---
title: Format & rules
intro: The 4-team tournament format, the 24-second rule, 6 X Cards, and 4 President Cards that make XBall different from regular futsal.
updated: 1 Nov 2026
status: Terverifikasi
---

## 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](https://live.lapangbola.com/tournaments/fixtures/klasemen-x-series-2025)). The number does not mean a different level, division or kind of game.

| Edition | When | Where | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS-1 | 13–14 Sep 2025 | GOR UNJ, Jakarta | Lynx Hunters won, 16–15 over Nova Titans | [Lapangbola](https://live.lapangbola.com/tournaments/fixtures/klasemen-x-series-2025) |
| XS-2 | 17–18 Jan 2026 | GOR UNJ, Jakarta | Grim Reaper won on penalties over Nova Titans | [iNews](https://www.inews.id/sport/all-sport/jadwal-falcao-vs-ricardinho-di-gor-unj-xseries-2-siap-guncang-dunia-futsal/all), [Bola.com](https://www.bola.com/ragam/read/6259964/meski-tak-juara-ini-momen-paling-spesial-bagi-syamsir-alam) |
| XS-3 "The Unorthodox" | 23–24 Jan 2027 | Indonesia Arena, Jakarta | Not played yet | [GOERS](https://www.goersapp.com/events/xseries-3--xseries3), IG TICKET highlight |

What changes between editions is the venue (XS-1 and XS-2 were both at GOR UNJ, then XS-3 moves to the much bigger Indonesia Arena), the guest stars (Falcão and Ricardinho at XS-2; Luís Nani, Safee Sali, and the returning Ricardinho at XS-3) and how players are split across teams ([Bola.com](https://www.bola.com/indonesia/read/6258652/xseries-2-sajikan-sportainment-5v5-dengan-aturan-unik-dimeriahkan-bintang-nasional-hingga-dunia), [GOERS](https://www.goersapp.com/events/xseries-3--xseries3)). The full history is in [Edition timeline](/research/timeline-edisi/), and each team's squad per edition is in [Franchise teams](/research/tim/).

### 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:

| From | To | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| XS-1 (Sep 2025) | XS-2 (Jan 2026) | About 4 months |
| XS-2 (Jan 2026) | XS-3 (Jan 2027) | About 12 months |
| XS-3 (Jan 2027) | XS-4 | Not announced |

During XS-2, [Bola.com](https://www.bola.com/indonesia/read/6258652/xseries-2-sajikan-sportainment-5v5-dengan-aturan-unik-dimeriahkan-bintang-nasional-hingga-dunia) 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](https://www.goersapp.com/events/xseries-3--xseries3)). 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](/strategy/tujuan/#goal-u4).
- When XS-4 happens and whether there will be a fixed schedule is logged as [F13](/research/pertanyaan-terbuka/#q-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:

```viz-video
id: dV01YKtiNCo
label: XSERIES: EXPLAINED
caption: Official "XSERIES: EXPLAINED" video from the Games of Society YouTube channel ([watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV01YKtiNCo)). It shows the XS-1 version of the rules.
```

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 in the XS-2 version, according to [Bola.com](https://www.bola.com/indonesia/read/6258652/xseries-2-sajikan-sportainment-5v5-dengan-aturan-unik-dimeriahkan-bintang-nasional-hingga-dunia): the **24-second rule** for the whole match, **X Cards** in quarters 1 and 2, and **President Cards** in quarter 4 / the last 5 minutes. The order is drawn in [One match, three layers of rules](#one-match-three-layers-of-rules). Because a team that is behind still has a way back, XSERIES scores can look like basketball, such as the XS-1 final that ended 16–15 ([Lapangbola](https://live.lapangbola.com/tournaments/fixtures/klasemen-x-series-2025)).

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](https://www.bola.com/indonesia/read/6258652/xseries-2-sajikan-sportainment-5v5-dengan-aturan-unik-dimeriahkan-bintang-nasional-hingga-dunia): 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:

| Rule | XS-1 (official GOS video) | XS-2 (Bola.com) |
|---|---|---|
| Time split | Mentions "the first half" | Four quarters |
| X Cards allowed | First half only | Quarters 1 and 2 |
| President Cards appear | Last 2 minutes | Quarter 4 / last 5 minutes |
| Golden Boy | A President Card ("from Golden Goal to Golden Boy") | An X Card |
| Cards named | X Cards "from Freeze Goal to Reverse Score" | 6 X Cards and 4 President Cards, no Reverse Score |

Sources: the [official "XSERIES: EXPLAINED" video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV01YKtiNCo) (video description, 1 Sep 2025) and [Bola.com](https://www.bola.com/indonesia/read/6258652/xseries-2-sajikan-sportainment-5v5-dengan-aturan-unik-dimeriahkan-bintang-nasional-hingga-dunia) (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**. Who decides and whether cards are chosen or drawn is logged as [F14](/research/pertanyaan-terbuka/#q-f14), the number of cards per team as [F3](/research/pertanyaan-terbuka/#q-f3), and whether the XS-3 rules match XS-2 as [F2](/research/pertanyaan-terbuka/#q-f2). 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:

| Term | What it is | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| **X Cards and President Cards** | Game rules. Cards a team plays during a match | On the pitch, during the match |
| **Player reveal cards (rank A/Q/J/P)** | An Instagram format, styled like playing cards, used to announce XS-3 players | Player announcements. See [Players](/research/pemain/) |
| **Player card** (proposed) | A player profile shaped like a card in the digital product, which fans can collect | Website and app. See [UI direction](/visual-direction/arah-ui/) |

### 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:

```viz-flow
## Before the match
kicker: Phase 1
tone: product
- How to Play page | Each card shows as a game card: name, effect, and the quarter it is used in. Flip it to see an example
## During the match
kicker: Phase 2
tone: product
- Live match companion | The card that is active now, its time left (for example 2 minutes of Freeze Goal), and each team's card history
## Taking part
kicker: Phase 2
tone: product
- Card call | Each time a card is played, fans get 30–60 seconds to predict what it will do. See [Predict & Back](/strategy/fitur-dan-prioritas/#predict-back)
## After the match
kicker: Phase 1–2
tone: product
- Match center and archive | A timeline of goals and cards, so late viewers understand why the score jumped
band: Each card can also carry a sponsor, for example "Triple Goal presented by [Brand]". Priorities are in [Features & priorities](/strategy/fitur-dan-prioritas/).
```

## 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.

```viz-flow
## Day 1
kicker: Saturday · semifinals
tone: day
- Semifinal 1 | 14:00–17:30 WIB (XS-3 schedule)
- Semifinal 2 | 18:00–21:30 WIB (XS-3 schedule)
## Day 2
kicker: Sunday · deciders
tone: day
- Third-place match | 14:00–17:30 WIB (XS-3 schedule)
- Final | 18:00–21:30 WIB (XS-3 schedule)
band: **4 franchise teams**, unchanged since XS-1: Grim Reaper, Nova Titans, Lynx Hunters, Fury Squad. The game is called **XBall**, "the next-generation 5v5 game".
```

## One match, three layers of rules

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

```viz-flow
## Quarters 1 and 2
kicker: X Cards
tone: x
- 6 cards that change the course of the match | 1v1 Shoot, Reset All Players, Freeze Goal, Extra Time, X-Man, Golden Boy
## Quarter 3
kicker: Unclear
tone: muted
- Sources do not mention a special card in this quarter | See [F15](/research/pertanyaan-terbuka/#q-f15)
## Quarter 4 / last 5 minutes
kicker: President Cards
tone: pres
- 4 cards that can flip the result | Royal Rumble, Reset Score, Triple Goal, Golden Goal
band: **24-second rule.** A team may not keep possession for more than 24 seconds. If it does, the opponent gets a kick-in. The rule borrows the basketball shot clock to keep the tempo high.
```

## X Cards (quarters 1 and 2)

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

```viz-cards
label: X Card
tone: x
## 1v1 Shoot
num: 1
- A 1-on-1 duel from the center of the court, maximum 6 seconds
## Reset All Players
num: 2
- The positions of all opposing players are reset for 2 minutes
## Freeze Goal
num: 3
- The card holder's goal cannot concede for 2 minutes
## Extra Time
num: 4
- Match time is extended by 3 minutes
## X-Man
num: 5
- Add 1 player, making it 6v5
## Golden Boy
num: 6
- The coach picks 1 player
- Their goals are worth 3, or 6 if scored from the second line
```

## President Cards (quarter 4 / last 5 minutes)

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

```viz-cards
label: President
tone: pres
## Royal Rumble
num: 1
- It becomes 7v7
## Reset Score
num: 2
- The score goes back to 0–0
## Triple Goal
num: 3
- All goals count 3x
## Golden Goal
num: 4
- The team that scores first wins
```

> [!EVIDENCE]
> The card list above comes from the [Bola.com article on the XS-2 format](https://www.bola.com/indonesia/read/6258652/xseries-2-sajikan-sportainment-5v5-dengan-aturan-unik-dimeriahkan-bintang-nasional-hingga-dunia). 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.

![X Card Girl Savana at XS-1](/assets/evidence/xs1-1.jpg "IG highlight XS-1: X Card Girl Savana (@ssvaanah) and the court with the GAME WITHOUT LIMITS LED.")
![POWER REVEAL story during XS-2](/assets/evidence/xs2-matchday-1.jpg "IG highlight XS-2: King Juggling and entertainment content on match day.")

## Scoring implications

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

```viz-stats
- 16–15 | XS-1 final | Lynx Hunters vs Nova Titans | ink
- 16–10 | XS-1 third-place match | Grim Reaper vs Fury Squad
- 3 / 6 | Value of one Golden Boy goal | 6 if scored from the second line
- 3x | All goals during Triple Goal | President Card
```

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](/strategy/tujuan/#goal-u1) and [U3](/strategy/tujuan/#goal-u3), and challenges [HU1](/strategy/tantangan-hmw/#q-hu1) and [HU2](/strategy/tantangan-hmw/#q-hu2). The full flow is in [Connecting the dots](/strategy/benang-merah/).

> [!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](/research/pertanyaan-terbuka/#q-f2) and [F3](/research/pertanyaan-terbuka/#q-f3) on the [Open questions](/research/pertanyaan-terbuka/).

## Sources

- [Bola.com: XSeries-2 offers 5v5 sportainment with unique rules](https://www.bola.com/indonesia/read/6258652/xseries-2-sajikan-sportainment-5v5-dengan-aturan-unik-dimeriahkan-bintang-nasional-hingga-dunia)
- [Lapangbola: XS-1 results](https://live.lapangbola.com/tournaments/fixtures/klasemen-x-series-2025)
- [YouTube Games of Society: XSERIES: EXPLAINED](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV01YKtiNCo), official rules video, 1 Sep 2025
- [GOERS: XSERIES-3 tickets](https://www.goersapp.com/events/xseries-3--xseries3)
- [iNews: XS-2 schedule at GOR UNJ](https://www.inews.id/sport/all-sport/jadwal-falcao-vs-ricardinho-di-gor-unj-xseries-2-siap-guncang-dunia-futsal/all)
- IG highlights @xseries___: FAQ and TICKET (XS-3 schedule), XS-1, XS-2