Frequently asked questions

Everything people usually ask about Gaffer XI. Still stuck? There is a contact form in the footer of the game.

What is Gaffer XI?

Gaffer XI is a free browser football draft game. You choose a formation and draft your dream XI one player at a time from the greatest sides in football history — clubs, countries and eras all mixed — then play a league, cup or World Cup for the trophies. Finished runs can be placed on a live Hall of Fame.

Is Gaffer XI free to play?

Yes. Gaffer XI is completely free to play in your browser at gafferxi.app, with no download and no sign-up required. The game is kept free with light, non-intrusive advertising.

Do I need to download anything or create an account?

No. Gaffer XI runs entirely in your browser — no download, no install and no account needed to play. Your progress and settings are stored locally on your device.

What game modes are there?

There are four. League is a full season for the title; Cup is a straight knockout; World Cup covers every tournament from 1998 to 2026 plus an all-time mixed mode with national squads; and Money Mode is a budget squad-builder where you buy an XI from a priced market and take on rival managers. You can read more in the how-to-play guide.

What is the Hall of Fame?

The Hall of Fame is a live, public leaderboard. When you finish a run you can submit it, and it is ranked per mode. There are also underdog boards that reward winning with the lowest-rated or cheapest team, so clever, modest sides can top the charts too.

Which languages does Gaffer XI support?

The game is available in English, Dutch, German and Indonesian. You can switch language from the menu at any time.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. Gaffer XI is designed to work on phones, tablets and desktop browsers. There is nothing to install — just open the site and play.

Are the players and clubs official?

No. Gaffer XI is an unofficial fan project with no affiliation to any club, league, federation or player. No official logos, crests or photos are used; names are referenced for identification only and all ratings are fictional. See the about page and terms for detail.

Ready to go? Start a draft or browse the tips & strategy.