Welcome, all participating nations, to Chiata. Even though you have not found success in the World Cup Qualifiers, you can still continue your cycle with a small tournament. Chiata is a friendly place and offers whatever climate you prefer, ranging from tropical rain forests by Jungleton, white sand beaches by Villitova, vast deserts by Ripitough, and lakes of ice by Nor' Del. Consequently, those are the four cities where games will take place. In Villitova, the capital of Chiata, is Gulf Stadium, the home pitch for the 29th in the world Chiata Suns. Puma Field used to be the pitch that the now defunct Chiata Pumas played on. The stadiums in Ripitough and Nor' Del were built for their club teams. Ripitough Riot have bounced up and down between the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the CFA while Nor' Del Deliverance have been a constant in Division I, albeit consistently at in the lower regions of the table.
Given twenty participating national teams, Runner Cup Five will have four groups with five nations each. Over four matchdays, a single leg will be played. The top two in each group will then advance to the Quarter Finals. Tiebreaks in the group stage, in order, are points, goal difference, head-to-head points, head-to-head goal difference, wins, and a playoff if it is needed. A playoff will only be used if the two teams will effect qualification to the Quarter Finals. The winners of the Quarter Finals will advance to the Semi Finals, as usual. The losers in the Semi Finals will play for third place while the winners will clash in the Finals to claim the 5th Runner Cup.
Participating Nations:
Carialus
The Sword Bloke
United States of Devonta
Renatiem
Palmeria
Mendoya
Patistan
Boring Paradise
New North Aqmuland
Eastfield Lodge
Panamerhispania
Castigonia
Crystal Empire (Crystal Ponies)
Frenline Delpha
Lymantatia
Timbermunich
Nassau-Hessen
Fellow-Citizens
Aloquirbe
Azrea
Group Draw:
Group A:
Timbermunich (4)
Lymantatia (16)
Mendoya (34)
Renatium (42)
Panamerhispania (50)
Group B:
Boring Paradise (9)
Carialus (18)
United States of Devonta (27)
The Sword Bloke (43)
Aloquirbe (58)
Group C:
Crystal Empire (8)
Eastfield Lodge (19)
Fellow Citizens (37)
Palmeria (46)
Frenline Delpha (48)
Group D:
New North Aqmuland (15)
Nassau-Hessen (17)
Patistan (30)
Azrea (45)
Castigonia (59)
Schedule:
Cutoff times will be around 21:00 EST (01:00 UTC) or different when specified
May 12th 16:00 EST (20:00 UTC): Matchday 1 2v5 3v4 1 BYE
May 13th 16:00 EST: Matchday 2 5v3 1v2 4 BYE
May 14th: Matchday 3 3v1 4v5 2 BYE
May 15th 23:00 EST: Matchday 4 1v4 2v3 5 BYE
May 19th: Matchday 5 4v2 5v1 3 BYE
May 21st: Quarter Finals A1vD2 B1vC2 C1vB2 D1vA2
May 25th: Semi Finals WQ1vWQ2 WQ3vWQ4
May 26th: 3rd Place LS1vLS2
May 27th: Finals WS1vWS2