[Tovarich]

Like the title says, this is a bracket version of the World Cup. This is America. No little pieces of paper with countries printed on them being taken out of mini soccer balls drawn out of glass bowls to determine who plays who. Brackets, seeds, etc. That's how we roll.

So, this is not a 2014 World Cup re-creation even though I'll use that game to play it out. That is/has been done on here. Also, I have no desire to, even with re-drawn groups, re-create something that has already happened. I'd actually like to have done a 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, but with Guam, Bhutan, Brunei, South Sudan, and others missing, and also FIFA WC 14 having Indonesia and Zimbabwe who are banned from the upcoming World Cup, I don't feel it's realistic. Also, this saves from playing a bunch of meaningless group stage games where things occasionally have no actual bearing on anything. Sure there will be blowouts in the first legs in lopsided matchups and the second leg will occasionally just be a formality but there's always a chance...

So, how does this work? I have created a 203 team bracket using the FIFA rankings from June 4th to seed the teams on the FIFA WC 14 game 1-203. 53 byes in the first round, the bottom 150 will play off to advance to Round 2 with the top 53. Each matchup will be a home and home playoff. The semifinals will remain 2 leg playoffs, but will be played at a neutral location, and then the championship game will be a single game, also in a neutral stadium.

I will play with each team in their home leg of the playoff. I did two blanket coin flips, which decided that I'll play as the home team and that the lower seed will be at home first in each playoff. Yes, unfortunately the CPU will not play knowing the aggregate score and all the strategies that accompany the playoff. It's unfortunate, but it's unavoidable as far as I can tell. Perhaps there is some fancy modding to be done somewhere, but that is generally above my pay grade. I'm trying to minimize this issue somewhat by playing with both sides.

How long will this take? I have no idea. 403 games will probably take a very long time. I'll hypothetically suppose that this tournament began some time back in 2014. I'm not going to change any ratings on the rosters, but I will be adjusting the starting 11 to get, formation allowing, the 11 best rated players on the field without playing anyone too far out of position. Jurgen may think that Landon Donovan shouldn't be on his 23 for the WC, but he'll be making some appearances for the USA on here.

Formations will be on the game's default for the first leg. I'll make some adjustments for the 2nd leg if the score of the first leg is in the 2-3 goal difference range and one team obviously needs to press or defend in the 2nd leg.

I'll be playing one playoff at a time rather than go through and play a bunch of 1st legs and then come back to them later.

Due to the scarcity of yellows, whether it be the ever-present Greg O'Millend who seems to do every other game not wanting to give any or just the style of play I use, I will not re-set cards at any point in the tournament. I initially had 3 allowed because of this, but there are so very few being seen, that I am now changing this back to 2 for a suspension.

Also, because of the lack of ability to go to extra time if the 2nd leg didn't end in a tie, extra time will be played by starting a brand new 3rd game, with the new lineups based on subs during the game, and it will become a golden goal situation. If my game with the minimum 4 minute halves ends tied, penalty kicks will be used.