Football has evolved over the last few decades with domestic leagues around the world gaining more prominence — as well as trying to set themselves apart by being completely original or unconventional.
Every country around the world is always trying to find new and innovative ways to make their national league unique, whether that means changing the rules from year to year or giving in to fan demands. Regardless of the reason, there's a growing list of competitions from Asia to North America that constantly leave people wondering just how you win the league.
#1: Major League Soccer (USA)
MLS currently runs from March to October with every team playing 34 games. Then, in keeping with other North American sports, the 12 best performing teams go into a playoff system before one side is eventually crowned the MLS Cup champion.
The overall best performing team at the end of the regular season is also awarded the Supporters' Shield as opposed to the actual championship. In addition to this, it's one of the only places in the world where expansion teams are allowed to go straight into the top division, with Atlanta United and Minnesota United set to be the new entrants in 2017.
MLS has garnered attention for the arrival of top names such as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who play for the LA Galaxy and New York City FC respectively. With so many of these elite players being used to a standard season with a decisive winner, it's interesting to hear them discuss the playoffs — David Villa went as far as to say that European leagues should copy MLS’ playoff format.
#2: Primera División (Argentina)
Known as one of the biggest leagues in the world with 30 teams competing for the title, the Primera Division runs from August to May. Every team plays every other side once. However, each club also plays two more times against their main rival in the “Fecha de Clasicos”.
As well as not getting to play both home and away against most teams in the league, the new layout also puts more pressure on the bigger clashes between title contenders. The league’s relegation system is also based on an averaging system, where the team with the worst three-year average is relegated, a format that was introduced to save River Plate from relegation in 1983.
#3: Belgian First Division A (Belgium)
Considered by some as the most bizarre and fascinating league in world football, the Belgian First Division A, officially known as the Jupiler Pro League, runs from late July to early May, with every team playing 30 games in the regular season.
They then either enter Playoffs 1 or Playoffs 2 according to where they finished in the initial league table. The first set of playoffs include the top six and is known as the title section, with the second set being the Europa League playoff, involving teams placed from 7th to 15th.
The team that finishes in 16th are therefore relegated, showing the thin line between potential success and failure. Three teams from the second tier also compete in Playoffs 2, rounding off possibly the most mind-boggling system in European football.
The new format has proved to be both bewildering and exciting, with three different teams taking home the title in the last three years. With established sides such as Anderlecht and Standard Liége having to battle for every single point, it certainly makes the Belgian league seem much more competitive.
