Abbreviations are standard in football as they describe a team or activity in short form.
Especially on league tables, they’re used to convey information about teams, which includes the number of wins, draws, losses, and goals scored.
These abbreviations are as old as the game itself, especially during the start of the professional era and the introduction of television coverage, which revolutionized the way we see the game.
So what is the meaning of the abbreviations on a league table?
W – (Win)
‘W’ on every football league table stands for a win. It is used to represent the number of wins a team or the list of participating teams have accrued throughout the season or competitions.
In soccer, a win is represented with three (3) points.
For example, if Real Madrid wins against Barcelona or vice versa, at the end of the result, it will be recorded under the win column.
What I mean is, when a team wins a game, be it at home or away, they are awarded three points, and this will be reflected on the column for Win (Win) on the league table.
D (Draw)
‘D’ represents the number of draws recorded by a team in the season. Teams who played out a draw will have their figures counted.
For example, if the Manchester derby between United and City ends in a 1-1 scoreline or a stalemate, it will reflect in this column.
L – (loss)
‘L’ is the abbreviation used to represent a loss. Every team’s loss during the season is shown in this column.
Although some tables would write it in full, it is often shortened with the letter L. For example, if Liverpool lost to Chelsea or Chelsea lost to Liverpool, it would be recorded under this column.
GA (Goal Against)
Simply put, a ‘goal against’ or GA indicates the number of goals your team has conceded in the competition or league. A team with a high number would signify having a poor defense.
For example, the total number of goals Bayern Munich has conceded during the season. A team with a good defense is expected to concede fewer goals.
In football, the fewer goals you concede or let into your goalpost, the better it is for your team. High figures in this column could be detrimental to your team.
GF (Goal For)
GF or GS, meaning ‘goals for’ or ‘goal scored, represents the number of goals a team has scored during a competition or league.
It shows the total number of goals a team or teams have scored against others, and it is vital to determine the winner, especially when it comes to head-to-head.
Goals are a crucial decider for your team, so you should score more goals to have a healthy goal difference.
MP or Pld (Match Played)
''MP'—The abbreviation stands for matches played. It refers to the number of games a team has played on the league table.
In this column, the total number of matches for the season or tournament will be indicated.
On every league table, MP (Matches played) is usually the first abbreviation for the participating teams.
G (goal for and goal against)
‘G’ in football or soccer represents goals. In some tables, ‘G’ means Goals For and Goal Against.
GD (goal difference)
‘Goal Difference’ represents the total number of goals scored by a team minus the goals conceded.
It is one of the most vital aspects of football that could determine the competition’s winner.
Teams should have fewer goals conceded and better goals scored to have an advantage over their competitors.
PTS (points)
PTS: PTS is the short form for points.
The column shows the total number of points accrued by a team during and after a competition or tournament. Points play a vital role as they are used to determine the winner.
Form Guide (Last 5)
This column is used to represent the team’s recent performance. It shows the team’s consistency or inconsistency in the previous games against other teams in competition.
GAvg (Goal Average)
GAvg: On every soccer table, the abbreviation GAvg means goal average, or the average number of goals scored in the league or competition.
GS (Goal Scored)
When you see the abbreviation GS, what should come to your mind is goal scored. This shows the total number of goals scored by an individual team on the table.
GR (Goal Ratio)
Goal ratio is not often seen on league tables, but it is also one of the short codes you will find out there.
NP: Not played
Not played shows the number of matches or fixtures a team has not played in the competition.
NR: Next round
The next round is also added to league tables as it represents the team that has advanced to the next round, especially in knockout competitions.
Pos (Position)
The position column on every league table shows the position of each team in the competition and how they are ranked.
Club or Team
Wrapping up
The soccer abbreviation W, D, L, GA, GF, MP, GD, PTS, and G are popular letters found on every league table.
The English Premier League, La Liga, MLS, and UEFA Champions League all adopt this abbreviation.