Empherias in Football

History
Following the invention of proper football in Ahitereira, the sport blew up across Empherias and soon overtook the national sport of Fencing in popularity.

National Team
the national team of Empherias was founded in 2446 and they took part in the first World Cup in 2450 with only a couple years of training and finished in the Round of 16. They took part in the bi-annually High Kingdoms Football Cup for every edition of the tournament and finished in first place a total of 5 times (2470, 2472, 2490, 2494, and 2496). Interestingly, Empherias has won twice consecutively on two occasions in 2470 & 2472, and then 2494 & 2496. Empherias have also only won the competition while they or neighbouring nation Grensalbourg had hosted the country, perhaps giving legitimacy to the idea that there is a home stadium advantage. Empherias hosted the 2480 World Cup.

Club Leagues
Empherias has one of the most in depth, accessible to newcomers, and prestigious leagues in the world. The Empherias Football League comprises of 144 clubs split between 4 divisions which includes 18 groups of 8, separated by their ability. All 8 countries in the group will do a round robin across the year. The bottom club from each group will be relegated to the group below. The winner of the top group, known as the S League, will be crowned the Winners of that season's Empherias Football League. At the lowest group in a division, the relegation will include 2 teams, while the top of the previous division will be able to promote 2 teams too. Finally, in the bottom 18th group, the 3 final places will be relegated and removed from the league. A scouting agency will look for new teams to add into the bottom league, including all under age teams such as the U-16 leagues. The League doesn't have to be filled to start the Empherias Football League. Many seasons, including the first ever, started with only the first two divisions filled. For any team relegated, there is no boundary or cooldown on returning to the league.

There have been many instances of clubs performing badly on purpose to be relegated to a lower league, only to do very well against those teams

Grensalbourg
Grensalbourgish teams compete in the Empherias Football League. Otherwise, they have their own independent national team.

Palakkinen
Palak teams compete in the Empherias Football League. Otherwise, they have their own independent national team.