> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://gameday-squad.gitbook.io/gameday-squad/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://gameday-squad.gitbook.io/gameday-squad/sports/football/learning-the-game/competitions/special-competition.md).

# Special Competition

New for the 2026/27 Football season, GameDay Squad is running three special competitions alongside the five standard competitions. Each one asks something different of your squad, and each one carries its own round and seasonal prize pool.

### Under 23s

* Salary Cap: 11mil
* Rarities Allowed: Bronze (4 card limit), Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Legend and Special Cards
* Special Card Limit: 3 (3 All Star limit, 1 Prize Card limit)
* Special Rules: Only players **born on or after 1 July 2003** are eligible

The Under 23s Competition is where the next generation gets its run. Only players born on or after 1 July 2003 can be selected, so the household names carrying most squads across the rest of the platform are off the table entirely.

That changes what a good squad looks like. Success here comes from knowing which young players are getting genuine minutes, which academy graduates have forced their way into a starting eleven, and which teenagers are about to break out before the rest of the platform catches on. The Bronze limit of 4 keeps the competition accessible while still asking you to build real depth in your young player pool.

### Underdogs

* Salary Cap: 10.5mil
* Rarities Allowed: Bronze (4 card limit), Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Legend (1 card limit) and Special Cards
* Special Card Limit: 2 (2 All Star limit, 1 Prize Card limit)
* Special Rules: Only players from clubs **not competing in European competition** this season are eligible

The Underdogs Competition locks out every club playing European football this season. Nine clubs qualified for the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League, which leaves **11 clubs** to build your squad from.

**Eligible clubs for 2026/27**

| Eligible Clubs   |                   |
| ---------------- | ----------------- |
| Brentford        | Leeds United      |
| Chelsea          | Nottingham Forest |
| Fulham           | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Newcastle United | Coventry City     |
| Everton          | Ipswich Town      |
| Hull City        |                   |

With no European fixtures to contend with, these clubs field their strongest available sides far more consistently across the season. No midweek trips across the continent, no rotation before a big second leg. The Legend limit of 1 and the tighter 10.5mil cap mean you cannot simply buy your way to the top of this one.

### The Stats Lab Primetime

* Salary Cap: No Salary Cap
* Rarities Allowed: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Legend (8 card limit) and Special Cards
* Special Card Limit: No Limit
* Special Rules: Only players in matches that **start on a Saturday AEST** are eligible

The Stats Lab Primetime is the one competition with no salary cap and no limit on special cards. Bring absolutely everything you own, up to a maximum of 8 Legend cards.

The catch is the schedule. Only matches kicking off on a Saturday Australian Eastern Standard Time count, so your entire squad has to come from a single slate of fixtures. Every round you are working out which Saturday games give you the deepest pool of premium players, and building the strongest possible squad from that narrow window.

Run in partnership with The Stats Lab, this is the highest weekly cash prize of any competition outside the Champion Comp.

***

Emergency selections in all three special competitions are limited to Bronze cards. The full breakdown is on the Emergencies page.