Disney Sports Football kicks off its Game Boy Advance debut with three modes of play and a total of seven teams led by Mickey Mouse and company. Unlike its GameCube sibling, the title is played from a side-view perspective as players march up the field in Challenge, Exhibition, or Practice game modes. Teams include Mickey's Superstars, Donald's Seaducks, Goofy's Space Nuts, Big Bad Pete's Steamrollers, Mortimer's Imperials, and two generic squads called Flying Fowl and Lords.
Each team offers a lineup of 17 characters, ten of which are assigned to the bench as substitutes. All characters are individually rated in strength, speed, throw, catch, kick power, tackle, and agility, so players can choose to start characters based on certain skills. Challenge mode involves competing against each of the available teams in an attempt to win a championship, while Exhibition is a single game versus any team. Practice lets players fine-tune their offense, defense, kickoff returns, or kickoffs without worrying about completing downs or a ticking play clock.
While the action generally follows the rules of the sport, Disney Sports Football also includes magic power-ups and mines. After running over an on-field icon, players can unleash a magic spell by pressing both shoulder buttons. On offense, these spells include lightning strikes, earthquakes, higher jumps, faster speed, and more. Defensive magic may come in the form of a 100-ton weight falling on the ball carrier or the ability to deflect passes in midair. Mines, on the other hand, automatically cost a down if players run into them on the field. Game options include adjustable quarters, time, and individual toggles for both magic and mines.