FootyChess™
Where Time Is Measured in Moves—and Glory in Goals.
At the dawn of the 20th century, when the world was stitched together by steamships and telegrams, Football traveled port to port—carried by boots, dreams, and stories. Alongside it, quietly passed from cabin to cabin, came another creation: FootyChess™
Forged by sailors who knew the game by heart but missed the pitch beneath their feet, FootyChess™ was born aboard ships, during long voyages across the Atlantic; with worn, oversized Chess sets modified to fit their vision and matchday memories etched in their minds, they created a new ritual—one that mirrored the rhythm of Football, captured its emotion, and demanded its strategy.
Played under flickering lanterns, with the creak of wood and the roar of distant seas, FootyChess™ became a sacred pastime among the earliest global carriers of the Beautiful Game.
It was never published. Only played, shared, refined—and eventually reserved for a selected few... until now.
In the shadow of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this hidden tradition returns.
The Game
FootyChess™ is Football reborn as pure strategy through the lens of Chess.
Every slot on the Pitch is a zone of consequence, and every move carries the tension of a real match—whether you’re building from the back or delivering the killer pass.
The Player-Pieces each have a specific role and a distinctive silhouette—a rounded base, a classic ball at the center, and an upper form that reflects their tactical identity.
The Black and White teams feature a marble finish, with a collector’s style inspired by early 20th-century classics—honoring both tradition and competition.
Your Starting Lineup:
- 1 Goalkeeper (King)
- 2 Central Defenders (Knights)
- 2 Wingbacks (Rooks)
- 3 Defensive Midfielders (Pawns)
- 2 Attacking Midfielders (Bishops)
- 1 Center Forward (Queen)
⚽ Then there are the scoring moments:
Direct Checkmate Goals and Set Pieces (Penalty Kicks, Free Kicks, Corner Kicks—even daring Half-Field Goal attempts)—can all decide the match in a single move.
The action unfolds on a board larger than traditional Chess: a Green Velvet Checkered Football Pitch, its surface soft yet sharp to the eye, surrounded by polished cherrywood and silvery birch, trimmed in gold.
At each end, Goal Zones and Penalty Areas define the layout, while the overall design pays tribute to the symmetry, markings, and tactical presence of an authentic Football field.
The design recalls the refined aesthetics of the early 1900s, where detail spoke of dignity and sport was played with both fire... and formality.
This is not a toy.
FootyChess™ is a competitive tradition.
A legacy once kept secret—passed from generation to generation—that now returns, revived and ready for the world.
Are you ready to leave your mark on FootyChess™ history?
Learn It. Master It. Own the Match.
Born at sea as a secret ritual shared between generations of Footballers, FootyChess™ now returns as the tactical heartbeat of every matchday gathering—at home or at the pub, with family or among die-hard fans.
Easy to learn, deep when mastered: if you know how Chess pieces move, you already hold the keys to becoming a true strategist on the pitch.
You’ll learn to:
- Position your Goalkeeper (King) to protect the Goal Zone with decisive reflexes.
- Command your Central Defenders (Knights) to cut off and anticipate attacks like seasoned veterans.
- Control the pitch with your Defensive Midfielders (Pawns).
- Surge forward, fall back, and hold the line up the flanks with your Wingbacks (Rooks).
- Break lines with your Attacking Midfielders (Bishops) using lethal diagonals.
- And unleash your Center Forward (Queen)—the most dangerous threat on the Board/Field—with a striking range worthy of Football legends.
FootyChess™ isn’t just a game, it's thinking, anticipating, and playing with nerve—where Football becomes pure strategy.
The Drama of Dead Ball Situations
In FootyChess™ every Set Piece is a pause loaded with tension.
The clock stops.
The crowd fades.
The board falls silent.
One move could decide it all.
In the timeless game of Chess, anticipating your opponent's moves is a cornerstone of strategy. FootyChess™ rewards those who think moves ahead—those who shape the board and draw their opponents into traps.
And when your Center Forward (Queen) lines up toward goal, silence takes over… A Checkmate Goal is looming.
In that frozen instant, FootyChess™ no longer feels like a board game—it becomes a living Football pitch, with every Player-Piece waiting for the move that could change everything.
Set Pieces aren’t just opportunities—they’re moments that define the match.
Pure Football drama executed through the precision of Chess.
Experience Every Minute on the Pitch!
Kickoff Surge: The Match Ignites!
In the quiet isolation of the open sea, FootyChess™ became a lifeline for sailors who dreamed of stadiums—a way to feel the rhythm of a Football match when no pitch was in sight.
With every move echoing a minute, they recreated the matchday experience from memory and instinct, passing it down as a sacred ritual of Football strategy.
Now, that same pulse beats through you.
From Move 1, the match surges to life.
Like a squad emerging under floodlights, your Player-Pieces burst into action—each move a calculated strike, echoing the adrenaline of Minute 1 as the stadium erupts.
By Move 20, you’re in the thick of it.
Tension builds. Shapes tighten. Risks rise.
Every pass and press carries the weight of Minute 20—a turning point where tempo meets pressure, and one strike can shape the rest of the match.
In FootyChess™ you don’t just play against the clock—you move with it.
Final Whistle: Glory Awaits!
The clock ticks on and reaches Minute 45… the last move of the half.
The stadium holds its breath. Scarves rise.
The roar fades to silence.
Your Attacking Midfielder (Bishop) lines up for the decisive strike.
A Checkmate Goal is within reach—one move can change everything.
Or your Goalkeeper (King) dives for a save that will be remembered forever.
Or your Central Defender (Knight) slides in with an L-shaped tackle and stops a last-gasp Direct Checkmate Goal—as the referee signals the half, and frustration erupts from the opposing end.
This is Minute 45!—and in FootyChess™, the final move doesn’t just end the half, it defines how the match will be remembered, because...
no two matches are ever the same.
Check out the Time Cards above, showcasing Minute 1 and Minute 45—each one capturing the rhythm and intensity of the match.
Every move is a minute—every minute can change everything.
Clear Rules. Quick to Learn. FootyChess™ Awaits.
The Official Rule Book and Quick Reference Card (also available in Spanish as Futjedrez™) explain every mechanic with clarity—from Direct Checkmate Goals to Set Pieces, including the strategic use of Yellow and Red Cards at key moments in the match.
And if the match ends in a draw?
A heart-pounding Penalty Shootout—inspired by Football’s greatest decider—awaits to crown the victor in true dramatic fashion, with Sudden Death looming if the tie still holds.
Join our Elite List and be among the first to enter the world of FootyChess™—a legacy born from the industrial heartbeat of early 20th-century cities, where cobblestone streets echoed with Football chants and factory whistles, and every smoky pub corner could erupt into strategy sessions under flickering lights.
Get ready to turn every night into a tactical showdown—where even the most casual fan can unleash the spirit of Football in every Chess move.
FootyChess™
Help Bring FootyChess™ to Life!
As we gear up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, your support during our Kickstarter Campaign at kickstarter.com in early 2026 will be key to launching FootyChess™ worldwide.
With your help, this one-of-a-kind game—celebrated for its brilliant fusion of Football’s excitement and Chess’s strategic depth—can reach players everywhere.
Join us in making it happen!