Format & rules

The short version

Never watched XSERIES? Read this part first. The sections after it hold the full detail. Every claim below links to its source. Parts that are the documentation team's proposal are marked Proposal.

What XS-1, XS-2 and XS-3 mean

The number after XS is the edition number, like a season. Each edition is a two-day tournament with the same four teams: Grim Reaper, Nova Titans, Lynx Hunters and Fury Squad (Lapangbola). The number does not mean a different level, division or kind of game.

What changes between editions is the venue (bigger each time), the guest stars (Falcão and Ricardinho at XS-2, Luís Nani at XS-3) and how players are split across teams (Bola.com, GOERS). The full history is in Edition timeline, and each team's squad per edition is in Franchise teams.

Is there an XS-4, and how often is XSERIES held?

XS-4 has not been announced as of 1 Nov 2026: it is not on Instagram @xseries___, on GOERS, or in any news we found. XSERIES also has no fixed schedule. The gap between editions varies and is getting longer:

During XS-2, Bola.com reported a plan for XS-3 in May 2026, XS-4 in September 2026 and XS-5 abroad. That did not happen: XS-3 slipped by about 8 months, but moved up to Indonesia Arena (GOERS). The pattern: fewer editions, each one bigger.

Proposal for the digital product:

• Do not promise a fixed schedule such as "every 6 months". Show "Next edition" with a date when there is one, and a waitlist sign-up when there is not.
• Long gaps between editions need content between seasons so fans do not drift away. See goal U4.
• When XS-4 happens and whether there will be a fixed schedule is logged as F13.

How a match is played

The quickest way in is this official GOS video (2 minutes 50 seconds), uploaded on 1 Sep 2025 just before XS-1:

The base is 5-a-side futsal. According to the video, a few base rules set it apart from futsal:

• No kickoff and no draws. If the score is level, the match goes straight to a penalty shootout.
• The pitch is bigger than futsal but smaller than mini soccer.
• A goal from beyond the second line counts double.
• Breaks are for strategy, including choosing cards.

On top of those come three extra layers of rules. The XS-2 version below comes from Bola.com:

Using a card is like a power-up in a game. The card is played at the allowed time, announced on the pitch, and takes effect at once. At XS-1 the cards were carried onto the pitch by "X Card Girl" Savana (IG XS-1 highlight). An example from Bola.com: when Golden Boy is played, the coach picks one player, and every goal by that player is worth 3.

Card rules changed between editions

The official GOS video and media coverage describe card timing differently. Most likely the rules were adjusted after XS-1:

Sources: the official "XSERIES: EXPLAINED" video (video description, 1 Sep 2025) and Bola.com (Jan 2026). The XS-3 rules have not been published.

Warning

Both sources only give card names, effects and when cards may be played. Who decides (coach or captain), how many cards each team gets, and whether cards are chosen or drawn has not been officially explained. These questions are logged as F2 and F3. The How to Play page must follow the rules of the current edition, so the XS-3 rules need to be confirmed with the client.

Three different things called "card"

The word "card" is used for three different things in these docs. Keep them apart. The first two come from public sources; the third is a proposal from the documentation team:

Cards in the digital product

This part is a proposal from the documentation team, not official information. Today cards are only explained in media articles, one YouTube video, and Instagram stories that disappear after 24 hours. New viewers, especially on YouTube, cannot tell which card is active. The digital product fills this gap at four moments:

Tournament format

One edition runs for two days with four matches. Read left to right: semifinals on day one, then the third-place match and final on day two.

One match, three layers of rules

See when each type of card can be used. The 24-second rule applies for the whole match.

X Cards (quarters 1 and 2)

These six cards change the situation on the court, but they do not flip the score.

President Cards (quarter 4 / last 5 minutes)

These four cards are made for the end of the match, when comebacks are most dramatic.

Evidence

The card list above comes from the Bola.com article on the XS-2 format. In the XS-1 highlights, "X Card Girl" Savana (@ssvaanah) carries a card onto the court, so using a card is also a stage moment.

Scoring implications

Compare the XS-1 scores with regular futsal scores. The numbers look more like basketball.

Golden Boy and Triple Goal can make the score jump. This means:

• A comeback is always possible. Reset Score and Triple Goal keep a match open until the last minute.
• Coach decisions become part of the show. When to play a card is a strategy that fans can analyze and predict.
• It needs visual explanation. New viewers need to know which card is active. This is a real need for broadcast overlays, scoreboards, and the digital product.

This finding feeds goals U1 understand the rules and U3 engaged during the match, and challenges HU1 and HU2. The full flow is in Connecting the dots.

Note

There is no official source yet on quarter length, number of cards per team, or whether the XS-3 rules are the same as XS-2. See F2 and F3 on the Open questions.

Sources

• Bola.com: XSeries-2 offers 5v5 sportainment with unique rules
• Lapangbola: XS-1 results
• YouTube Games of Society: XSERIES: EXPLAINED, official rules video, 1 Sep 2025
• GOERS: XSERIES-3 tickets
• iNews: XS-2 schedule at GOR UNJ
• IG highlights @xseries___: FAQ and TICKET (XS-3 schedule), XS-1, XS-2