| Founded in 1898, the Italian Football League, | | | | club play all other teams on two occasions, |
| also known as Italy soccer, is the highest | | | | once at their home stadium and once at the |
| football league in the country. Serie A, | | | | home of their opponents. The first half of a |
| which began in 1929, is the top division of | | | | traditional Italy soccer season consists of |
| Italy Soccer and is primarily sponsored by | | | | each team competing once against all of the |
| Italian mobile phone company TIM. Prior to | | | | other clubs. The second half of the season |
| the inception of Serie A, Italy soccer was | | | | will consist of the same competitions in the |
| structured into regional groups. The | | | | same order, with the only difference being |
| championship title is commonly referred to as | | | | the location of the games. |
| Scudetto, which means 'small shield' because | | | | |
| the champions' uniforms will feature a small | | | | When it comes to scoring, an Italy soccer |
| coat of arms during the following season. | | | | team receives three points for a win, one |
| After more than 100 years of play, Italy | | | | point for a tie and no points for a loss. |
| soccer is at the height of it's popularity in | | | | When it comes to tallying the points to see |
| both the eyes of the fans and in the media. | | | | which club will be crowned as champion, teams |
| As we know it today, Serie A is the most | | | | are ranked according to their total points |
| elite of all divisions in the Italian | | | | accumulated during the season. If two teams |
| Football League. Other divisions include | | | | are found to have equal points at the |
| Serie B, Serie C1, Serie C2, Serie D and | | | | conclusion of a season, those two teams will |
| Eccellenza. | | | | meet up in a one match playoff. The top four |
| | | | teams in the Serie A of Italy soccer will |
| With an Italy soccer league consisting of 18, | | | | qualify for the UEFA Champions League. |
| 18 or 20 teams, Serie A requires that each | | | | |