The multiverse's greatest regional tournament is coming to Kinitaria for the first time! This is the official thread for AOCAF 43, in which Atlantian Oceania's finest footballers will descend on Kinitaria to compete for the regional title. This thread is the place for your rosters and RPs, whether they be short but sweet or novel-length epics. The tournament is open for business, so feel free to begin posting.
This thread is for Atlantian Oceania nations only, and I would request that you don't post here unless you're in AO or if a mod needs to post here while doing their duties.
Before the draw, the 32 competing nations were divided into four pots of eight. As hosts, Kinitaria were assigned to Pot 1, as were Vilita & Turori, as holders. Pot 1 was completed by the six highest-ranking teams left in the remaining 30. Pot 2 consisted of the next eight teams by rank, and Pot 3 contained the eight after that. Pot 4 contained the bottom two ranked teams, plus six unranked nations.
Pot 1: Kinitaria (host), Vilita & Turori (holders), Farfadillis, Valanora, Audioslavia, Starblaydia, Osarius, Legalese.
Pot 2: The Inevitable Syndicate, 95X, Thatius, Maklohi Vai, Ko-oren, Blouman Empire, Ibex, West Guiana.
Pot 3: New Gordonopia, Nellietopia, Lymryk Isles, Naitpyge, Kericia, Furellum, New Cloudsdale, Preiva.
Pot 4: Perlasilangan, Kjeligsted, Schiavonia, Florgania, Greater Watford, Weimania, Bonticello, Saint Anne and Jacob.
One team from each pot was drawn into each group. The order of the teams within each group was then randomised, with the exception of hosts Kinitaria, who were automatically placed into the first spot in group A. The tournament will follow the simple procedure that we all know and love, in which the top two teams from each of the eight groups will advance to a knockout stage.
Without further ado, the group draw:
GROUP A
(16) Kinitaria
(37) New Cloudsdale
(15) Maklohi Vai
(UR) Greater Watford
GROUP B
(8) Osarius
(21) West Guiana
(26) Naitpyge
(UR) Bonticello
GROUP C
(UR) Saint Anne and Jacob
(20) Ibex
(6) Starblaydia
(27) Kericia
GROUP D
(13) 95X
(22) New Gordonopia
(UR) Weimania
(1) Vilita & Turori
GROUP E
(3) Valanora
(11) The Inevitable Syndicate
(47) Perlasilangan
(28) Furellum
GROUP F
(17) Ko-oren
(9) Legalese
(25) Lymryk Isles
(UR) Florgania
GROUP G
(19) Blouman Empire
(UR) Schiavonia
(42) Preiva
(4) Audioslavia
GROUP H
(14) Thatius
(2) Farfadillis
(23) Nellietopia
(56) Kjeligsted
Scorination will be done according to the following schedule:
Tue 11 Feb: MD1 - 1v4, 2v3
Thu 13 Feb: MD2 - 1v2, 3v4
Sat 15 Feb: MD3 - 1v3, 2v4
Sun 16 Feb: Tiebreakers, in the unlikely event that two teams are exactly level and have the exact same RP bonus.
Mon 17 Feb: Round of 16
Wed 19 Feb: Quarter-finals
Fri 21 Feb: Semi-finals
Sat 22 Feb: 3rd place playoff
Sun 23 Feb: Final
Cutoffs will be at 23:50 UK time, which is 15:50 Pacific or 18:50 Eastern. MD1 will therefore take place approximately 72 hours from the time at which this post is made.
The knockout schedule is as follows:
Round of 16
Game 1: A1 v B2
Game 2: C1 v D2
Game 3: B1 v A2
Game 4: D1 v C2
Game 5: E1 v F2
Game 6: G1 v H2
Game 7: F1 v E2
Game 8: H1 v G2
Quarter-finals
Game 9: Winner game 1 v winner game 2
Game 10: Winner game 3 v winner game 4
Game 11: Winner game 5 v winner game 6
Game 12: Winner game 7 v winner game 8
Semi-finals
Game 13: Winner game 9 v winner game 11
Game 14: Winner game 10 v winner game 12
Third place
Game 15: Loser game 13 v loser game 14
Final
Game 16: Winner game 13 v winner game 14
Best of luck to all competitors, and may Margaret be with you all.