> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.matchely.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a competition

> The wizard step by step, from picking a format to the first round going live.

Creating a competition is **five steps** in a wizard — Name, Venue, Format,
Setup, and Review — plus two actions afterwards: publish it, and open the first
round.

## 1. Name

The name is the only required field here. The competition's **address** is
suggested from it — that is the link you send to participants.

## 2. Venue

Search for the court or club. If it is not on the map, use **Can't find the
place? Enter it manually**.

## 3. Format

The step that decides most about how the competition will feel. Each format
shows how many players it takes, who it suits, and what you gain and give up by
picking it. Torn between two? Use **Compare formats**. Formats that do not fit
the chosen sport stay in the list, disabled and with the reason: singles goes
Direct Elimination, World Cup and Pyramid are singles-only.

<Frame caption="Each format shows its player range, who it is best for, and its pros and cons.">
  <img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/matchely/44XsfvcL4A5v5qLm/images/ds/competicao/formatos-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=44XsfvcL4A5v5qLm&q=85&s=cfb768157f1bf00f5cca97ceb2e0172f" alt="The six competition format cards in light theme: League, Direct Elimination, World Cup, Super 8, Super 4 and Challenge Pyramid" width="552" height="1224" data-path="images/ds/competicao/formatos-light.png" />

  <img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/matchely/44XsfvcL4A5v5qLm/images/ds/competicao/formatos-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=44XsfvcL4A5v5qLm&q=85&s=488f2e0fdafc03253b2c11bd17a3a640" alt="The six competition format cards in dark theme: League, Direct Elimination, World Cup, Super 8, Super 4 and Challenge Pyramid" width="552" height="1224" data-path="images/ds/competicao/formatos-dark.png" />
</Frame>

Depending on the format, this step also covers:

* **Bracket options** (Direct Elimination and World Cup): third-place playoff
  and consolation bracket
* **Divisions**: one, or up to eight, defined right here

## 4. Setup

Start and end dates, the entry deadline, the currency, and how entry is
charged:

| Mode                    | How it works                                                                             |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Free**                | No charge                                                                                |
| **Manual charge**       | You provide your Pix key; the participant pays outside the app and you approve the entry |
| **Handled by Matchely** | Payment happens in the app and lands in your account                                     |

<Warning>
  **Handled by Matchely** requires connecting your Mercado Pago account
  **before** publishing. And the entry deadline has to end before the start
  date — the wizard will not let you move on until the dates line up.
</Warning>

## 5. Review

The last screen repeats everything. Here you can also publish the competition
under an **Organization** (club, academy, venue) and use **Finish later** to
save it as a draft.

On confirmation the competition is created — but still **as a draft**: nobody
sees it and nobody can enter. A draft can be deleted; a published competition
cannot.

<Note>
  You do not need a cover to publish. Without one, Matchely uses a default
  image for the format — you can upload yours later, under **Information**.
</Note>

## Publishing

Open the admin area and use the button in the banner at the top. Publishing
automatically creates the **first edition** and the first round.

## Opening round 1

With participants in, go to **Schedule → Start Round**. Before generating the
matches, Matchely builds a preliminary table and lets you reorder who faces
whom.

<Warning>
  Publishing the matches **freezes that order** into the pairings. Reorder
  before confirming — after that, only by redoing the round.
</Warning>

In a League with 4 participants that means 6 pairings: everyone plays everyone.