Welcome to FC Dynasty Cup XV. The Cup XIV Champion, the crutchanators of soccer and brandon5135, is back to defend their title and gets the honor of the pre-tournament #1 seed (always the first listed team in Group A.)

With 28 teams, we'll be using a format that hasn't been used since Cup IV all the way back in March 2020 when Hespeler Impact and Charlamaine had its glorious run to be crowned Champion. Hard to believe it's been almost five years ago. The most significant takeaway about the 28 team format is that two 3rd place teams qualify and there are no byes - every playoff team plays in the First Round in a true 16-team playoff bracket.

The following tournament format and rules will apply.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The tournament will be split into stages, a group play followed by knockout rounds leading to a Championship Round. Teams will be eliminated at the end of each stage until a Champion is crowned. This Champion will lay claim to glory and shall have bragging rights over the entirety of the FC Dynasty universe for a very short period of time.

Group Stage
Each team is assigned to a group. Group play will consist of a round robin, with each team playing a home and away against the other teams within their group for a total of six Group Stage games. Points will be awarded on the following: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.

The top two teams in points out of each group will advance to the Knockout Stage along with the two best 3rd place finishers. Tiebreakers will be decided in the following order: stage points - goal differential - away goals - goals scored. If the teams are still tied, a coin flip using random.org's random number service will determine who advances.

Knockout Stage
Each round will be a home and away series with the winner based on aggregate goals. If aggregate goals are tied, away goals will be used as a tiebreaker. If a tie still exists, the higher seed will host the lower seed in an additional game. If that game ends in a tie, the lower seed will host a game and so on for as long as the time frame allows (please see the time frame explanation in the Tournament Rules below.) If the time frame expires and a tie still exists, a coin flip using random.org's random number service will determine who advances.

Seeding for the knockout rounds will be based on stage points - goal differential - away goals - goals scored. The seven group winners will automatically be awarded the first seven seeds, the 2nd place finishers will get seeds 8-14 and the two 3rd place finishers that advance will be assigned the 15th and 16th seeds.

The 1st Round will consist of the following:

#1 seed vs #16 seed
#2 seed vs #15 seed
#3 seed vs #14 seed
#4 seed vs #13 seed
#5 seed vs #12 seed
#6 seed vs #11 seed
#7 seed vs #10 seed
#8 seed vs #9 seed

The quarterfinals will consist of the following:

#1/16 vs #8/9
#2/15 vs #7/10
#3/14 vs #6/11
#4/13 vs #5/12

The semifinals will consist of the following:

#1 seed quarterfinals bracket vs #4 seed quarterfinals bracket
#2 seed quarterfinals bracket vs #3 seed quarterfinals bracket

Championship Round
The Championship Round will match the two remaining teams in a home and away series with the winner being based on aggregate goals. Away goals are not used as a tiebreaker in the Championship Round. If an aggregate goal tie occurs, the host of the additional game will be decided by a coin flip using random.org's random number service. The Championship Round is the only round not subject to a time frame. Tiebreakers will be played until a Champion is declared.

TOURNAMENT RULES
Each stage of the tournament will have a specific time frame in which all games must be scheduled. Everybody will be sending challenges simultaneously, especially at the start of the tournament, so overlap is inevitable. To account for the fact that it may take several attempts to get all games on the docket, the time frame is generous. However, failure to schedule games within the allotted time will result in a forfeiture. On the evening of the last day for each stage, all games that have not been scheduled will be deemed a 0-0 draw so that the stage can be completed. The team failing to issue (or accept) a challenge will be awarded no points for the drawn game and any team with more than one forfeiture during the Group Stage cannot advance. Any team with any forfeiture during a Knockout Rounds match-up cannot advance. The team deemed at fault is at my discretion but it is usually obvious which team has gone AWOL.

As a general rule, the following guideline should be used. If you receive a challenge in the same slot you have sent a challenge, please accept the incoming challenge and re-issue your own. If you receive multiple challenges in the same slot, choose one ASAP to give the team you declined as much time as possible to issue a new request. Remember, the team issuing the challenge is the home team. If more games are scheduled than needed (you send two challenges to the same team and both are accepted,) only the first game will count unless I am told otherwise and prior to the first game being played.

Unscheduled Games (Post #6 below) will start tracking unscheduled games during each stage. In the last 72 hours of each time frame, any team that has not received a challenge by an opponent (or has sent a challenge that has not been accepted,) should post a request to the other coach here or, if the coach does not have posting rights, via sitemail to gomiami1972, who will post the request on your behalf. I would prefer, if you do not have posting rights, to send requests through me rather than sitemail each other. Many FC Dynasty owners to not check sitemail regularly. This thread is the best place to communicate with fellow participants..

Time Frame to Schedule Group Stage Games - September 9th thru September 20th (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the 20th. This does not mean the games must be played by the 20h.)
Time Frame to Schedule 1st Round Games - TBD (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the xxth. This does not mean the games must be played by the xxth.)
Time Frame to Schedule Quarterfinal Games - TBD (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the xxth. This does not mean the games must be played by the xxth.)
Time Frame to Schedule Semifinal Games - TBD (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the xxth This does not mean the games must be played by the xxth.)

Best of luck to all participants in their quest for the ultimate prize - The FC Dynasty Cup!


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List of Participants

Group A
the crutchanators of soccer (World 79) - brandon5135 (defending Champion)
Kiki United (World 87) - macchiato
Real TK (World 92) - kobegriffin
FC Edinburgh Bullet Birds (World 90) - craigferguso

Group B
Swamp City Dragons (World 64) - sd69
Old Field Ospreys (World 78) - dd6877
FC Cackalacky (World 79) - clememp
Wolfsburg Dynamit (World 87) - BruKing

Group C
Club de Fútbol Deportivo Cotopaxi (World 82) - indiansrck27
FC Trojans of SC (World 62) - spdracer
Not Very United (World 85) - pubmonkey2
VB Hibernian (World 74) - EJP

Group D
North Polar Dragons FC (World 79) - shoe3
FC Stolpen Steamroller (World 71) - Dorf
Bolton Wanderers (World 80) - mcbellows
Merchiston FC (World 90) - colinhtucker

Group E
FC Not Very Athletic (World 62) - pubmonkey
Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e. V. (World 71) gomiami1972
Halle Côte d'Or (World 63) - maximedevos
FC Kingston (World 80) - jmjtrain

Group F
Fianna AFC (World 62) - EJP65
Kobelco United Football Club (World 87) - nittany88
Bad News (World 92) - douglaslee
Metropolitan Eagles (World 78) - KSBeachBums

Group G
Bordeaux Fighting Bovines (World 92) - ttnorm
Rushmore FC (World 59) - bert_fischer
Brighton AFC (World 62) - vkurk
SwampDragons United (World 72) - sd59

Group Tables and Results

Group tables and results will be updated every evening around 7pm during the Group Stage of the tournament. Individual game results show the home team always to the LEFT of the bracketed score. Table abbreviations key: GoalF = goals for, GoalA = goals against, GoalD = goal differential, AwayG = away goals, (F) = team has forfeited point(s) due to failure to schedule, Blue Highlighting = qualified for the next round, (#) Knockout Seed. Thru 9/17
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GROUP A - 3 games remaining	Wins	Loss	Ties	GoalF	GoalA	GoalD	AwayG	Stage Points
the crutchanators of soccer.....................	5	0	0	23	4	+19	10	15
FC Edinburgh Bullet Birds	2	2	0	9	9	0	8	6
Kiki United	2	3	0	9	12	-3	8	6
Real TK	0	4	0	4	20	-16	0	0

FC Edinburgh Bullet Birds [1 : 4] Kiki United;. Real TK [1 : 6] the crutchanators of soccer; Real TK [2 : 3] Kiki United; the crutchanators of soccer [3 : 1] Kiki United; Real TK [1 : 4] FC Edinburgh Bullet Birds; Kiki United [0 : 4] the crutchanators of soccer; the crutchanators of soccer [3 : 2] FC Edinburgh Bullet Birds; Kiki United [1 : 2] FC Edinburgh Bullet Birds; the crutchanators of soccer [7 : 0] Real TK;
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GROUP B - 4 games remaining Wins Loss Ties GoalF GoalA GoalD AwayG Stage Points FC Cackalacky 2 2 1 11 14 -3 8 7 Wolfsburg Dynamit 2 2 0 9 5 +4 1 6 Old Field Ospreys 2 3 0 11 13 -2 4 6 Swamp City Dragons............................... 1 0 1 5 4 +1 2 4

Old Field Ospreys [0 : 1] Wolfsburg Dynamit; Old Field Ospreys [1 : 2] Swamp City Dragons; Old Field Ospreys [6 : 2] FC Cackalacky; FC Cackalacky [1 : 0] Wolfsburg Dynamit; FC Cackalacky [2 : 3] Old Field Ospreys; Swamp City Dragons [3 : 3] FC Cackalacky; Wolfsburg Dynamit [6 : 1] Old Field Ospreys; Wolfsburg Dynamit [2 : 3] FC Cackalacky;
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Knockout Results

The Knockout Rounds will consist of the First Round, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and a 3rd Place game if both teams are willing to participate. Results are updated after the 7:00 pm game each night. Individual game results show the home team always to the LEFT of the bracketed score. Teams that forfeit a game due to a failure to schedule cannot advance. A full explanation as to tiebreakers can be found in the Tournament Format and Rules post above. Numbers in bold between team names represent aggregate goals. Abbreviations key if necessary: (F) = team has forfeited round due to a failure to schedule. Blue Highlighting = advanced in the knockout rounds.

Championship Results

The Championship will be updated after 7pm each night. Individual game results show the home team always to the LEFT of the bracketed score. Numbers in bold between the team names represent aggregate goals. There are no seeds and there is no time frame for the Championship. If an aggregate tie occurs, the home side for the first tiebreaker game will be decided by a coin flip and we will continue alternating home fields until a Champion is crowned.

L'Orteil D'or (The Golden Toe) tracker for the tournament's top goal scorer. Thru 9/17
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Kenderick Keriell (Fianna) - 8

Heinz Hagelin (crutchanators) - 7

Melvyn Ashton (Fianna) - 6

Blanco Amaro (Merchiston), Hernan Bordonaba (Wolfsburg) - 5

Blanco Deuchar (Steamroller), Sami Wächter (Kobelco), Garrin Schilling (Köln), Jaquawn Cervantes (crutchanators), Gerry Mannheim (Ospreys) - 4

Charlie Rummell (Kiki), Evan Ashby (Edinburgh), Yoshino Sugawara (Kobelco), Hjalmar Nielsen (Ospreys), Tommy Mejer (crutchanators), Raymon Benavídez (crutchanators), Huntingdon Hinson (Fianna), Méndez Viera (News), Sinai Kupferstoch (Cackalacky), Adriel Rowley (Cackalacky), Teague Guildford (Wolfsburg) - 3

Rexley Coombs (Kiki), Claudio Kaká (Kiki), Kale Gunning (Fianna), Reilly Glinton (Fianna), Erik Adu (crutchanators), Miika Moilanen (crutchanators), Gideon Kuhlman (Trojans), Melorran McKeough (Brighton), Kylar Cargill (Brighton), Aekley Green (Brighton), Hayden Bryan (Metro Eagles), Les Filer (News), Luigi Terlizzi (Real TK), Raphael Meyer (Cackalacky), Pedro Delfs (Cackalacky), Bronislav Hlavka (Ospreys), Tedrick Frame (Hibs), Montie Gyon (Edinburgh), Alijah Parsons (Halle), Xabi Xabi Cintrón (Köln), Tre Ackworth (Swamp City), Donn Lander (Kobelco), Waldmunt Dohm (Metro Eagles), Rollie Kohlberg (Steamroller), Greg Eardensohn (Steamroller) - 2

Sandro Huntelaar (Edinburgh), Alano Agüero (Edinburgh), Ron Lochore (Edinburgh), Leandro Campos (Edinburgh), Lutz Oswald, (Kiki), Kelby Knoblauch (Kiki), Jerico Trillo (News), Otilio Polanco (News), Ramzi Babham (News) Jordon Eberly (News), Giovanni Léonard (Merchiston), Bartleah Clavell (Merchiston), Ante Serioux (Merchiston), Rodiger Brenner (Steamroller), Edward Grumbkow (Steamroller), Cesar Vanney (Steamroller), Reino Kivikoski (crutchanators), Iago Cristiani (crutchanators), London Koji (Real TK), Trystan Taylor (Real TK), Macadam Gilfoyle (Trojans), Roy White (Trojans), Rashan Berwick (Trojans), Martel Kiel (Metro Eagles), Mattias Adlercreutz (Metro Eagles), Macerio Mena (Bordeaux), Connor Wolfe (Bordeaux), Lionel Isuna (Bordeaux), Meinhard Reichmann (Kobelco), Tayson Scrope (Kobelco), Brady Sealy (Kobelco), Charlie Hinson (Swamp City), Are Gerdes (Swamp City), Bertie Montabell (Swamp City), Devion Astley (Swamp U), Adkins Raad (Swamp U), Gerald Dodson (Swamp U), Mac Hendry (Swamp U), Prince Pinter (Bolton), Tatsui Okada (Bolton), Ton Miyagishima (Bolton), Jaimenacho Helder (Bolton), Toli Carrasquillo (Cackalacky), Georg Klingspol (Ospreys), Conroy Zweig (Ospreys), Javiero Benavídez (Köln), Calvino Terán (Köln), Ritchie Font (Köln), Marcos Katz (Köln), Hector Rico (Köln), Jayvon Burch (Köln), Hegarty Navin (Brighton), Xavier Fuertes (Hibs), Adan Sánchez (NV United), Tate Papia (NV United), Read Lennon (Wolfsburg), Enriqueta Montaner (Hibs), Emilio Rivas (Hibs), Dany Rohr (North Polar) - 1

Looks like we're gonna roll with 28 teams. I'll construct the Group Stage brackets this weekend and officially start the tournament on Monday.

VB Hibernian's season just rolled over and will need a few days to sign players.

Getting close. I need to double check spellings and look at the rosters one more time.

the crutchanators of soccer and brandon5135, your title defense and bid to be a repeat Champion starts now!

The 15th Cup is officially underway. Everyone can begin scheduling Group Stage games at your convenience. You'll play a home and away against each opponent, so you'll be sending and receiving a challenge with each team in your group for a total of six games. The time frame for Group Stage games is September 9th through September 20th. Remember, games must be scheduled by the 20th, not necessarily played by the 20th.

Spread your outgoing challenges out. Slot 10 is as good as Slot 1. If everybody uses the first three slots, there will be a traffic jam. So, here's the rule of thumb I suggest - If you receive an incoming challenge in the same slot you have sent an outgoing challenge, please accept the incoming challenge and re-issue your own challenge that was in that slot. If you receive multiple incoming challenges in the same slot, choose one ASAP. Choosing one quickly gives the team you did not select as much time as possible to issue a new challenge to you.

I have verified that each User ID and team name is spelled correctly. You can copy/paste the user ID or team name from the participating teams list. While a lot of teams have similar names (there are a lot of dragons) every ID is unique. Sometimes the program adds an extra space to the end of a user ID or team name. Remove the extra space for your search to work.

I will send out a sitemail tomorrow reminding each participant that the tournament has gotten underway.

OK, everyone. It's time to lace up your cleats and enter the arena. Best of luck and show no mercy - goal differential is a tiebreaker. 16 will survive the round-robin to continue the fight in their bid for the Ultimate Prize!

Our world jujst started season rollover too - may need a littel time

Posted by brandon5135 on 9/9/2024 10:54:00 AM (view original):
Our world jujst started season rollover too - may need a littel time

No problem.

Guys, if we need to extend the Group Stage a day or two, no worries. Let's schedule as many games as we can and then we'll see where we are at the beginning of next week.