How points work
The organizer decides how many points a win, draw and loss are worth, so they don't always follow the usual 3-1-0.
GUIDE
How to use Finalio
Short guides for following a tournament and for running your own.
Following a tournament
Follow a tournament
Join with a code and keep up with every match.
- 1
Join with a code
Ask the organizer for the 6-character tournament code. In the app, tap Join on the home screen and enter the code. The tournament then appears under Following.
- 2
Find matches
The Fixture tab lists every match. Filter by All, Pending or Completed, or jump to a single round or group.
- 3
Get the latest scores
Results show up as soon as the organizer enters them. Pull down on the tournament screen to load the newest scores and standings.
- 4
Share the table
In league and group tournaments, tap Export PNG in the Standings tab and post the table in your group chat.
- 5
Want to help out?
Followers can only view. To enter scores, ask the organizer to make you an admin.
Read standings & brackets
What every column, table and bracket slot means.
| # | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team A | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| 2 | Team B | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Team C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Team D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 0 |
- P
- Played
- W
- Won
- D
- Drawn
- L
- Lost
- GF
- Goals for
- GA
- Goals against
- GD
- Goal difference
- Pts
- Points
Teams are ranked by points.
Groups
Each group has its own table and teams only play inside their group. In Group + Playoff, the top teams of each group move into a knockout bracket shown below the group tables.
Brackets
In knockout formats the Standings tab shows the bracket. Winners move on automatically, and an empty slot fills in once the match before it is played.
What does BYE mean?
A team with a BYE goes straight to the next round without playing. It happens when the number of participants doesn't fill the bracket.
Organizing a tournament
Create a tournament
From a name to your first match in four steps.
1 · Basics
Name your tournament, add a logo if you like and pick a format. Not sure which one fits? See the formats guide below.
2 · Participants
Add the teams or players. They're just names, so nobody needs the app to play. Participants from your past tournaments can be added again with one tap.
3 · Rules
Choose single matches or home & away, and how many points a win, draw or loss is worth. Group formats also ask how many groups you want.
4 · Draw preview
Check the draw and confirm. Fixtures are created instantly. After that participants can't be changed, so double-check names and power ratings first.
Tournament formats
Which format fits your competition?
- Single elimination
- 8
- Group stage
- 12
- Group + Playoff
- 16
- League
- 28
Single matches. Group formats use 2 groups and the top 2 of each group advance. Home & away doubles every number.
Single elimination
Lose once and you're out. The bracket fills itself in as scores come in.
Best for: One-day events, when time is short and you want drama.
Group stage
Participants are split into groups and play everyone in their group.
Best for: Many participants who should all play several matches.
Group + Playoff
World Cup style: groups first, then the top teams of each group go into a knockout bracket.
Best for: The full tournament experience.
League
Everyone plays everyone and the table decides the champion.
Best for: The fairest result, when you have time for a season.
Participants, followers & admins
Who's who in your tournament and how to invite people.
Participants
The teams or players in your fixture. You type them in when you create the tournament. They don't need an account or the app.
Followers
Anyone with your 6-character tournament code. They tap Join on the home screen, enter the code and can see the fixtures and standings. They can't change anything.
Admins
Followers you trust to help. Make them admin in the Members tab and they can enter scores too. Only the owner can reopen matches or delete the tournament.
A7K2QXWhere's the tournament code?
Open your tournament: the code is at the top, next to the format badge. Tap it to copy, then paste it into your group chat.
Running your tournament
Scores, standings and crowning a champion.
- 1
Enter scores
Tap a match in the Fixture tab and enter the score. Standings and brackets update on their own.
- 2
Fix a mistake
As the owner, tap a completed match to reopen it and correct the score.
- 3
Share the standings
The Standings tab shows the table, the groups or the bracket. Export it as an image for your group chat.
- 4
Group + Playoff
When every group match is played, tap Generate Playoffs. The top teams of each group move into the knockout bracket.
- 5
Finish up
When all matches are played, tap Complete Tournament to lock the results and crown the champion.
Power Rating
Keep the strongest participants apart until the end.
Team A10
Team B9
Team C4
Team D2
Final
?
?
Your two best teams can meet in round one.
Team A10
Team D2
Team C4
Team B9
Final
Team A10
Team B9
They can only meet in the final.
What is it?
A number that says how strong a participant is. Higher means stronger. Leave it at 0, or turn it off, for a fully random draw.
In group formats
Participants are sorted into pots by rating and each group gets one from every pot, like the Champions League draw. Every group ends up equally strong.
Which numbers?
Only the order matters. A 1–10 scale works fine: give the favourite 10 and the others less. Equal ratings are drawn at random.
Set it before you start
Ratings are used once, when the draw is made, and can't be changed after you confirm. In a league everyone plays everyone, so ratings have no effect there.
Ready for your first tournament?
Finalio is free to download on iOS and Android.