WEBVTT

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(upbeat music)

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- Behind me is the Cupra Arena.

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Every week, 12 teams, headed by some

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of the Spanish-speaking
world's biggest Twitch stars

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and celebrities, gather
here to duke it out

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and find out who advances
to the next round.

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This is the King's League.

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(upbeat music)
(crowd shouting)

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The King's League is an
indoor soccer league created

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by former FC Barcelona
player, Gerard Pique,

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that aims to knock mainstream
soccer off its throne.

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Unlike traditional outdoor games

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Kings League matches are
quick and full of drama

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and video game flare.

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Games last for two 20-minute
halves and teams are led

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by famous Twitch streamers or
ex-professional soccer stars.

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They're also not shown on TV,

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but can be watched for free on
Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok.

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You don't have to be
a professional to play

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in the King's League.

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Anyone can apply for one of
the 10 positions on each team.

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Streamers are also allowed
to choose two extra players

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as their wild cards.

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For some games, streamers
have chosen wild cards

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like the Mexican Striker Chicharito,

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or the Brazilian soccer
legend, Ronaldinho.

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To start off the game,

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a referee places the
soccer ball in the middle

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of the field and has both teams run

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in from the sidelines to
try to get possession.

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In a reference to video games,
the Kings League has a number

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of secret weapon cards that
apply during each game.

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The cards include getting
a free penalty kick

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or having goals count as
two points instead of one.

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There's also a one-on-one card,

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which leaves each team with
only one player on the field.

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Not everyone is thrilled
with Pique's King's League.

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The Spanish Professional Soccer League has

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called the King's League a circus.

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Even the streamer presidents
themselves grumble

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and complain about how the
rules are confusing sometimes.

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However, the King's League

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is obviously doing something right.

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It has attracted hundreds of thousands

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of viewers for each game since its debut

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on January 1st and shows
no signs of stopping.

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Although Pique and Company are comfortable

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in the Cupra Arena,

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they won't be here for long.

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The Kings League final will be played

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in Barcelona's Camp Nou,

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one of the world's most
famous soccer stadiums.

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Unlike previous Kings League matches,

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this one will be open to the public.

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See you there.

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