gameweek can win a matchup even if another manager remains higher in overall points.
Transfer deductions matter twice. They reduce your overall total and they also reduce the score used to settle that week's head-to-head result, so activity in “Transfers” can change a win into a draw or a loss.
How it differs from a classic league
Here is a direct comparison between classic and head-to-head leagues.
| Item | Classic | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|
| Ranking | Total points | Points from head-to-head matches |
| Tie-break | Fewest transfers (Wildcard and Free Hit transfers not counted) | Most total points |
| Joining and leaving | Any point in the season | Locked once fixtures are generated |
| Renewing for next season | The administrator can renew it | Not possible |
A classic league is a season-long points ladder. A head-to-head league turns each Gameweek into a fixture list, with league points awarded from weekly matchups.
The tie-break is different too. In a classic league, fewer transfers ranks higher, with Wildcard and Free Hit transfers excluded from that count. In a head-to-head league, teams level on league points are split by total FPL points, and if those are still level they share the position.
Fixtures, league size and knock-outs
Fixtures are created at the start of the league's first Gameweek. After that point, the league is locked, so no team can join or leave.
If the league has an odd number of teams, an average team is added so every team has a matchup each Gameweek. That average team always scores the Gameweek average.
The official game settings allow private head-to-head leagues with up to 16 teams and public head-to-head leagues with 20. A head-to-head league can also finish with an optional knock-out stage lasting up to 3 Gameweeks, with the winner decided by a match in the final Gameweek.
The average team does not enter the knock-out stage. If it would have taken a place, that spot passes to the next-placed team instead. Tied knock-out matches are settled by most goals scored in the Gameweek, then fewest goals conceded in the Gameweek, and then a virtual coin toss.
How the score shown for your matchup is worked out
The score used for the matchup is the Gameweek score after any transfer deductions are applied.
If you made extra moves in “Transfers” that cost points before the deadline, those deductions are included in the head-to-head calculation. That is why a matchup score can be lower than the Gameweek score you expected.
FAQ
Why is my head-to-head score lower than my Gameweek score?
The head-to-head result uses your Gameweek score after transfer deductions. If you took points hits before the deadline, those deductions come off the score used for the matchup.
The same deductions also affect your overall total. They are not limited to the league fixture alone.
What happens if a head-to-head league has an odd number of teams?
An average team is added so that every team has an opponent each Gameweek. That team always gets the Gameweek average score.
It does not take part in the optional knock-out stage. If it sits in a qualifying place, the next team in the standings takes that slot.
Can you join a head-to-head league after it has started?
No. Once fixtures are generated at the start of the league's first Gameweek, the league is locked.
From then on, teams cannot join or leave. That rule is different from classic leagues, where movement is allowed during the season.
Can a head-to-head league be renewed for next season?
No. A new head-to-head league has to be created each season.
Classic leagues work differently, because an administrator can renew them for the next season.