How to play 2025/26 FPL

The game has launched for 2025/26 but, as someone new to Fantasy Premier League, you still have one question: how easy is it to play FPL?

Here is an updated introduction to points-scoring, picking a team and making transfers.

CLICK HERE TO PLAY FPL

WHAT IS FPL?

FPL is one of the world’s most popular online games because it’s free, fun to play and very addictive.

READ MORE: A beginner’s guide to FPL

In simple terms, each FPL manager has a budget of £100 million to select a squad of 15 players, before picking a first 11 for every round of matches (called Gameweeks).

The team then receives points based on Premier League match events. Using the current overall score, every manager is then ranked on a worldwide leaderboard and can compete against friends, family and colleagues in mini-leagues.

HOW TO SCORE FPL POINTS

On a basic level, points are awarded for goals, assists, clean sheets and appearances. But a midfielder’s goal will earn five points, compared to a forward’s four and a defender’s six.

While attacking players rack up most of their points via goals and assists, defenders and goalkeepers can collect clean sheets if they feature for at least 60 minutes without conceding. Those between the sticks are also recognised for making saves and stopping penalties.

However, players can lose points too. Own goals, penalty misses, leaky defences, yellow cards and sendings off are punished.

At least three individuals in each match will then receive bonus points, based on the BPS (Bonus Points System) algorithm. Such a calculation adds either three, two or one to their tally.

Additionally, in 2025/26, there’s a huge change to point-scoring.

READ MORE: An explanation of FPL defensive contribution points

If a defender accumulates 10 or more clearances, blocks, interceptions and successful tackles (CBIT) in a single match, they’ll gain two extra FPL defensive contribution points.

Meanwhile, midfielders and forwards will also receive rewards for recoveries, making it CBIRT. Rack up 12 of these in a match and two extra player points will arrive.

HOW TO PICK A TEAM + CAPTAIN

The 15-man squad must contain two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards. It’s only possible to pick a maximum of three players from each Premier League team.

Every player has a price. It’s done in a way that makes it difficult to own all of the best players, given that some have a premium tag.

READ MORE: FPL 2025/26 Essential Guide

From the completed squad, each Gameweek sees FPL managers choose a first 11 and select a captain, who scores double points. If the captain doesn’t participate at all, an assigned vice steps in to grab the armband.

A variety of different formations can be used, as long as there is a goalkeeper, three defenders, two midfielders and one forward. Examples include 3-4-3, 3-5-2, 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 5-2-3.

Managers must finalise their teams before each Gameweek deadline, occurring 90 minutes before its first fixture kicks off. Once passed, nothing can be altered for that round of matches.

But ignore the four substitutes at your peril. When one of the starting 11 doesn’t take part, an ‘autosub’ comes in. Based on the chosen bench order, it will be the first player who allows those ‘per position’ rules to be satisfied.

MAKING TRANSFERS

How to make FPL transfers and explaining a points hit

Until Gameweek 1 gets underway, an unlimited amount of tweaking can be made, as we seek perfection with our initial 15-man squads.

Once the first FPL deadline passes, managers can begin to make transfers. Each will receive one free purchase per Gameweek, although up to five can be collected for a future splurge.

This means a player can be sold for anyone else in his same position, as long as it’s within budget.

Managers can decide not to use the latest one given to them, and ‘rolling a transfer’ means it gets added to the next Gameweek’s, meaning there’ll now be two free moves to make. This can continue being done until a maximum of five free transfers is reached.

In 2025/26, the presence of AFCON means all managers will be topped up to five free transfers ahead of Gameweek 16. To take advantage of this, try spending all saved-up ones by Gameweek 15.

You’re able to make even more transfers outside of the free ones, but each extra one will incur a four-point deduction for the following Gameweek. These are risky.

WHAT ARE FPL CHIPS?

A long time ago, FPL introduced some chips for every manager, making the game more interesting and strategic.

Wildcard – Transform your squad with unlimited free transfers.
Free Hit – Unlimited free transfers to form a squad for one Gameweek only.
Bench Boost – Includes the points of your four substitutes in the Gameweek total.
Triple Captain – Multiplies the chosen captain’s points by three rather than the usual two.

This season, managers get to use each of these twice. The first Wildcard, Free Hit, Bench Boost and Triple Captain need activating by Gameweek 19, before they refresh for the campaign’s second half.

Only one chip can be used per Gameweek, activated before the deadline. Furthermore, using a Wildcard or Free Hit will not delete any saved-up free transfers.

HOW TO JOIN + CREATE AN FPL MINI-LEAGUE

Managers can join public and invitational mini-leagues to compete against known and unknown rivals.

Classic scoring ranks squads based on their accumulated FPL points total
Head-to-head scoring puts you against an opponent in each Gameweek, subsequently ranking the squads based on wins (three points), draws (one point) and losses.

By default, a squad is assessed nationally and globally, as well as being added to a few other contests.

CREATE A LEAGUE

On the FPL website:

Select the ‘League & Cups’ tab
‘Create & Join New Leagues & Cups’
‘Create a League & Cup’
Choose either a classic or head-to-head format
Type a name and check the setup options
Click ‘Create’

By exploring ‘Options’ on that tab, the ‘Invite Friends’ button will provide a code that you, as an administrator, can send to anyone that you’d like to join.