How the Serie A 2026/27 Works
Discover how the Serie A 2026/27 works: standings, points system, qualification for European cups, relegations, and tiebreak criteria.
How Serie A 2026/27 Works
Serie A is the top-level football league in Italy. The competition features 20 teams that face each other during the season in a round-robin format with home and away matches.
Each team plays a total of 38 matches: 19 at home and 19 away.
How the Standings Work
The Serie A standings are updated after each matchday based on teams' results.
The points system is traditional:
- 3 points for a win;
- 1 point for a draw;
- 0 points for a loss.
The team finishing first at the end of the season is crowned Italian champion.
How Many Matches Does Each Team Play?
With 20 teams participating, each club faces the other 19 teams twice during the season:
- one home match;
- one away match.
This results in a total of 38 matches per team.
How European Qualification Works
The highest-ranked teams may qualify for UEFA competitions in the following season.
Available spots may also depend on Italian teams' performances in European competitions and national cups.
The main European competitions are:
- UEFA Champions League;
- UEFA Europa League;
- UEFA Conference League.
Final league positions are therefore crucial not only for the title race but also to earn access to European cups.
How Relegations Work
At the end of the season, the teams in the lowest positions in the standings are relegated to Serie B.
Teams promoted from Serie B take their places in the next Serie A season.
The fight to avoid relegation remains open until the final matchdays, especially when multiple teams are separated by only a few points.
What Happens in Case of Teams Tied on Points?
When two or more teams finish with the same number of points, the competition's regulations apply specific criteria to determine the final order in the standings.
These criteria may include head-to-head results, goal difference, and other parameters established by the competition.
For particularly important positions, such as the championship or relegation spots, specific rules may apply.
Why Every Matchday Is Important
In a league spanning 38 matchdays, even a few points can make a big difference.
A single victory can change the scenario in battles for:
- the championship;
- Champions League qualification;
- Europa League;
- Conference League;
- survival from relegation.
How to Follow Serie A on Football17
On Football17 you can follow Serie A matches with live results, calendar, standings, statistics, lineups, benches, head-to-head comparisons, and detailed match information.
You can also check pages dedicated to teams and players to review recent results, upcoming matches, and available data throughout the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams participate in Serie A?
Serie A includes 20 teams.
How many matches does each team play?
Each team plays 38 matches during the season.
How many points is a win worth?
A win awards 3 points.
How many points is a draw worth?
A draw grants 1 point to each team.
What is the main objective?
The team finishing first wins the championship, while the best-ranked teams can qualify for European competitions.
What happens to the teams finishing in the lowest positions?
Teams finishing in relegation spots drop to Serie B.