World Cup 83 - Roleplay Thread

by **Equestrian States** » Sun Jul 21, 2019 5:49 pm

WORLD CUP 83
EQUESTRIA & BANIJA

Roleplay Thread

WC83 Roleplay | WC83 Rosters | WC83 Results
World Cup 83 Signups | KPB Rankings | Reconciliation Host Bid
Sponsorships | Concert | Friendlies | Referees | Discussion
World Cup 82 | Cup of Harmony 75 | Baptism of Fire 70

Welcome to the 83rd World Cup, being hosted by Equestria and Banija!

This is where you should post your roleplays, whether they be multi-part epics, short-but-sweet journal entries, or anything else that you might come up with. We'll be adding information regarding the schedule, group draws, and anything else we deem necessary to this post as the tournament progresses.

Group Draw

Group A

Equestria (7)

Valanora (21)

Cosumar (14)

Kelssek (54)

Group B

Sargossa (15)

Nephara (6)

Zwangzug (45)

Ko-oren (25)

Group C

Brenecia (11)

Cassadaigua (16)

Chromatika (38)

Farfadillis (3)

Group D

Eura (10)

The Holy Empire (4)

Qusmo (19)

Reçueçn (88)

Group E

Banija (22)

Qasden (20)

Starblaydia (9)

Taeshan (37)

Group F

Mercedini (27)

Kita-Hinode (26)

South Covello (5)

Free Republics (8)

Group G

Mriin (23)

Turori (2)

Apox (13)

Bongo Johnson (49)

Group H

Vilita (1)

Audioslavia (17)

The Macabees (36)

Baker Park (12)

Group Draw - Pots

Playoff Groups

Playoff Draw - Pots

Qualifying Groups

Qualifying Draw - Pots

Pot 1: Vilita (1), Turori (2), Farfadillis (3), The Holy Empire (4), South Covello (5), Nephara (6), Eura (7), Brenecia (9), Free Republics (10), Starblaydia (11), Pasarga (12), Baker Park (13), Audioslavia (14), Cosumar (15), Sargossa (16), Apox (17), Qasden (18), Cassadaigua (19), Valanora (20), Qusmo (22), Mriin (23), Kita-Hinode (24), Darmen (25), Mercedini (26)

Pot 2: Ethane (27), Juvencus (28), Ko-oren (29), Saltstead (31), Savojarna (32), Barunia (33), Drawkland (34), Jeruselem (35), 95X (36), Tinhampton (37), Damukuni (38), Abanhfleft (39), Valladares (40), Filindostan (41), New Lusitania (42), Main Nation Ministry (43), Taeshan (44), Omerica (45), The Macabees (46), Chromatika (47), Squornshelan Remnant States (48), Eshan (49), Krytenia (50), Bongo Johnson (51)

Pot 3: Devonta (52), Siovanija & Teusland (53), Eastfield Lodge (54), Beepee (55), Mytanija (56), Acronius (58), HUElavia (59), Mattijana (60), Lochario (61), Polkopia (63), Dreamplanet (64), Kelssek (65), Zwangzug (67), Oberour Ar Moro (68), Kavagrad (69), Competitive Solitaire (69), Natanians & Nosts (71), Vakolicci Haven & Celaria (77), Darkmania (78), Geisenfried (80), The Sherpa Empire (81), Crystalline Caverns (83), Brusseldorf (84), Kernovi & Rewgwlas (86)

Pot 4: Euran Oceania Territories (87), Joshenia (90), Busoga Islands (92), Saint Émelie (93), Xanneria (94), Santa Regada (95), Balqia (99), Freeport (104), Schottia (108), Eraman (109), Sajnur (112), Flardania (116), Osarius (120), Grod Island (122), Quakmybush (124), Rakivland (126), Pratapgadh (137), Libonesia (139), Ancherion (144), North Quadana (146), Fevhader (151), Hapilopper (167), Geektopia (172), St. Saratoga (173)

Pot 5: Anthor (178), Port Ember (186), Anollasia (192), San Félix (192), West Phoenicia (192), Timuria (197), Togonistan (199), Abercontin-Jereaux (201), Bliuji (205), Britonisea (206), Vartugia (213), Terre Septentrionale (218), Starcom Racing (220), Abaja (221), Amuaplye (227), Zealandiana (227), Mareibat (229), Torisakia (229), Newmanistan (237), Kandonica (247), Pius Desurongcrandis (248), Axuva (253), Aurevbush (259), Bolgano (273)

Pot 6: Penguinland (274), Cheetahs & Reptiles Coalison (288), The Szcerkina Federacy (288), Tulize (294), San Carlos Islands (297), The Aurian Plains (297), Asdia (310), Spensar (312), Copper Cuprum (313), Lavize (318), Shatla (318), Amurbia (321), Orion Islands (321), Paratan (321), Tornado Queendom (327), New Karelograd (329), Saciu (329), Petrisi (332), Caras (336), Lashnakia (336), Orestea (336), Lepolanatnessffiria (349), Western Bjornaic (349), San José Guayabal (UR)

Pot 7: Ariwana (UR), Astograth (UR), Bengaliana (UR), Benjamin Mark (UR), Brigantii (UR), Everta (UR), Far Wor Eryunce (UR), Flavovespia (UR), Friday Freshman (UR), Hyundai-Kia (UR), Islas Aaland (UR), Kiryu-shi (UR), Koyoland (UR), Lons (UR), New North Carolina (UR), New Saria (UR), Nooooooooooooooo (UR), Ouna (UR), Reçueçn (UR), Saintland (UR), Schiavonia (UR), Senayan (UR), Sinyal (UR), Tamgu (UR)

Tournament Schedule

Qualifying - Group Stage
World Cup 83 qualifying will consist of each team playing the others in their group twice in a double round robin: once at home and once on the road. Banija will scorinate the first leg of qualifying (MDs 1-7) at approximately 10:00 PM EDT (02:00 UTC). Equestria will scorinate the second leg of qualifying (MDs 8-14) at approximately 11:00 PM EDT (03:00 UTC). The first team listed in each fixture is the home team.

Thursday, August 1: Match Day 1 - 2v7, 3v6, 4v5, 1 Bye
Friday, August 2: Match Day 2 - 6v4, 7v3, 1v2, 5 Bye
Saturday, August 3: Off Day
Sunday, August 4: Match Day 3 - 3v1, 4v7, 5v6, 2 Bye
Monday, August 5: Match Day 4 - 7v5, 1v4, 2v3, 6 Bye
Tuesday, August 6: Match Day 5 - 4v2, 5v1, 6v7, 3 Bye
Wednesday, August 7: Off Day
Thursday, August 8: Match Day 6 - 1v6, 2v5, 3v4, 7 Bye
Friday, August 9: Off Day
Saturday, August 10: Match Day 7 - 5v3, 6v2, 7v1, 4 Bye
Sunday, August 11: Off Day
Monday, August 12: Match Day 8 - 7v2, 6v3, 5v4, 1 Bye
Tuesday, August 13: Match Day 9 - 4v6, 3v7, 2v1, 5 Bye
Wednesday, August 14: Match Day 10 - 1v3, 7v4, 6v5, 2 Bye
Thursday, August 15: Off Day
Friday, August 16: Match Day 11 - 5v7, 4v1, 3v2, 6 Bye
Saturday, August 17: Match Day 12 - 2v4, 1v5, 7v6, 3 Bye
Sunday, August 18: Off Day
Monday, August 19: Match Day 13 - 6v1, 5v2, 4v3, 7 Bye
Tuesday, August 20: Off Day
Wednesday, August 21: Match Day 14 - 3v5, 2v6, 1v7, 4 Bye

Qualifying - Playoff Group Stage
The runners-up from each group the qualifying group stage will advance to the playoff group stage. Participants will be drawn into 6 groups of 4 teams and will face each team in their group once, with all matches taking place at neutral sites. The winners of each group will qualify for the World Cup. Equestria will scorinate their groups (1-3) at approximately 11:00 PM EDT (03:00 UTC). Banija will scorinate their groups (4-6) at approximately 10:00 PM EDT (02:00 UTC).

Friday, August 23: Match Day 1 - 1v4, 2v3
Sunday, August 25: Match Day 2 - 4v3, 1v2
Tuesday, August 27: Match Day 3 - 2v4, 3v1

Finals - Group Stage
The group stage will consist of each team playing the others in their group once in a single round robin. Equestria will scorinate their groups (E-H) at approximately 11:00 PM EDT (03:00 UTC). Banija will scorinate their groups (A-D) at approximately 10:00 PM EDT (02:00 UTC). The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.

Monday, September 9: Match Day 1 - 1v4, 2v3
Wednesday, September 11: Match Day 2 - 4v3, 1v2
Friday, September 13: Match Day 3 - 2v4, 3v1

Finals - Knockout Stage

Sunday, September 15: Round of 16 - A1vB2, C1vD2, B1vA2, D1vC2, E1vF2, G1vH2, F1vE2, H1vG2
Tuesday, September 17: Quarterfinals - SR1vSR2, SR3vSR4, SR5vSR6, SR7vSR8
Thursday, September 19: Semifinals - QF1vQF2, QF3vQF4
Saturday, September 21: 3rd Place Playoff - SF1 Loser vs. SF2 Loser
Sunday, September 22: Final - SF1 Winner vs. SF2 Winner

by **Equestrian States** » Sun Jul 21, 2019 5:49 pm

LONELY MULTIVERSE
The Approx Guide to Equestria

Introduction

The Pony Principality of Equestria is a diverse country inhabited by dozens of sapient species, each contributing to the nation's proud culture of tolerance and giving the nation a reputation for compassion and kindness. Tradition and innovation have combined well in this Southwest Atlantian Oceania nation, rapidly bringing it into the modern era after centuries of isolation from the rest of the multiverse. This Lonely Multiverse travel guide is designed to be the ultimate companion for any tourist (regardless of their species) visiting Equestria, and is loaded with every tip and bit of advice one needs to have an safe and enjoyable stay.

History

It is widely believed that Equestria can trace its origins back to at least 2000 years ago, and perhaps even further. However, the early history of Equestria is shrouded in mystery, as precious few written records exist from that time period and those accounts which have survived to the modern day were passed down orally over the course of generations and frequently contradict one another.

Perhaps the most popular story of Equestria's founding is the tale of Hearth's Warming. According to the legend, the three Equestrian races once lived apart in three separate nations which often fought over resources, before being forced to cooperate to survive a particularly brutal winter brought about by magical creatures called windigos that feast on negative feelings. The unification of the tribes is commemorated each year on Hearth's Warming Day, a time spend time with friends and family.

Another popular story from Equestria's ancient past is the Tale of the Two Sisters, which has recently proven to be true. Over a millennium ago, the younger of the Regal Sisters, Luna, became bitter at her older sister and those who shunned the night in favor of the day and was transformed into Nightmare Moon and threatened to bring about eternal night. Forced to respond, Celestia banished her sister to the moon using the Elements of Harmony. It was not until just several decades ago that Nightmare Moon returned from exile and was purified by the Elements' new bearers, led by now-Princess Twilight Sparkle, returning Luna to her sister's side as one of Equestria's co-rulers.

Nearly 200 years ago, Equestria came into contact with the outside world for the first time, ending centuries of isolation brought about primarily by the country's remote location. The most important import for Equestria in the decades that followed was not trade goods, but ideas. Mechanization and industrialization were foreign concepts to the largely agrarian Equestrian society that was used to utilizing magic to produce goods that the rest of the world was using machines for. Equestria quickly set about industrializing itself, bringing the country into the modern age, but knowing of the environmental devastation other developing nations had witnessed at the same time, the Equestrians used their knowledge of the arcane to minimize the impact of pollution.

But knowledge of the outside world came at a cost, and that cost was that the outside world had knowledge of Equestria's existence, location, and magical nature. It was not long before the Equestrians faced threats from outside forces which viewed them as a threat. Some argued the Equestrians were demons inhabiting the bodies of wild horses, others viewed the ponies as a primitive race that could be enslaved and put to work. Equestria responded to these threats by building up a massive navy which was capable of keeping foreign invaders at bay, as well as by modernizing the training and equipment of its defense forces in both the Royal Army and the Royal Guard. Over the last two centuries, the Equestrians have engaged in a number of wars, nearly all of which were fought to defend Equestria's shores, with more recent exceptions in the liberation of South Covello and the Busoga Islands Conflict that were primarily meant to support oppressed groups.

Today, Equestria is an advanced country that has successfully merged tradition, magic, and technology. With an economy dominated by tourism, agriculture, and the mining of precious minerals, the Equestrians have found their niche in the international community. Thanks to its location in Atlantian Oceania, Equestria has become a travel hub for many visiting the region from around the world, and the nation is easily among the more prosperous and safe for foreigners to visit.

Geography & Climate

Equestria is both too large to be safely called an island nation and too small to be considered its own continent. However, most Equestrians live on a large landmass north of Valanora, known to Equestrians as the mainland, due to its size and role as a population and commercial center for the country.

The mainland is dominated by flat grassland and plains, though forests and hilly areas exist and are generally scattered throughout the landmass. Running north to south are the Harmony Mountains, named for Mt. Harmony near the capital city of Canterlot. The mountain range divides the mainland into eastern and western geographic regions, and was once home to dozens of active volcanoes. However, no eruption has occurred in the Harmony Mountains in at least the last 1500 years, and the range is believed to be inactive or extinct. The ancient volcanic activity on the mainland (and on many of Equestria's surrounding islands) resulted in mineral deposits from which Equestrian miners have extracted gold, silver, and other valuable materials for export.

The two most notable exceptions to the mainland's grassy majority are the Everfree Forest and Badlands. The Everfree Forest is more of a jungle than a temperate forest, and is widely considered the most dangerous region in Equestria due to its large numbers of wild carnivorous species, some of which would be considered "mythical" by foreigners. Within the Everfree Forest is the city of Everfree, located along the banks of the Stampede River and home to the largest population of non-equines in the nation. A number of more typical temperate forests surround the Everfree Forest itself. The Badlands, meanwhile, is a mix of marshland and desert near the southwestern coast, largely uncultivated and uninhabited by ponies, but is home to several other species such as changelings and buffalo.

Where things begin to get truly weird for the average tourist is Equestria's weather. Due to the magical nature of many of its inhabitants, the Equestrians are fully capable of creating, manipulating, and otherwise controlling the clouds and weather. This gives them the ability to determine where and when in rains or snows, as well any whatever other conditions they wish to create. The Equestrian government is very actively involved in coordinating the pegasi of the country to generate and control weather patterns favorable to Equestria's inhabitants (and its many earth pony farmers, in particular). As such, the odds of an Equestrian weatherpony giving an incorrect forecast are almost nonexistent, unless you happen to be in the Everfree Forest (the only region of the Equestrian States where the weather is practically impossible to control due to a prevalence of wild magic).

Travel

Travelling to Equestria is generally easy, as most methods of interregional travel are available to visitors from outside Atlantian Oceania. Most international flights to the nation arrive at Canterlot's Harmony International Airport, Manehattan's Royal International, or Stalliongrad's Friendship Heights International. However, it should be noted that pilots flying to and from Equestria internationally must receive additional certification due to the nature of the country and much of the surrounding area. Because of this additional requirement for pilots, some airlines do charge extra to cover the training fees.

Once in Equestria, there are many other options for travel. Rental cars, taxis, and buses are easy to find in the larger cities such as Manehattan, Stalliongrad, and Everfree, though one might notice that most vehicles are electric-powered. But while cars and buses are regularly used in some cities, there are also several in which their use is limited to emergency services (most notably in Ponyville and Canterlot's Old City district) or is totally banned (as is the case in Cloudsdale).

However, the limited use of automobiles is balanced out by the proliferation of trains for travel between and within cities. Some of the more prominent and historical lines (such as the Ponyville-Canterlot Express) still use steam-powered engines or high-speed trains designed to mimic the classical appearance of an Equestrian train. Subways are also a common feature in Equestrian cities, spreading underground to connect many places of interest for foreign tourists. Cloudsdale is the only city where cars, buses, and trains/subways are unavailable.

But in the end, the most common method of travel in Equestria is one's own feet (or whatever body part one has to move oneself with). Few Equestrians drive or use public transportation unless they have to, preferring to take in the clean air on their way from place to place.

Culture & Society

Religion

Any analysis of Equestrian culture and society must begin with its majority religion and guiding philosophy: Harmonism. A dualistic religion, it revolves around the physical sun and moon deities, Celestia and Luna, as well as the six principles known as the Elements of Harmony. The religion's origins are near-impossible to determination, though it is widely believed to begun shortly after ponykind first encountered Celestia and Luna over two millennia ago. Unlike other religions, Harmonism lacks a written scripture or centralized multiversal organization to create such writings, occasionally resulting in disagreements between Harmonists from different regions. For the sake of brevity, we will only be exploring the most common spiritual and secular beliefs held by those from Equestria.

As stated earlier, the central beliefs of Harmonism include the worship of the Regal Sisters (Celestia and Luna) and adherence to the Elements of Harmony. Immortal and, according to spiritual Harmonists, capable of moving celestial bodies through magic, the two Regal Sisters are worshiped (or at least respected) by ponies throughout the multiverse as living goddesses. Some have recently begun to question the actual power of the Sisters, though it is widely accepted among ponykind that they are the two most powerful magical beings in existence.

The six Elements of Harmony are Honesty, Laughter, Kindness, Generosity, Loyalty, and Magic. These Elements exist both as philosophical concepts as well as physical objects capable of great power that contain the purest magical essence of the aforementioned virtues. The philosophical aspects of the Elements are more central to Harmonist faith as a set of morals to guide one throughout life. They are, for the most part, fairly self-explanatory, except for Magic. The sixth element has been connected not only to the ability of equine Harmonists to use magical spells, but also to the drive for new knowledge or understanding. It also has been connected to the power of friendship, and is mentioned in the most common Harmonist saying: "Friendship is Magic".

However, Harmonism has expanded from its spiritual roots (particularly as more non-equines are exposed to harmonist teachings) to become a secular philosophy as well. Secular Harmonists generally try to follow the virtues of Harmonism, though they generally do not believe that the Regal Sisters are physical goddesses. The expansion of Secular Harmonism has also led to the traditional virtues being adopted and woven into other religions as well, such as Christianity. Excluding the overwhelmingly Spiritual Harmonist equine population of Equestria, one can find many of the multiverse's most common faiths among the large immigrant communities, particularly Christianity and Islam, owing to the large Banijan and Busogan communities.

Language

Traditionally, ponies have spoken in their native Equestrian tongue; however, since the emergence of Equestria into the international community, many Equestrians have dedicated themselves to speaking multiple languages. The most common non-Equestrian language is easily English, which is spoken by approximately 70% of the population. It should be noted that some English words have been altered by Equestrians to better fit the equine majority, as the use of "everypony", "anypony", "hoofball", and other such words are modifications of the more standard English words. Mastery of many different languages is especially common among Unicorns, and as they are generally the ones more involved in business, are easy enough to find for foreign visitors. Numerous translating services exist throughout the Equestrian States, and airport bookstores generally contain a plethora of multilingual dictionaries for purchase.

Food

As one might expect from a nation dominated by a species of herbivores, many traditional Equestrian dishes are vegetarian in nature. The proliferation of such food is also furthered by the general lack of agriculture for the purpose of raising up animals for the slaughter. To hurt another living creature is, to many Equestrians, simply unthinkable. However, Equestria is not only inhabited by equines, but also by griffons, dragons, and humans (among others). Restaurants do exist to cater to these non-equine species, and do serve a wide variety of meats imported from outside of the region. That being said, it would be unwise to be seen in public eating a hamburger made from beef or any other meat product as many Equestrians are disgusted by such foods. This can make finding food difficult in smaller cities and in the nicer areas of the larger ones. A general tip would be: if your waiter looks like a herbivore, don't ask them for a cheeseburger or steak. Equestrian cafes are fairly creative with what they can do with non-meat products, and the bread and pastries are oftentimes better than what you might find in other nations.

Drink in Equestria can also differ significantly from other nations around the multiverse, as the most popular alcoholic beverage is hard cider, found at virtually every bar, pub, and restaurant. Ponies generally refrain from drinking too heavily, but other non-human sapients such as griffons are known to consume vast quantities of alcohol in a single sitting. We advise our human readers to graciously decline any drinking challenges offered, as one is unlikely to win, and drunk griffons can be notoriously temperamental. Beer is a distant second to cider, in terms of both popularity and availability, though bars and eateries which cater to human tourists will often keep domestic Equestrian brands in stock.

Inter-Species Relations

As Equestria is home to a wide range of species, it is practically impossible for any visitor to the country to avoid seeing a member of another species, regardless of where they might be. Unicorns could pull this off in certain neighborhoods of Canterlot, and earth ponies could do the same in isolated rural areas, though foreigners will often stumble across other species upon entry into Equestria as customs officials are perhaps the most diverse Equestrian demographic.

Relations between the three major pony races have not always been smooth, and some tensions still exist today despite the educational system's teaching of acceptance and tolerance. However, inter-species violence is very rare within Equestria, as is violent crime in general, with the possible exceptions coming from dragons, griffons, and other more naturally-aggressive species. Angering a dragon is about as dumb as it sounds, and is not advised unless one has a death wish.

Visitors to Equestria are also advised to avoid appearing speciesist to locals, as Equestrian society could be described as having a herd mentality, where an attack against or insult towards one person might be considered an attack on all those around that person. Thus, some words to avoid using in Equestria are: horse, mule, foal, or donkey. Calling a pony any of those terms is likely to result in a backlash towards the offending individual, as they are considered to be offensive unless one is actually speaking to a sapient horse or donkey, which are both easy to tell apart from ponies through their size and general lack of bright-colored fur or manes.

LONELY MULTIVERSE
The Approx Guide to Equestria
World Cup 83 Special Edition

.
Salutations, travelers and hoofball fans!

This special insert section has been included courtesy of Lonely Multiverse to act as a guide for those visiting the magical land of Equestria during the 83rd World Cup, the fifth edition of the multiverse’s premier hoofball competition hosted by the country. In this section you will find more detailed information about the cities and venues which will host matches during the tournament.

We hope you will find this guide useful in your travels.

- Lonely Multiverse's "Equestria" Team
.

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Hoofball in Equestria: A Brief Primer
by Meticulous Quill

Equestria’s most popular sport is easily football, or hoofball as the country’s sapient ungulate natives call the game. The sport was first introduced to Equestria nearly 200 years ago by foreign merchants, but it wasn’t until just a few decades ago that hoofball began its rise to the heights of popularity that it enjoys today.

The Equestrian national hoofball team, nicknamed the Ponies, made their first international appearances at the 45th Baptism of Fire and the 58th World Cup, but performed rather poorly in their debut cycle. However, under the guidance of manager Twilight Striker, the team rapidly climbed the ranks over the next two cycles. The Ponies reached the knockout rounds of the 51st Cup of Harmony before nearly stunning the multiverse by qualifying for the 60th World Cup, only to be denied by a 2-1 added extra time defeat against 21st-ranked Astograth.

It seemed to Equestrian hoofball supporters that they were on the cusp of becoming a force to be reckoned with in the international game, but the next several cycles were defined not by the Ponies’ successes, but rather by their failures. The Equestrians routinely underperformed at the Cup of Harmony, either coming up agonizingly short in the second-round or bombing out of the tournament in the group stage. However, it was the Ponies’ failure to qualify for the World Cup which truly frustrated the fans and players alike. Between World Cups 60-63, the Equestrians competed in three qualifying playoffs and lost each time by just one goal.

In the months prior to the World Cup 64 qualifying campaign, manager Twilight Striker found herself under intense pressure from the press, supporters, and the Hoofball Association, to produce results or else face being sacked. The Ponies were seeded third in their qualifying group, behind World Cup stalwarts Sargossa and an ascendant Osarius team, and most pundits predicted the Equestrians would once more be relegated to the Cup of Harmony. However, the Ponies took the group by storm, opening the campaign with eight consecutive victories and remaining undefeated for an incredible 15 matches until Osarius narrowly overcame the Equestrians 1-0 at Cloudsdale’s Sky-High Coliseum. Despite dominating the group for much of the campaign, the Equestrians were facing yet another potential playoff after Osarius clinched the group title and its automatic World Cup berth. Fortunately for the Ponies, another path to the finals was available: finishing as one of the top overall runners-up. A late goal from Rainbow Blitz on the final match day secured the Equestrians a draw against Sargossa in front of over 90,000 screaming Ponies supporters at the Equestria Dome in Canterlot, the result just enough to clinch Equestria a spot at the 64th World Cup in Wight and New Montreal States.

The Ponies were not expected to do much at the World Cup 64, drawn into Group H alongside 5th-ranked Polar Islandstates and 11th-ranked Saugeais, and lost their first ever World Cup match 2-0 against the Polarians. The Equestrians scratched out a 2-2 draw against Saugeais to keep their second-round dreams alive by a thread, though the Ponies would need help from Polar Islandstates to advance. Unfortunately, despite Equestria earning their first finals win against rivals Yesopalitha, Saugeais defeated Polar Islandstates to eliminate the Ponies from the tournament.

The appearance of the national team at the 64th World Cup marked the beginning of Equestrian hoofball’s first golden age. Backed by a youth program that was churning out potential world-class stars at a remarkable rate, culminating in the under-21 national team winning the 27th Di Bradini Cup, the Ponies qualified directly for each of the next two World Cups. But these successes were marred by the team’s continued failure to make a serious run at the World Cup, eliminated each time in the group stage, even after completing the World Cup 66 cycle without losing a single game in qualifying or at the finals.

Then, before the 67th World Cup, the Hoofball Association announced that Equestria would be bidding with Cassadaigua for the rights to host the next World Cup. One of the most fiercely contested votes in the World Cup Committee’s history went in favor of the Cassadagan-Equestrian bid, and preparations began immediately to welcome the multiverse to Equestria’s shores. By the time the World Cup started, both the nation and the team were ready. The Ponies, undefeated in a pre-tournament friendly tour, started the tournament with a 2-0 win against New Sideburn (known today as Nephara). A pair of draws against Antoletia and top-ranked Polar Islandstates were enough for the Ponies to break through another barrier and advance to the knockout stage for the first time. Sadly, the Equestrians’ dreams of a deep run on home soil were dashed almost immediately in a 2-0 loss against Valladares in the second round, but the future seemed limitless for the Ponies.

Entering the 68th World Cup cycle, the Equestrians were ranked 15th and comfortably the top seed in their qualifying group. Having qualified for the last four World Cups, the Ponies were heavily favored to make it five straight appearances. At first, everything seemed to be going as planned, the Equestrians winning seven of their first eight matches, the only hiccup coming in a loss to second-seeded Zwangzug; but then, the collapse began. Another loss to Zwangzug and a pair of draws against lowly Levivania and the Gandham Islands relegated the Ponies to the runners-up playoffs where they were drawn against 171st-ranked Armakistan in the first of two rounds of playoffs.

Equestria entered the first leg in Armakistan expecting to quickly overpower the Armaks, but were left fuming after slumping to a 1-0 defeat in which the Ponies were reduced to seven players thanks to an over-zealous Sanctii referee, whom Equestrian supporters insist to this day was determined to cost them the match. The Equestrians rallied at home in the second leg for a 5-3 win to advance to the second round of playoffs and were again drawn against a significantly lower ranked opponent: 104th-ranked Buyan. In what can only be described as a catastrophic scheduling error, the host committee scheduled the Ponies to play at home for the first leg despite being the higher seed. Many in Equestria called foul, asserting that the error was a malicious plot by their rivals in the Free Republics to put the Ponies at a disadvantage in the fixture, but the World Cup Committee declined to correct the host committee’s supposed mistake. The Ponies lost the first match 1-0, forcing them to play from behind in the decisive second game in Buyan, in which they were humiliated and eliminated in a 4-2 defeat.

The 60th Cup of Harmony offered the Equestrians an opportunity to salvage something from a hugely disappointing cycle, but the Ponies would underperform once again in the consolation tournament, crashing out on penalties to hosts Kinitaria in the second round.

The following cycle, with longtime captain and star striker Fire Dash set to retire at the end of the campaign, the Ponies were largely back to their usual form during the group stage, shrugging off a few mild upsets and the disappointment of World Cup 68 to win their group. Unfortunately, the qualifying format for the 69th World Cup relegated Equestria to yet another playoff, as only some group winners were granted direct qualification and the Ponies fell just one point short of the cutoff. Against heavy underdogs New Montreal States, the Ponies would lose the first leg in Canterlot 3-1. However, on the road in New Montreal, the Equestrians rallied to tie the aggregate score at 5-5, and were in position to advance on away goals when New Montreal States scored a soul-crushing last-minute goal that sent the Ponies crashing out of the World Cup through a qualifying playoff for the fifth time. The Ponies would not be invited to participate in the 61st Cup of Harmony, and Twilight Striker resigned as national team manager the following day.

While missing the Cup of Harmony, Equestria was invited to host and participate in the Runner Cup, a consolation tournament for the teams which failed to reach the consolation tournament. The Hoofball Association accepted and appointed then-Canterlot Stars manager Pearly White as the interim boss of the national team. Pearly White's team showed no mercy to their overmatched opponents and easily won the tournament, the Ponies’ performance earning the young unicorn the job on a permanent basis.

The newly appointed manager’s mettle was not to be tested during World Cup 70 qualifying, however, as the Equestrians were selected to co-host the tournament with San José Guayabal, granting the Ponies a reprieve from the challenge of qualifying as a lower seed. Despite a series of encouraging performances in friendly matches against some of the multiverse’s best sides, expectations for the Equestrians at the World Cup were low, as the Ponies entered the tournament ranked just 40th in the multiverse. Thus, it came as a complete surprise when the Equestrians not only advanced from, but finished atop of, Group A ahead of favorites 14th-ranked Nephara. Though the Ponies would again bow out in the second round, this time in a 4-3 thriller against Legalese, the future looked bright once more for Equestrian hoofball. The following cycle, the Equestrians breezed through qualifying without a single defeat, but were eliminated in the World Cup 71 group stage after being drawn into a group of death with defending champions Osarius, the future champions from the Unified Sunrise Islands (now Kita-Hinode), and a talented Apox team.

At this point, the historical record becomes somewhat muddled. Equestrian sources claim that they were elected hosts for the 72nd World Cup but lost all contact with the outside world before the tournament began thanks to the “interdimensional magical shenanigans” of Discord, a deity of chaos and disharmony. Meanwhile, non-local records show that the Ponies not only hosted that tournament, but also participated in World Cups 72-78 with infrequent success. For the sake of maintaining impartiality, this Lonely Multiverse guide will not be covering this period, known as the ‘Equestrian Temporal Stasis’.¹

Regardless, by the 79th World Cup in this dimension, the Equestrians were ranked a lowly 62nd when (according to local sources) they returned from stasis. It took some time for the Ponies to shake off the alleged effects of this stasis, but improved gradually as the qualifying campaign wore on, including a stunning 3-2 upset of the 5th-ranked Holy Empire in the Dreamed Realm. However, the slow start the Ponies had endured doomed the team’s qualifying efforts to failure.

It was at the 71st Cup of Harmony that the Equestrians would meet the Banijans, now the Ponies’ fiercest rivals. In a pre-tournament friendly, the Ponies had dominated the Kadongo Kamu 3-1, but the rivalry truly began in a do-or-die group stage fixture, which the Equestrians emerged victorious from by a 2-0 score and subsequently advanced to the knockout stage. In the second round, the Ponies defeated Filindostan to reach the quarterfinals of a WCC-sanctioned tournament for the first time in the team’s history, before being eliminated by New Gazi in the next round.

Hoping to make up for “missing” World Cup 72, the Hoofball Association partnered with their counterparts in Starblaydia to secure the hosting rights for the 80th World Cup. Once more, the Equestrians were on the main stage alongside the multiverse’s best. Expectations for the Ponies were low, but excitement was sky-high among Equestrian hoofball fans. In a nail-biting opening fixture against none other than the Kadongo Kamu, against whose home nation the Equestrians were actively at war with over the Busogan Islands, the Ponies claimed another victory. A win the following week against New Gazi not only avenged the Equestrian’s earlier Cup of Harmony defeat, but also secured the Ponies’ advancement.

Nobody expected the Equestrians to defeat the Chromatiks in the second round, but the Ponies miraculously kept their run alive in a 2-1 upset. Despite being ranked just 41st entering the tournament, the Equestrians were through to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time. Brenecia would eliminate the Ponies in the following round en route to claiming their first title, but the Ponies performance had placed them right back where they belonged in the conversation of the multiverse’s hoofball elite.

In the last two cycles, the Ponies have shrugged off the mantle of also-rans, returning to the quarterfinals at World Cup 81 and reaching the second round at World Cup 82, and climbing into the top ten rankings. Meanwhile, at the regional level, the Ponies have been consistent contenders in the AOCAF Cup. In front of a hostile local crowd against Banija in the 58th AOCAF Final, the Ponies won their first ever major title.

Thus, we reach the present, where the 7th-ranked Equestrians are dreaming of becoming the first host nation to win the World Cup on home soil since The Holy Empire. The streets of Canterlot, Manehattan, Stalliongrad, and every other town in Equestria are buzzing with anticipation and excitement. As such, Lonely Multiverse readers should expect an electric atmosphere at every World Cup match in Equestria.

¹ Lonely Multiverse refrains from making any judgement or recommendation regarding which version(s) of reality it or its readers should accept, and encourages readers to be cautious when addressing the topic with those who may be sensitive to such controversial subjects
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WORLD CUP 83
EQUESTRIA & BANIJA

Host Cities & Venues: Groups A-D

Twelve stadiums in ten different cities across Equestria will host matches in the group stage and knockout rounds for Groups A-D at the 83rd World Cup, culminating in the World Cup 83 Final at Canterlot's Royal Equestria Stadium.

Canterlot

Royal Equestria Stadium | cap. 98,625 | National Teams
Matches: Equestria vs Kelssek (MD1), Cassadaigua vs Farfadillis (MD3), Equestria vs Starblaydia (Final)

Grand Regal Stadium | cap. 81,955 | Royal Canterlot
Matches: Equestria vs Valanora (MD2), Qusmo vs Eura (MD3), Valanora vs Cassadaigua (QF)

Star Stadium | cap. 59,250 | Canterlot Stars
Matches: Cassadaigua vs Chromatika (MD1), Ko-oren vs Zwangzug (MD2), Cassadaigua vs Reçueçn (Ro16)

Manehattan

The Crownlands | cap. 92,955 | Manehattan Dragons
Matches: Brenecia vs Farfadillis (MD1), Cosumar vs Equestria (MD3), Cassadaigua vs Equestria (SF)

Cloudsdale

Sky-High Coliseum | cap. 65,000 | Cloudsdale Flyers
Matches: Farfadillis vs Chromatika (MD2), Zwangzug vs Sargossa (MD3), Valanora vs Ko-oren (Ro16)

Stalliongrad

Diamond Park | cap. 75,000 | Stalliongrad HC
Matches: Valanora vs Cosumar (MD1), Eura vs The Holy Empire (MD2), Equestria vs Eura (QF)

Ponyville

Elements Stadium | cap. 48,750 | Ponyville United
Matches: Brenecia vs Cassadaigua (MD2), Valanora vs Kelssek (MD3), Eura vs Farfadillis (Ro16)

Everfree

Wild Grounds | cap. 56,500 | Everfree Forest HC
Matches: The Holy Empire vs Qusmo (MD1), Sargossa vs Nephara (MD2), Sargossa vs Equestria (Ro16)

Whitetail

Shady Grove | cap. 43,650 | Whitetail Foresters
Matches: Eura vs Reçueçn (MD1), Nephara vs Ko-oren (MD3)

Hollow Shades

Stadium of the Night | cap. 44,255 | AC Hollow Shades
Matches: Kelssek vs Cosumar (MD2), The Holy Empire vs Reçueçn (MD3)

Manechester

City of Manechester Stadium | cap. 47,805 | Manechester City HC
Matches: Sargossa vs Ko-oren (MD1), Chromatika vs Brenecia (MD3)

Seaddle

HarmonyLink Field | cap. 67,800 | Seaddle Sounders
Matches: Nephara vs Zwangzug (MD1), Reçueçn vs Qusmo (MD2)
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If you want more information on Equestria, be it about a stadium, a city, the country as a whole, or whatever else you might think of, feel free to send me a TG or contact me on the NS Sports discord.

by **Banija** » Sun Jul 21, 2019 5:50 pm

National Information

The Kingdom of Banija is a country that classifies itself as a semi-constitutional monarchy. A nation that is freshly a member of Atlantian Oceania, it is led by the Kabaka(which translates to King), and the current monarch is Kabaka Mwanga. The Kabaka, alongside with the Waziri(translates to Foreign Minister), whom he picks and dismisses solely at his pleasure, is the Head of State and responsible for the country's foreign affairs. Upon reaching age 25, the Isebantu(Crown Prince), becomes the Waziri by constitutional right. The current Isebantu is Isebantu Mutungi. The full list of members of the Royal Family can be found here.

Kabaka Mwanga ascended into power after the assassination of his father, Kabaka Albert III during World Cup 82 Qualifying. This is, of course, a government with an elected element. The elected unicameral legislature is the Lukiiko(Parliament), and the Lukiiko is responsible for governance of domestic affairs. The Katikkiro(Prime Minister) is elected by the Lukiiko. Currently, the Social Democrats, Banija's most left-wing major party, has won the most recent elections, a strange notion for this traditionally conservative nation. Their biggest accomplishment to date is eliminating gender segregation laws in the country when it comes to collegiate and professional sports. The present Katikkiro is Kizza Makoni, whose two terms have provided the only periods of single party majority government in Banijan history. The established church is the Puritan Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, most commonly known as Puritan Mormonism. Well over 90% of Banijans identify as adherents to the state church, though freedom of religion is generally respected by the law and the populace. There is very little patience and open disdain, however, for atheism among the general populace.

Due to the massive influence of Puritan Mormonism in this nation, they are relatively socially conservative. Abortion in this country is outlawed unless the mother's life is in danger, and polygamy for males is legal. The church's Universal Call to Motherhood, which teaches that the destiny of each and every woman is to give birth to children and raise faithful Puritan Mormons, has heavily shaped the nation's view on the role of women in society, forming the basis for Banija's prior sports gender segregation laws in the first place. Consumption of alcohol and the recreational use of marijuana in Banija is legal. Due to Mormon tradition, however, the purchase/sale of coffee products is illegal within Banija- however, the consumption is not. Fans and teams are allowed to bring in their own coffee products as long as they are declared at customs, where it is then taxed per pound. Any attempt or effort to sell the product, however, can and will result in arrest.

Banija's currency is the shilling. The exchange rate to the NationStates Dollar is 1,000 shillings to 1 NSD. Conversion kiosks will be available at all hotels and at airports to exchange your money, as well as any banks. However, using the NSDs directly to purchase items is only guaranteed at stadiums and hotels- vendors outside of stadiums or hotels are not required to accept NationStates Dollars. Fans are also advised that street vendors will only take cash, according to Banijan law- as an issue of security to prevent against credit card theft.

Of course, Banija is a developing country by modern economic standards. However, due to a recent discovery of large oil deposits in Hangaza, there is movement within the country on building better infrastructure. A general lack of development in Banija, we are a country with excellent sporting infrastructure, but little else. Most roads are dirt, and public transit within cities is via the boda boda, though each team will have a trio of 45 passenger busses to transport players, coaches, staff, family, etc... To and from the hotel to the games and practices. The climate of Banija has a lot of natural rainforest and jungle, which means that there is no winter, only wet season and dry season. Temperatures generally range at their coldest around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and at their hottest around 110 degrees Fahrenheit. For the duration of the tournament, average high temperatures will range from 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Banijans have a tendency of being relaxed about time. While, of course, things like flights and matches will run on time, this is something that is observed generally, especially at restaurants. It is considered standard to arrive about 15-20 minutes late for a restaurant reservation, which is something Banijan authorities would like to make note of for travelling fans and visitors to the country for this tournament. This is very true for hangouts with Banijans, dates, weddings, etc... Within the country.

The three major international airports within Banija are Istria International, Jinja City International, and Busukuma International. These serve the country's two largest cities, and the nation's capitol. All teams and dignitaries, upon their arrival to Banija, will fly into Gonzaga International Airport in Busukuma before reaching their final destination. Gonzaga International has long been known as the 'VIP' airport, catering to the royals, high-ranking government officials, and those deemed of special importance by the Government of the day. Jinja City's airport status was recently converted to international status after the discovery of oil within the Hangaza region. For the first time, unlike World Cup 81 and AOCAF LVIII, all cities within the country hosting World Cup games will have their airports equipped with at least temporary international status, from the period of 10 days before the Finals begin to the period of 15 day after the Finals end. All teams

In terms of food, Banijans are very heavy meat eaters, and you'll find plenty of chicken, goat meat, beef, pork, and turkey options on your localized menus. In terms of non-meats, popular staple foods are jollof, matoke, Chapati, a rolex, and samosas. Strictly vegan restaurants within the country, outside of Istria and Busukuma, are almost non-existent, though of course you'll find non-meat options everywhere.

Team Base Camps
The Royal Banijan Soccer Association has announced where each side will set up base camp for the duration of the tournament. Base camp, of course, includes accommodations and beds for a minimum of 135 persons, with transpiration provided by the RBSA for up to 135 people per match from base camp. Accommodations made for more people can be made at the base camp by the specific team, though that will come at a higher per person cost to the requesting association. All schools used as base camps are assumed to be closed to classes and the general public for the period of 30 days prior to the start of the Finals, and through 30 days after the Finals.

Team Name	Base Camp Location	Base Camp Information
Banija	RBSA Training Grounds in Busukuma, National Capitol Region	Unsurprisingly, they will train and stay at the RBSA headquarter and the normal national team training grounds in the nation's capitol
Qasden	Istria City College in Istria, Moravica	They will stay at an urban public college. The college has been closed for the duration of the tournament, giving Qasden the sole access to the facility during this time. They will use the Rukunbi FC training grounds, and stay in a hotel walking distance from the college
Starblaydia	University of Loyola-Istria in Istria, Moravica	They will stay at Banija's oldest university, the University of Loyola-Istria. They will stay in a hotel that is located on campus, and use the University's training facilities.
Taeshan	Koszagard Athletic Complex in Koszagard, Moravica	They will stay at a brand new apartment complex next door to Koszagard City Stadium, which they will use as their training facilites. This is located in suburban Istria.
Mercedini	University of Moravica in Slobochia, Moravica	This University will also be closed during the finals, giving the Golden Eagles full access to the primary athletics dormitory. They will train at the University's training facilities. It is located 45 minutes east of Herzegovina City.
Kita-Hinode	Kizza I College in Busukuma, National Capitol Region	A smaller, prestigious public college in Banija's capitol,
South Covello	University of Loyla-Busukuma in Busukuma, National Capitol Region	One of the two much lesser known campuses of Loyola, this is the primary institution where members of the clergy go to school. It is essentially the major seminary of the Puritan Mormon Church. South Covello, of course, will have full access to its residence halls, and use the training facilities of the Busukuma Force.
Free Republics	Zakuta Village Complex in Zakuta, Ankole	Located just 5 miles north of Busukuma, they will stay in a brand new subdivision that is designed as a residence for the capitol's elite. Before homes in this village go for sale, it will be used as the base camp for the Free Republics. They will train at Forest Stadium.
Mriin	St. Sava Prepatory Academy for Boys in Vidizi, Moravica	Located in the southern suburbs of Herzegovina, this is one of Banija's most exclusive, and expensive, secondary schools. A boarding school closed for the summer, their dorms will be used by the Mriin national team. They will train at Phoenix Stadium, home of the Herzegovina Phoenix, located just 1.5 miles from this campus.
Turori	Northern Moravica University in Herzegovina City, Moravica	Northern is Banija's oldest public university, and one of the country's most prestigious. Best known for their collegiate football team, their athletic dorms and facilities will be for the exclusive use for Turori's national team(s).
Apox	Banijan Royal Naval Academy in Busembe, Kitara	The Naval Academy, with students gone for the summer, will be given to Apox. They will have full access to the athletic complex and residence halls of the institution, and will train at the training grounds of the Busembe Timberwolves.
Bongo Johnson	University of Ankole in Hoima, Ankole	They will stay at the University of Ankole, one of the largest inland universities in the country. They will both live at, and train at, the university, and have full access to the campus.
The Macabees	Lwanga Park in Aissa, Hangaza	The Golden Throne is staying at Lwanga Park, a facility the Hangaza Region that houses members of the regional legislature. With the legislature not in session, it has been granted to the Golden Throne for World Cup 83. They will train at Aissa United's training ground, a half mile from Lwanga Park.
Vilita	Kisubi School for Girls in Isipongo, Buganda	This is a brand new all girls boarding school, that is scheduled to open two months after the end of the Finals. It is a state of the art institution, and is well marketed to Banija's elite, with the leader of the opposition's(the Kiongozi) daughter scheduled to go there. They will stay there and train at the facilities of the Isipongo Flash, a mile away. The world champions, of course, shall have exclusive use of the facility during the World Cup.
Baker Park	The Hangaza Regional Academy in Jinja City, Hangaza	Baker Park will stay at the Hangaza Regional Academy, the youth academy for the Hangaza Region. It is Banija's biggest academy, with plenty of beds and accommodation. It has state-of-the-art training facilities on site.
Audioslavia	Bunyoro Regional Academy in Byakado, Bunyoro	Byakado is a scenic rural town in Bunyoro, that is well spread out. Best known for the national park on the town's outskirts, which hosts the country's largest tourist safari, it is a secluded city, for the better and the worse. They will train at Byakado City's ground, who are the local professional side within the area..

Locations

Istria, Moravica
Banija's largest port and largest city by population, this is in the Moravica region, in Northwestern Banija. It is a city of 3 million people, and it is known as Banija's economic capitol. It is largely considered Banija's most diverse city. Historically, this city served as the second capitol city of the Kasanke Tribe, the historical predecessors of the modern Banijan nation. It is one of two Banijan cities with a major foreign population- the other being the nation's capitol, Busukuma. There is even a Kalactanian Hockey League team hosted in the city. Nearly a third of the city holds citizenship of a country other than Banijan. More of those come from the Royal Kingdom of Quebec or the Busoga Islands, but people come from all over Atlantian Oceania and the rest of the multiverse. It is also known as Banija's wealthiest city and primary economic hub. It is home to Banija's oldest university, the University of Loyola-Istria, and to the country's biggest airport.

Stadium

The stadium in Istria is Kabonero III Field, with a capacity of 48,000. The stadium is named after Kabonero III, the monarch who united the country's modern day territory under his rule, and the first to rule the country with the name Banija. There was controversy when Banija hosted the Baptism of Fire as this stadium was not selected to host matches in that, due to a failure between the RBSA and Istria City FC, the stadium's operators, to reach an agreement on revenue splitting. However, one was reached for this tournament, and Kabonero III Stadium will host games at World Cup 80. The stadium is located on the city's oceanfront, and is considered to be on the city's best real estate.

Matches Held Here
Group H Matchday 1: Audioslavia V. The Macabees
Group E Matchday 2: Taeshan v. Starblaydia
Group G Matchday 3: Turori v. Bongo Johnson
Third Place Match- SF1 Loser vs. SF2 Loser

Herzegovina City, Moravica
Banija's oldest city, the city by its current name is over 800 years old, when it was first conquered by the Kasanke people. It is a city with a population of 1 million people. It is the heart of the Puritan Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The national religion was started in this city, and the church's world headquarters, the Herzegovina Temple, is the multiverse's largest Puritan Mormon church. The Bishop of this church, formally titled the Patriarch of Herzegovina, is the most senior member of the church, and the joint head of the global church, alongside His Majesty, the Kabaka. It is home to Banija's largest university, Northern Moravica University. It served as the seat of government for the Kasanke Tribe. It is also the capitol city of the Moravica region. As the original home of the predecessors of the Banijan monarchs, all reigning monarchs are buried on the grounds of the Herzegovina Temple.

Herzegovina City was the only World Cup host city to not have an airport, until now. The Herzegovina City Regional Airport has opened just in time for the World Cup Finals. It is the only airport that has not been granted temporary international status, due to the 'lack of airport capacity'. While still a relatively small airport, flights from abroad will land at Istria International, and then either take the train ride north or connecting flight north.

Stadium- Star Field

The stadium in Herzegovina City is Star Field, and it has a seating capacity of 70,000. This stadium was, of course, a shoe-in to host games- when you consider capacity, ease of transportation, and size of the city, it was a no brainer. The stadium is home to Herzegovina City FC, Banija's most successful side since the establishment of the BSL, with 5 league titles in the past 7 seasons. The stadium has long hosted major events, including a World Cup 81 Quarterfinal and an AOCAF LVIII quarterfinal.

Matches Held Here
Group G Matchday 1: Tuori v. Apox
Group E Matchday 2: Banija v. Qasden
Group F Matchday 3: Kita-Hinode v. Free Republics
One Quarterfinal- SR7vSR8

Busukuma, National Capitol Region
This is the nation's capitol, located on the country's Southern coastline. Puritan Mormons believe that their God told the-then chief of the Kasanke, Kabonero III, that he should conquer all of the land that is currently Banija, gave the country it's name(therefore killing the name of the Kasanke nation), and put the capitol in the South. He did it, made Busukuma the capitol, and declared himself Banija's first Maharaja, or Emperor. As the nation's capitol for over 400 years, the city has been the spot for many major events in Banijan history, and the seat of plenty of foreign embassies, a large foreign population, and Banija's first airport.

The city, of course, is known for having two airports- the public, international airport, called Busukuma International, and also the non-public airport, named Gonzaga International Airport- reserved for the royal family and their guests, elected national politicians, foreign diplomats, and the point of entry for high-ranking officials to avoid the general public. Heads of State/Government, Foreign Ministers, AOCAF officials, host committee members, and national teams, upon their first arrival into Banija, will fly into Gonzaga International.

Stadium of the Restoration

The national stadium, the Stadium of the Restoration, sits 91,835. It is the country's largest soccer stadium, and, of course, it is the national stadium. On the stadium's site, in 1835, the Banijan monarchy was restored at this site in Banija's first declaration of independence from the Royal Kingdom of Quebec. When the RBSA was formed, it was the obvious site to build the national stadium. The original facility sat 69,000, and was then, as it is now, Banija's largest soccer stadium. It was home to the Banijan national soccer and gridiron teams, and hosted plenty of international tournaments, including the Finals of a UICA Globe Cup, World Bowl and a Baptism of Fire. However, the ageing facility needed to be rebuilt so that one could fit the WCC's 80,000 seater minimum requirement to host a World Cup opening match, as required when the country co-hosted World Cup 81.

The bid from AEP, an architectural firm from Siovanija & Teusland, won the bid to build a new Stadium of the Restoration on the same site in time for World Cup 81. The brand new stadium's capacity, according to the bid, is a nod to Banija's history, of the year that made the site famous in 1835. It has a retractable natural grass surface, used for soccer, and a retractable articifial turf surface, used for gridiron football and during ceremonies like coronations. There are no gaps between the stands, while the South Stand is a single tier, designed to amplify crowd noise. The stadium contains 35 suites, 1 of which is always reserved for RBSA executives, and the second always received for His Majesty, the Kabaka.

Since the rebuild, of course, it hosted both the opening match and one of the semifinals of World Cup 81, as well as the coronation ceremony of Kabaka Mwanga.

Matches Held Here
Group E Matchday 1: Banija v. Taeshan
Group F Matchday 2: Free Republics v. South Covello
Group H Matchday 3: Audioslavia v. Baker Park
World Cup 83 Semifinal- QF3vQF4

Jinja City, Hangaza
This city of 2 million people is Banija's largest inland city, and the second largest city in the entire country, in terms of population. This city is the economic center of the Hangaza region, even if its political capitol lies towards the East, in Aissa. Being an inland city, of course, it is not know for its diversity- nearly the entire city are native Banijans, even if many are from rural Hangaza. Historically, the city is known for being the spiritual home of one of Banija's minority ethnic groups- the Akamba. It is also sight of the first battle of the Kasanke conquest, when they moved from the Moravican coast to take over the entirety of what is now Banija.

Stadium- BCEL Stadium

This stadium has a capacity of 52,400. Sponsored by the soft drink company BCEL from Baker Park, it is the only corporate sponsored stadium being used on the Banijan side in World Cup 80. It was built to attract matches for the previous Baptism of Fire, and is considered one of Banija's premier stadiums. It is home to Banijan club Jinja City FC, one of Banija's Super 5 clubs. T

Matches Held Here
Group H Matchday 1: Vilita v. Baker Park
Group G Matchday 2: Mriin v. Turori
Group F Matchday 3: South Covello v. Mercedini
One Round of 16 match- E1 v F2

Busembe, Kitara
The first four cities on this list were shoes-ins. Absolute guarantees. You couldn't ever hold a tournament in Banija and ignore those four cities. As for the last cities, there was a lot of debate. One of the four winners of this debate, of course, and one of them was Busembe. Busembe is the capitol of the Kitara Region, with nearly 300,000 people within the city limits. It is, of course, on the country's west coast- but not a port city, like Istria, Herzegovina City, or Busukuma. The city, in fact, isn't what's memorable. The reason it was chosen, of course, was because of the stadium. The Kitara Region is known as Banija's hottest region, however, and so that means expect both the temperatures and the humidity to climb very high in games that are played at The Wolf's Den.

Stadium- The Wolf's Den

The stadium's name pays homage to the stadium's operators, the Busembe Timberwolves of the Banijan Soccer League. It has a capacity of 44,000, so it is one of the smaller stadiums awarded World Cup matches- however, it is also seen as one of Banija's highest quality stadiums. It is one of Banija's most intimate stadiums, with the fans being extremely close to the field. The intimacy, as well as ease of access from Busukuma International Airport(just a 45 minute train ride to the Northwest) are some of the major reason why this stadium was chosen. The Stadium, as well as the team, is owned by Taeshani pizza company Fadron Pizza, one of three foreign owned sides in Banijan domestic football.

Matches Held Here
Group G Matchday 1: Mriin v. Bongo Johnson
Group F Matchday 2: Mercedini v. Kita-Hinode
Group H Matchday 3: The Macabees v. Vilita
One Round of 16 match- G1vH2

Mynda, Aksum
As mentioned above, there was a lot of debate over the last four stadiums that would be picked. Which ones would they be? With legitimately competitive bids from 7 different stadiums to be in that final group of four, of course, there were bound to be disappointed cities and regions. Aissa, the regional capitol of Hangaza, was chosen to host matches in the last World Cup thanks to their large stadium, but this time around, the Banijan half of the host committee wanted to go in a different direction. Look at a much larger city, even if it has a smaller stadium. Mynda is the country's 6th largest city, with an urban population of about 855,000 people, and it is the largest city in the Aksum region. This would mark the first time that Aksum has hosted World Cup matches, with the region's major cities, Mynda and Aksatasuna, being passed over for World Cup 81.

Stadium- Electra Stadium

Electra Stadium has a capacity of 47,000 for the tournament, a permanent expansion from its former 41,000 seating capacity. Electra Stadium is the home to Mynda Electra, and both are owned by Electra, a public utility company from Damukuni. This team was the first ever foreign owned team in the Banijan Soccer League, purchased before Dukuma SC was purchased by an Al Qurijan family, and before Fadron Pizza's purchase of the Busembe Timberwolves.

Matches Held Here
Group F Matchday 1: Mercedini v. Free Republics
Group G Matchday 2: Bongo Johnson v. Apox
Group E Matchday 3: Qasden v. Taeshan
One Round of 16 match- F1vE2

Dodoma, Bunyoro
The Bunyoro Region got a rude awakening with Bwubanza City Soccer Club's recent relegation, in stunning fashion, from the Banijan Soccer League. Previously seen as a lock to host World Cup matches, that relegation threw it all into doubt. Would Bwubanza City's revenues fall enough to prevent them from making the necessary upgrades to host World Cup football? There was, of course, the other city in the region to consider- Dodoma, a city with almost 800,000. Locals joke that while in the rest of Banija, there is dry season and wet season, in Bunyoro, there is wet and wetter season- it has some of the highest rates of rainfall in all of Atlantian Oceania.

But where to put the matches? The existing stadium in the city isn't big enough, with a capacity of 33,000. Then, of course...

Stadium- Albert III Stadium

This was built for World Cup 81 under a different name, and is currently used by Bunyoro RSC. However, after the assassination of the Kabaka's father, Albert III, it was renamed after him. It will debut in this tournament, and, of course, be the future home of Bunyoro Regional Sporting Club. With a stadium capacity of 48,600, and with revolutionary field drainage technology, thoughtful considering the amount of rain that this region gets, this will be some of Banijan engineering technology on full display. Due to the unique structure of the roof, the sound is made to go down onto the ground, and many expect this will be the tournament's loudest venue due to that stadium design.

Matches Held Here
Group E Matchday 1: Qasden v. Starblaydia
Group H Matchday 2: Baker Park v. The Macabees
Group G Matchday 3: Apox v. Mriin
One Round of 16 match- H1vG2

Hoima, Ankole
Now, while Hoima wasn't a shoe-in per say, it was never really going to be left off of the host list, was it? One of five cities in Banija with at least a million people, it had to be chosen. It is not a multicultural city, as is true of most of Banija's inland cities, but it is more diverse than Jinja City. Banija Air is headquartered in this city, as the city's economy relies on commercial airliner manufacturing. The weather in this city is known as some of the best in Banija- almost always temperate, and not much humidity. Of course, there is alittude, as the city is located three quarters of a mile above see level.

Stadium- Mavuto Field

This is a stadium that was built before AOCAF LVIII, and it will be the new home of the Hoima Warriors of the BSL going forward. With a combined investment from the Ankole Regional Government, the Hoima Warriors, and the City of Hoima, this is a behemoth of a stadium- seating a stunning 75,000, becoming the largest stadium in the BSL. Built to ensure that Hoima would get AOCAF LVIII games and games in future tournaments, it is home to a burgeoning fanbase of soccer fans. It is named after Gerald Mavuto, the city's first ever mayor.

Matches Held Here
Group F Matchday 1: Kita-Hinode v. South Covello
Group H Matchday 2: Vilita v. Audioslavia
Group E Matchday 3: Starblaydia v. Banija
One Quarterfinal- SR5vSR6

by **Tinhampton** » Sun Jul 21, 2019 5:59 pm

The Soft Drinks Charge: What you need to know

WHAT is the Soft Drinks Charge?
The Tinhamptonian Soft Drinks Charge, or simply "the Charge," is a small levy of sixteen cents per litre, added to every drink that contains more than seven grams of sugar per 100 millilitres of drink (rounded to the nearest cent if needs be).

WHY does Tinhampton need a Soft Drinks Charge?
In 2006, obesity among Tinhamptonians was 21%, rising to more than a quarter among children aged less than 18. Thanks to the steps taken by multiple governments since then, we are pleased to announce that these figures are down to roughly 16% within both groups, and slowly falling. The amount of soft drink per annum consumed by Tinhamptonians, whilst it has fallen by 50% this century to about 80 litres, is still too high and remains a major factor in obesity, which we hope to cut down upon by imposing this Charge. The funds raised by this Charge will be fully reinvested by the Tinhamptonian Ministry of Finance into funding physical activity, including Physical Education in schools and subsidies for the national Football Association.

WHO was the Soft Drinks Charge developed by?
In January 2016, the Tinhamptonian Government announced its first plans to introduce a Charge, with options including the current Soft Drinks Charge and minimum unit pricing proposed. A public consultation was introduced and held over the spring and summer, with more than 25,000 responses (or almost ten percent of Tinhampton's population). Over the past two years, however, we expect that the Charge will be more widely accepted as a result of our work with citizens, healthcare professionals and other experts to reform the Charge. It was enshrined into law by the passage of the Budget in September 2018. This charge has been moulded both by the Government and by Tinhampton's civil society.

WHEN will the Soft Drinks Charge apply from?
The Charge will be first applicable on Monday, the 15th of July 2019, at midnight. (This particular day was chosen for consumer convenience and because almost all stores in Tinhampton are legally prohibited from opening after 6pm on Sundays.) We have given Tinhamptonian business this ten-month grace period in order to prepare for the introduction of the Charge appropriately. Many businesses will place the cost of the Charge onto you, the consumer; this is not a measure to attack consumer choice, but is intended to promote healthier lifestyles in line with the Government's long-term mission, and we are not planning to ban soft drinks.

WHERE will the Soft Drinks Charge be applicable?
The Charge is not applicable to stores or to the consumer, but to companies, which are recommended to pass the Charge onto consumers (or, if it proves more effective, the store itself). It is therefore likely that the Charge will apply to almost all stores in Tinhampton. Purchases at Tinhampton Airport and the Tinhampton Docks continue to be exempt from all tax, including the Charge, provided that proof of a ticket for transport is also presented at purchase. The Terrorism Act of 2008 prohibits any more than 330 millilitres of liquid being brought into Tinhampton on passenger aircraft, and we will not impose charges on those drinks brought into the country using such methods.

HOW will one pay the Soft Drinks Charge?
The Charge is directed at the consumer, rather than at the bottler or manufacturer of the drinks. If you are ordering a drink subject to the Charge from a store or restaurant, you may notice that the cost of the Charge for your order may be made explicit on your receipt. We are encouraging all soft drinks brands operating within Tinhampton to forward the charge onto the consumer, if they are unwilling to replace sugar in their recipes to reduce levels below the Charge payment threshold. On some occasions, measures have been taken to reduce potential complications; the Allied Publicans, Tinhampton's largest collective of pubs and bars, have already ceased to offer free soft drinks with their meals to customers. If such measures are successful, we will consider introducing legislation to stamp out this practice across the city in the second half of 2020.

WHICH other measures is the Government employing to help reduce obesity?
For more than ten years, the Government's STEP UP! campaign has helped to get a large majority of Tinhampton's population regularly active on at least a weekly basis. Government-led industry campaigns to reduce levels of fat, salt, sugar and calories in their meals have proven successful, as has the Healthy School Dinners Plan of 2016, an upgrade of past HSDPs which aims to restrict the consumption of ultra-processed foods in addition to these four categories by members of school communities.
We are now considering other measures to be put into place in the medium term if this charge is successful, such as a maximum soft drinks bottle size of one litre, a potential limit on multipacks, application of the Charge to artificial sweeteners (as a last resort), and/or more widesweeping legislation on advertising items that are High in Fat, Salt, and Sugar. The Government does not currently plan to introduce warning labels on soft drinks, or an outright ban.

This leaflet was distributed by the Government of Tinhampton, September 2018 (reprinted 14 times).

Under the Government Act 1930, this is an official statement by the Hon. Saffron Naomi Howard AM, Mayor of Tinhampton; and also by the Hon. Victoria Byrne, Finance Minister of Tinhampton. Attempted impersonation can result in up to a three-year prison sentence.

by **South Covello** » Sun Jul 21, 2019 6:27 pm

Shock, Panic, as Carter Redwin Reenters Presidential Race

Shock and panic spread throughout South Covello as far-right lunatic candidate Carter Redwin has reenetered the Presidential election with only six months to go. Redwin, who had earlier campaigned on promises to "Make Sotuh Covello White Again" and "Make South Covello Christian Again" had previously dropped out of the race claiming to have been under the influence of a mind control demon, the same mind control demon that allegedly influenced Dumpy O'Rumpy, but which we all know did not. His reentry drew panic from civil rights groups, who were concerned about Redwin inciting the same hatred he did last time. His campaign reentry speech was definitely fiery, and is reproduced below. It was filled with lies, including a complete denial of his earlier withdrawal and denouncing of his opponents as "fake news." It also claimed, falsely, that President David Hale was gay, Muslim, and transgender, none of which are accurate, and that he forged a birth certificate with his "new" name and gender. We will at this time point out to our foreign readers and those not familiar with how birth certificates in this nation work that South Covello does not allow people who change their sex and/or name to change this information on their birth certificate, as it is intended to be an accurate record of things as of the moment of birth. However, unlike in some nations, changing the birth certificate is not a prerequisite for transgender individuals to be recognized as the gender they identify as. That being said, David Hale's birth certificate listing his sex as male and his name as David Davenport Hale is, in fact, accurate. Redwin also made false claims about fruit.

Carter Redwin's Reenry Speech

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I speak to you today of the soon-to-be greatness of South Covello. Greatness that will only come once you elect me, Carter Redwin. Together, we will Make South Covello Great Again! How/ By making South Covello White Again. By making South Covello Christian Again! By purging the non-white, non-Christian, non-heterosexuals from our midst! Together, we shall prevail! We shall destroy the enemies within! The traitors within! Send them to banishment!

"Now, some may claim I withdrew before. This is FAKE NEWS from the FAKE NEWS MEDIA! I am entering the race, why would I enter, drop out, and drop back in? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard, and just what I would expect from the FAKE NEWS media! Did I mention President David Hale is a gay Muslim transgender who used to be known as Davidina al-Jabari? He'll say it's not true, but that's FAKE NEWS too! He even forged his birth certificate to read his new name! Or her new name? Whatever? Who cares? He's a traitor to this country and we will defeat and destroy him! Davidina will be destroyed! And locked up! Or something! Because together, we will Make South Covello Great Again! We shall fight the foe from within! We shall purge the enemy from our midst! We shall make ourselves a White, Christian, Heterosexual Nation of rights and rights and greatness!

"Now, unlike President al-Jabari, I will not stay silent about foreign affairs. While we should not be invading other countries for random reasons like President Green, and certainly should not be threatening a leader as Great as Revan Bernat, there is a happy medium. And so now I will talk about efforts ongoing to make our ally, the Free Republics, Great Again! Currently the Free Republics are ruled by a skank harlot named Scarlett the Harlot Nicholls, and a drunken fratboy named Kyle Bolton, whose one good trait is that he knows how to put a woman in her place. However, there is a party called "Common Good" that is running for their Legislature and has strong support from my good dear friend, the Great Sister Maria Polus, a nun who will Make Republica Great Again. I wish to lend my support to Common Good, which Sister Polus seems to agree with judging by her support. Also, should her pieers (OOC: is that the corect spelling?) ever enter South Covello, they will immediately be pied in the face with 6 billion poisonberry pies! That's right, you heard right. Poisonberry! Not boysenberry, poisonberry! Speaking of which, did you hear some stupid FAKE NEWS LIBERALS like Presidentress al-Jabari claim boysenberry is sexist? They want to call it childsenberry so no girls are hurt or have their feelings hurt in their safe space! Well there will be no safe spaces if I'm President because the LIEBRAL SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIORS are FAKE NEWS and shall be banished to the pit of oblivion if I am elected!

"Thank you, vote for me, MAKE US GREAT!"

Carter Redwin Campaign Headquarters

Carter Redwin was meeting with his sycophnatic campaign manager, Dominick Hickwood.

Dominick Hickwood: We're doing good so far, our polls are rising already since you declared.

Carter Redwin: Great, and put in a call to Sister Polus, will you, maybe she can chime in?

Dominick Hickwood: Yes, that's a wonderful idea!

Carter Redwin: And while you're at it, ask her if she can get revenge on Harlot Nicholls by pieing her with a poisonberry pie. And Kyle Bolton too.

Dominick Hickwood: Great idea, poisonberry pies. And that stuff about boysenberry and sexism, great stuff.

Carter Reddwin: Yes, I know, thank you, Dom.

Dominick Hickwood: But we really need something to light a fire under our campaingn. Any ideas?

Carter Redwin: Yes, I have one, don't worry, I've been planning it myself, things are coming....

by **Dreamplanet** » Mon Jul 22, 2019 4:58 am

Bitter Pride: The Story of CE 24

June 13th promised to be the finest day in Dreamplanetian football history, it became a bitterly missed chance.

Dreamplanet had 80–1 odds at the start of the tournament and didn't even make it out of the group last tournament, Os Tricores were expected to play 3 games, maybe even 4 if they were lucky, on June 13th they walked onto the field with a major tournament award in sight. Even if it wasn't to be, how did they do it? How did Dreamplanet cause such an upset after defeating nations far above them?

For many years, Os Tricores were just World Cup fodders with an anti-football style of play, a disgraced ex-captain that was banned from representing the national team and a disaster that weakened relations between nations. Now, Dreamplanet have made it to 3rd place in the World Cup qualifiers twice and now a silver medal that will forever stay with us. Dreamplanet's change in fortune can be attributed to a number of things; the transfers of star players abroad, the opening of the Apex Arena, moving to a more free flowing, attacking football. Despite that, one of the most undervalued but definitely crucial factors is the maturing of the squad as they have international experience instead of just playing in the Liga Dreamplanet every year.

But why is this massive overachievement seen as a bitter disappointment? For starters, Dreamplanetians are natural bitter losers, we don't like to lose but we lose a lot, secondly this was a rude awakening that Os Tricores are not yet capable of winning tournaments, we were close but we couldn't get it done in our first try. The tournament started in excellent form after a 4-1 win over CE23 hosts Apox and Os Tricores never looked back, beating San José Guayabal, who were the co-hosts in the first World Cup that Dreamplanet tried to qualify for and then drawing 1-1 with the Fhulghamous Peninsula, topping the group. It was the first time that Dreamplanet had made it out of the group but it got better as they beat South Covello with the last kick of the game, beat hosts Velestria 2-1 in a narrow game and dethroned the reigning champions Mattijana 4-1 on penalties after the chip from Miguel Benedito. If there was a belt that the reigning champions handed over to who defeated them, Dreamplanet would be heading into that final with the belt in their hands, despite a wonderful start to the final, Os Tricores lost their composure and were duely beaten 4-1 by Kita-Hinode, the occasion was simply too big for them.

CAMPIONATO ESPORTIVA 24

GLORY FOR KITA-HINODE
Bitter Pride: The Story of CE 24
Report: Dreamplanet 1-4 Kita-Hinode
Luis Silva: "We did all we could."
Iori Saitou: "It was a match of fine margins."
Celebrations and Commiserations in Fullham & Libon
International Press react to CE 24 final
What went wrong for Dreamplanet?
Rodrigo Vaz: "I only have myself to blame."

The question for Dreamplanet is "What now?" After that final there is only one goal for now, get to the World Cup. It will be hard since Dreamplanet are often rather unlucky in the World Cup as shown in the two times where Os Tricores finished 3rd, just below the play-off spot. It is possible for Dreamplanet to get to the World Cup in [Equestrian States and Banija/Drawkland Saltstead], all Campionato Esportiva runner-ups have qualified for the following World Cup and Os Tricores don't want to be the ones to break that trend, and they don't deserve to not qualify either after the fantastic tournament they had, Os Tricores look capable now, but the question is will they or won't they?

For once, Dreamplanetians could all get behind their team and genuinely believe in a title, they had beaten the expert nations and punched well above their weight before being cruelly snubbed of a well deserved title. Os Tricores seem to live in highs and lows, going from a 3-0 trashing by ROBOSTANIA of all teams and now they were in their first ever final, will the World Cup 83 campaign continue the trend of highs and lows or will they make history once again by qualifying to the World Cup for the very first time?

by **Zwangzug** » Mon Jul 22, 2019 2:43 pm

The Spenson Star
Federation introduces Willow, Willow introduces chaos

Tavish Willow was announced as the new manager of the national football team, replacing Makvala Tsereteli. Willow is known for his long ponytail as well as a steady defensive approach in Keppal, who recently retook their league title.

The excitement produced by this announcement shortly gave way to surprise and confusion as Willow declared that Zwangzug would depart from the midfield X that had been a mainstay of their recent history. "Let's face it, none of our strikers are particularly world-class," he shrugged. "[Gabi] Lanius-Sexton isn't amounting to much at [Trebuchet] Cham, and let's not even get into [Kostya] Hart-Farm and [Excelsior] Slogda. I'm sure the six-midfielder approach has brought success to loads of other sides, like...Mytannion, or whatever they're calling themselves now, and...loads."

Faced with the charge that this was just a particularly lazy way to make sure one player wasn't winding up with an unrealistic majority of the goals, Willow demured. "Look, what's wrong with that even if it is the reason. Besides, we're still a defensive-minded side, I expect our focus to be more at the back anyway."

Willow is the first man born in Zwangzug to lead the national side, following a not-particularly intelligent robot, Bigtopian-born Doodlypants McGimpy, and a succession of women from Earent and Zwangzug.

Martin Scallop was announced as the new captain upon the retirement of Kendra Jover, an obvious choice on Willow's part given their Keppal connection. Scallop is known to be a bit of an opportunist in showing his defensive skills, banking on the fact that "no one else really cares about defense anyway so it should be easy for me to make the highlight real, innit." Migraine-plagued Subroto Parida steps down to the bench to make way for Sydney Stefred, known for scoring goals at dramatic moments and supporting the mission of the Canbix Comet to kick ego-stroking old fogeys in sensitive areas. In the midfield, and technically front of the field, Ione Friede makes her way in the starting lineup and Jonah McCollins will be thrust into the spotlight. Edwin Cherenkov-Nguyen, from Cham, will earn the kitmaker's ire on the bench.

At press time, representatives from North Sabrefell in Nephara had indicated Paige Daunten's versatility and talent, suggesting that she play on attack. Zwangzug's federation retaliated by cutting the phone lines to Ephesian FC "just so they don't go giving Willow any ideas."

World Cup 81/82/83/84

© Sporting Times Daily 2021
FAC closes out GC with optimism high
by Mindy Cartwright, National Soccer Writer

The final day of the Football Association of the Commonwealth's 115th General Conference, at the Prince Robert Hall inside the Commonwealth Convention Center, saw the Board of Directors present their Final Report on the agenda that had been discussed.

As reported on these pages earlier, two of the major issues involved the NWSL; league expansion and the contract & transfer situation relative to the revenue increases.

Deputy General Secretary Allison LeFleur read the statement that there would be an exploratory committee named to set parameters & identify potential candidates for spots in the League, who would need to be viable for consideration within the next two seasons; and that the basic negotiations over revised contract language & transfer considerations were at a point that the conclusion of a new policy would almost certainly be in place by the beginning of pre-season training.

LeFleur had earlier addressed a closed business meeting with details of revenue estimates that reflected the final auditing on the AOCAF tournament organizing committee; sources said that the bottom line results came in much higher than had been expected, but much of that money was going to be diverted to a small increase in academy payments and to Under-15 & Under-17 teams for future use.

FAC General Secretary David Carlson used his closing remarks to the representatives of the 400+ member clubs to remind all in attendance that the Association was in the strongest & most successful period in its history; respected for endeavor & perseverance of the National Teams at all levels, having solid relationships with many other nations' governing bodies and raising the profile among our domestic fanbase.

Chairwoman Cheryl Livingston gaveled the Conference to a finish to a thunderous cheer--her ascension to the top spot, replacing longtime Chairman Paul Hewitt, another milestone--and the delegates repaired to the central exhibition lobby of the CCC for the final party of the 3 day affair.

by **Mattijana** » Tue Jul 23, 2019 3:54 am

Lekarisa Announces Shock Saint Émelie Switch

MFO SPORT

Mattijanan all-time top-scorer Mathilde Lekarisa has announced she will play for Saint Émelie in the qualifying stage of the 83rd World Cup.

The 29 year-old Rapid Petrovijanka striker, who was born on the island but moved to Petrovijanka at the age of 10, missed the most recent Campionato Esportiva because of a knee injury, but was widely expected to sign a new contract with Dusan Vukoja's national team ahead of the upcoming qualifying campaign. Many attending the press-conference that was called for the announcement expected that that would be its subject.

Instead, she will link up with the Insulaires where she is expected to lead the line with the only other Mattijana-based player, Savafluss forward Sara Katjanovic. Katjanovic, despite being another player eligible to play for Mattijana thanks to her Mattijanan father as well as residency rules, has never played a youth or senior level game for the marmots.

At an initially low-key press conference in Petrovijanka, Lekarisa said she was "honoured" to be given the opportunity to play for her birth nation, but that she had made the decision with a "heavy heart". She also spoke of her enjoyment playing for Mattijana, but of her excitement towards Saint Émelie.

What next for the Marmots?

Losing Lekarisa is a massive blow for manager Dusan Vukoja ahead of a vital qualifying campaign. With fellow striker Andreas Weiss nearing retirement and less near to his former potency, the pressure to score the bulk of Mattijana's goals falls on the shoulders of 24 year old Kara Lorenzic. The Matbirjke forward showed promise in the Campionato, but has little experience in either a World Cup or the long international campaign it brings.

Vukoja himself is yet to publically react to the decision, but fans in Mattijana are still reeling from the shock of losing their star striker and all-time top scorer. Questions are being asked as to why a player of Lekarisa's calibre would choose to leave an established top-60 side to play for a group of minnows from a small island in Atlantian Oceania, but they are of course less aware of the sentimental reasons for her switch.

With training for the first qualifying matches soon to get underway, Vukoja and his team will have to rebuild and reorganise quickly.

What about on the other side?

News is slowly filtering through to Saint Émelie with communications on the island patchy, but many have already voiced their excitement towards the 29 year old. Journalist Jannick Vasellin from La Poste D'Émelie is one of them.

News that Saint Émelie's squad will be bolstered by Mathilde Lekarisa took some time to reach the island, but has since spread across it very quickly. She is expected to play alongside current Saint Émelie top-scorer Sara Katjanovic, a strike partnership that is already hotly anticipated.

The beachside bars of Port D'Émelie and Le Goutier are already full of chatter about what Lekarisa could bring to the side. The 29 year-old is already a proven scorer at high levels of the game and with television and internet streams of the Mattijanan PrvaLiga being shown more and more often across the island, her stock has only risen, especially given her heritage. There is plenty of renewed optimism for the upcoming campaign after the team suffered a heavy dose of second-season syndrome during World Cup 82.

Les Insulaires' only other professional player is also a striker, so the team has become even more top-heavy, but fans will not mind that if it results in more goals and importantly more wins.

by **Darmen** » Tue Jul 23, 2019 5:36 pm

Travers named next All Greens Manager

Rabbie Travers has been named the next manager of the Darmeni national football team by the Darmeni Football Association. The move was confirmed just moments before a press conference was held to introduce Travers to the media.

Travers first appeared on the radar after leading Chippewa Valley United FC to their first Series A title in his first year as manager. The next two seasons were disappointments, as Chippewa Valley fell to 15th and then to 19th before Travers was sacked. His next appointment was during the second half of Brham United’s 2042-43 season, where he failed to turn the team’s fortunes around after the team’s 1-3-8 start. Four draws and nine losses later, Travers was sacked and replaced by Leonard Arterbury.

When asked why the DFA chose Travers over other contenders, like Berhtoald Myers or Isaiah Atwater, DFA President Gene Turko responded, “We firmly believe that Travers is the man who can stabilize the All Greens and turn the national team around.”

Travers commented on his own selection, “I know some see me as a one-hit wonder, someone who benefited from ‘beginner’s luck.’ But I firmly believe that I’m the right man for the job.”

Travers added, “We’ve got a team that can easily qualify for another World Cup. The problem seems to be that once we get to a big event, we can’t put together a good string of results. We’ve got to learn how to better deal with adversity and I’ve gone through quite a bit of that.”

Travers will assume leadership of the team at the beginning of the World Cup qualifiers. He takes over from Godefroy Abascal who was sacked following a winless World Cup 82 finals and a single point group stage finish in the 32nd Copa Rushmori. Overall Abascal finished with a record of 69-23-35 and a Round of Sixteen appearance at World Cup 81.

by **Amuaplye** » Tue Jul 23, 2019 10:14 pm

REMOVED

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Old Dog, New Tricks
Frank Armitage
The Daily Mail Chief Soccer Writer

I was at my desk, engaged in a guessing game of my own invention called "what might the groups look like for World Cup Qualifying" (not an original or catchy moniker, but it's not really a game, either)?

I was just back in the office following a six week vacation trip my wife & I made to Banija following the conclusion of the AOCAF; we'd gotten several recommendations from folks who had been to the Kingdom, about places we should go & things we should experience. All of them ended up being spot on and the trip was beyond memorable; even in Bwubanza, the site of two group stage matches during the Baptism of Fire 67 which I reported on, a chance encounter with a local brought me back to that experience when he asked if I was the Frank Armitage who reported from Baker Park. To my surprise, apparently some of my stories are reprinted in the local & national papers in Banija.

But I was interrupted by one of the young people who work in the department--who were formerly known as "copyboys" or "copyrunners" in the old days, but now are called staff writers--who apologized for the intrusion.

"Mr Armitage, sir? Could I have a moment?" I waved him over to my desk. "You can call me Frank...uh..."
"Chris Drummond, sir..." I'd seen him around for awhile, but generally the senior staff don't always get to know these young men and women who fulfill many roles, embarrassing as it to admit.
"Chris, what can I do for you?"

"I have a potential tip for a story, but I don't know if it's worth pursuing."

That is an issue that many of us in journalism confront on a daily basis. I motioned him to have a seat across the desk and told him to fill in as much of the information as he knew.

"One of my roommates is good friends with a player who is in the national team setup, just out of the under 21 team I think. I also heard a similar type of rumor when I was out with some friends in College Hill about 10 days ago. There is supposed to be a huge shakeup at the FAC soon, before the World Cup cycle gets underway. But that's all I know."

This is where we as senior writers are supposed to encourage & advise younger colleagues how to chase down a story by getting more of the background from as close to the source as is possible.
"You should go back to see if you can draw some more info from the people who told you this, and try to get some line on where you can get some independent corroboration. If you can find out a bit more, I'll help you pull it together for story."

I have no need to steal someone's byline and report things based on what a young rookie journalist has told me. I picked up the phone and called a trusted source.

"There's nothing out of the ordinary at State Street (FAC headquarters), but a lot of people in Birkenfeld (at the FAC Development Center) are edgy. Hard to put a finger on what might be up. But the whispers are within 10-12 days after the end of the GC (FAC General Conference), there will be media call."

I made a note to send Chris a message, putting him on the trail of finding something out at the FAC HQ; I stood up from my desk and took a quick glance around the department.
"Drummond!"

Another staffer sitting nearby spoke up immediately. "He's gone out sir. Can I help you?"
"Do you have his mobile number? I want to text him some info."

The young man pulled out his phone and recited the number for Drummonds' line in an instant.
"What's your name?"
"Carter, sir. Greg Carter." I told him to give me his number as well, and said I wanted all of the staff writers numbers for reference also. For a strange reason, it never dawned on me until that moment that this generation were more tuned into the word on the street than I could ever be.

by **Main Nation Ministry** » Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:23 am

(Note: This is a sequel RP to Jessica Madden's Hearts of Vice. Here to better understand some of the plot, please read Hearts of Vice that can be found on World Cup 82.)

Prologue: Somewhere once more in the future..

"I don't understand why Jessica wouldn't stop calling me. She was all panicking, but she said that Charlie was in trouble?" Jason Masami said to Gerald, as Jason was driving towards the suburbs, where Jessica had earlier sent a desperate call to Masami about Charlie. "So she said that Charlie had went over to someone named Henry? And now, Jessica needs me over at his house? She sounded like she was freaking out?" "Who's Henry? Did she tell you where his house is?" Gerald asked him, as they were scouting the neighborhood for Henry's house. "She told me that Jessica and Charlie took their car over there to his house, but what does her car even look like?"
"It's a pink convertible. You can't miss it."

As they drove down a street, Masami spotted the car in the driveway with another car. Masami checked the house to see that it was more of a mansion of some sorts. "Do you even know who Henry is? Why would he be with some rich guy?" Gerald asked Masami, as they exited the car to see that there wasn't a trace of Jessica or Charlie in sight. They must be inside with Henry then. "Hello? Anyone in here?" Gerald started to ring the doorbell, where he tapped his foot on the doorstep. No answer. "It looked like one of them nearly rear ended Henry's car. Their skid marks from the front of the driveway." Jason told Gerald, as he waited for someone to answer the door. Gerald rang the doorbell again. This time, both of the men outside heard a sudden crash on the other side.

"Jason!" Gerald wanted to get the door open, but it was locked on the other side. "Hold on! I was still in the military, you know!" Jason said, as he started to kick the door. "Come on!" he said, as the door was starting to crack open. With one final jolt, he slammed his foot against the door where it swung open to reveal what was inside the mansion. Then, there was a sudden silence from Masami, as he saw what was inside the foyer.

"...!"
"Jason, what is it?" Gerald looked inside to see the chaos inside. The whole foyer was trashed beyond belief. The remains of a large chandelier was now on the floor, where a pool of blood was starting to seep from the center of the twisted mass of glass. There were several claw marks on the walls with the wallpaper torn up by some beast. Jessica was laying on the bottom of the stairs, covered in...was that blood on her? "Jessica!" Jason shouted, as both of them ran to her. "Ughh...Don't worry. I'm fine, guys. Where's Charlie?" Jessica moaned, as she was laying, where it looked like she fell down the stairs.

Then, out of nowhere, there was another moan. This time, there was noises of glasses being shoved apart, as someone crawled out from under the wrecked chandelier. "Fucking bitch...she made me lose tons of blood." muttered a voice of a man, as he stood up from where he crawled out, where it looked more like a zombie, due to how pale he was. At first, he was standing a bit to get his bearings, until he turned around and saw the three of them at the stairs. Then, in a moment of pure sheer random insanity, he proceeded to scream. Cue Masami screaming. Then everyone screamed.

Woah! Woah! Woah!!!

Alright! You're immediately demanding to know. How the hell did I get here?

To give you a reality check, the chick that's at the stairs is me. I could explain how I ended up like that, where Masami is freaking out, since he saw Vic as a zombie. And knowing Masami, he's practically scared of well..everything. You see, all of this started a couple of days. How many? I don't know, several? But what you just saw took part at the falling action. Now, where should I start with this story? How about...here.

Hearts of Ash

Chapter 0.5: You're Fired. Now Get Out

"I'm what!?" Vic Fauxman yelled, as he was at the Truth News editor in-chief office, where he has been fired. "I'm not publishing anymore of your crap that you want on our papers. You realize that our record is to have a bias that isn't to piss off the Leader." the editor in-chief explained as he was examining Vic's handiwork. "I didn't even mention the Leader in my last article and now I'm getting flake over it?"
"Vic. You're writing your articles as tabloids. You writing up stuff about our athletes with some new boyfriends or girlfriends, yet when I assign you to write up news about important events, you botch it out by pointing out the most trivial and pointless of information."
"I'm writing whatever is interesting!"
"You're writing nonsense."

"What the hell am I supposed to do now? Working at Truth News has been my only job!" Vic said to the editor in-chief, where he was busy adjusting his glasses. "Vic. You can just work somewhere else. Or if you think you're a professional journalist. Make your own news outlet. I doubt I see you succeed." In a midst of tempting fate, Vic accepted this as a challenge. "Sure. I can run a news outlet in my own name. And I make sure that it sells copies of my paper that even trees will die!" Vic said, not knowing his ego has been stroked. "That's good to hear, Vic. Now get out of my office before I call for security."

by **Xanneria** » Wed Jul 24, 2019 7:56 am

Jebidiah Gyjorko is the head of FAX or the Football Association of Xanneria. He sat at a podium and to his left was Robel Ezera, head of the Royal Banijian Soccer Association. Jebidiah didn't need to introduce himself he had was already a well known figure in sports in his home country. Before taking the job as head of FAX he had lead a young Vanosdale team that had only been in exitence for 15 years, from Alpha Division (The lowest division on the Xannarian Football Pyramid) to the Omega Division (The highest division on the Xannarian Football Pyramid) in a mere 6 years. He resigned four years ago from Vanosdale when he started to butt heads with the ownership of the team. FAX then hired him as head of the Association soon after. Gyorko himself was former player in the FLOX. A well known midfield in a country where that position barely exists, He was at one point the only MF to Captain a team. He has two championships as a player, leading Beardin to back to back Omega Division titles in 2004-2005.

But enough about Jebidiah's backstory, you're probably here for the press conference.

The press conference was a two part affair, one part hyping up the next cycle of World Cup Qualifiers and another bit promotion for a newly announced freindly between the two nations. Thew game is scheduled to take place before the qualifiers and Jeb went right for the low hanging fruit, making a joke how he hoped to "Visit Banija after the qualifiers are over." Jebiadiah and Robel talked to the media for a while making friendly talk and fielding questions, Robel had even stated he though there could be a future Banijian / Xanneria friendly rivalry in the future. But something seemed a bit off, after a while several press members started getting curious, then they realized something. The press conference was being held at Xanneria's FAX HQ, why? THe game would be in Banijia and hosted by the RBSA. At the end of the conference Jebidiah made a comment "Press! we haveone more announcement."

"I'm sure you may have been baffled why the press conference was hosted here in Xanneria. Well I'm pleased to announce that aside from this friendly match we are also going to be making a bid for the 25th edition of the Camponato Esportiva. We believe that Xanneria is finally ready to host international competitions and with the recent stadium boom we can also host in style, we will announcing the details of our bid at a later date, but all parties involved know of our bid attempt. We did have Mr Ezera tour a few of our facilities and took notes on what he said to do about. I will now be fielding questions about this bid for those who want to field any questions let me know. "

by **Terre Septentrionale** » Wed Jul 24, 2019 2:07 pm

Terre Septentrionale 2024 elections results

Ville Jacques-Cartier, DC - Yesterday, june 1st 2024, the 58th elections were held in Terre septentrionale. But for the first time we used a semi proportional method. Each township was an electoral riding with a list of candidates. Number of candidates per townships differs. The most populous township, Catherine-du-Nord had 21 candidates on it's list while Nitassinan only had one. Before these elections, an uninominal system was used, it wasn't proportionnal and smaller parties were complaining. Before we go on with the results, let's go on with the 4 parties and their leaders:

Coalition avenir solidaire / Koalicja Przyszla Solidarnosc / Coalition for Future Solidarity (CAS)

Founded: 2009
Ideology: Nationalism, Social democracy, Environmentalism
Position: Centre
Leader: Sheldon Koivu

Option Septentrionale / Opcja Polnocna / Northern Option (OP)

Founded: 1967
Ideology: Nationalism, Social democracy
Position: Centre-Left
Leader: Grzegorz Kryszałowicz

Parti National / Partia Narodowa / National Party (PN)

founded: 1922
Ideology: Nationalism, Conservatism
Position: centre-Right
Leader: Martin Lecavalier

Texan Block (TB)

Founded: 1992
Ideology: Separatism, Regionalism, Conservatism
Position: Centre right
Leader: Lanny McSorley

Baranie (Baranya)

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    3
Option Septentrionale         1
Parti National                1
Texan Block                   0

Cachoubie (Kaszuby)

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    2
Option Septentrionale         2
Parti National                0
Texan Block                   0

Carniole (Kranjska)

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    3
Option Septentrionale         2
Parti National                0
Texan Block                   0

Catherine du nord

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire   13
Option Septentrionale         5
Parti National                3
Texan Block                   0

Catherine du sud

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    2
Option Septentrionale         1
Parti National                1
Texan Block                   0

Catherine-Ouest (Katarzyna Zachodnie)

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    3
Option Septentrionale         3
Parti National                0
Texan Block                   0

Charlevoix

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    3
Option Septentrionale         1
Parti National                2
Texan Block                   0

Dalmatie (Dalmacija)

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    5
Option Septentrionale         3
Parti National                1
Texan Block                   0

District de Cartier

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    9
Option Septentrionale         4
Parti National                2
Texan Block                   0

Frontenac

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    1
Option Septentrionale         0
Parti National                1
Texan Block                   0

Haute-Yamaska

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    3
Option Septentrionale         2
Parti National                1
Texan Block                   0

Kamouraska

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    1
Option Septentrionale         1
Parti National                2
Texan Block                   0

Lusatie (Łużyce)

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    2
Option Septentrionale         2
Parti National                0
Texan Block                   0

Mazovie (Mazowsze)

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    2
Option Septentrionale         5
Parti National                0
Texan Block                   0

Montérégie

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    4
Option Septentrionale         2
Parti National                1
Texan Block                   0

Nitassinan

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    0
Option Septentrionale         0
Parti National                1
Texan Block                   0

Papineau

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    2
Option Septentrionale         1
Parti National                0
Texan Block                   0

Poméranie (Pomorze)

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    6
Option Septentrionale         7
Parti National                2
Texan Block                   0

Shelburne

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    4
Option Septentrionale         3
Parti National                2
Texan Block                   0

Silésie (Śląsk)

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    2
Option Septentrionale         1
Parti National                0
Texan Block                   0

Texas

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire    3
Option Septentrionale         1
Parti National                4
Texan Block                   6

Terre Septentrionale's full 2024 results

Political Party             Seats
Coalition avenir Solidaire   73
Option Septentrionale        47
Parti National               24
Texan Block                   6

We have a new party ruling the Assemblée Nationale, for the 1st time the Coalition avenir solidaire forms the government, but they don't have the majority, which is 76 seats. However it's doubtful that the 3 opposision parties with do a coalition. Both Option Septentrionale and Parti National prefers a Coalition avenir solidaire government rather than ally with each other. The new Chancellor of Terre Septentrionale will be elected by the Assemblée Nationale but it's only a formality before our MP's choose Sheldon Koivu as the 27th Chancellor of Terre Septentrionale.

Sheldon Koivu, 54 years old, was born in Shelburne, township of Shelburne, from an English speaking mother and an immigrant father. He grew up in Shelburne and has a master in business administration. Before switching to politics he administrated some groceries and NordAir, the nation's largest airline. Despite being a prosperous administrator, he was close to Septentrionaux citizens and has often volunteered for soup kitchens, which made him very popular. He was first elected as a MP in 2004 and became the Coalition avenir solidaire leader in 2022 (two years ago).

Sheldon Koivu's biggest election promise is that he wants to implement kindergartens for 3 years old kids all over Terre Septentrionale. He also have a good plan for environment and wants Terre Septentrionale to build electric air planes and ban all air planes powered with gas from flying over the nation.

Mathieu Lefebvre,
Chief editor in politics,
La tribune septentrionale

by **Flavovespia** » Thu Jul 25, 2019 6:17 am

The Flavovespia Football Association today announced that 5 stadiums will be selected for hosting World Cup qualifying games, pending the final format of the qualifying stages. The move away from having a specific national stadium had been rumoured for a while, but final confirmation was given today at the FFAHQ. Predictably the 5 largest stadia in Flavovespia have been selected, despite some calls to expand to 6 or 7 venues, and to spread the matches out more geographically, but largely the clubs and national team supporters are said to be pleased with the decision. The five venues selected are as follows:

Hornet's Nest
Location: Waldster
Club team: Waldster FC
Capacity: 75000
Opened: 0U
Open/Closed Roof: Covered seating, retractable roof

Now just over a quarter-century old, the Hornet's Nest remains the largest stadium in all of Flavovespia, and hosts the capital football team, Waldster FC. Formerly the national stadium and also the club stadium for the aforementioned team, it was seen as some to be as an example of the capital-centric view of the nation. Thankfully in recent years such views have passed on, but nevertheless it is still seen as one of the grounds that every football fan in Flavovespia should try to visit.

Despite not being one of the most modern stadiums anymore, the facilities are still very impressive. There is a retractable roof for games in bad weather, with all seats covered. The stadium has wide concourses with a variety of food and drinks available, from hot dogs and burgers, all the way to pasta and salad bowls. The transport links to the stadium are good, with a bus and underground train station just 250m from the stadium perimeter, and a dedicated access road from the motorway.

Highland Road
Location: Hadford Hill
Club team: Hadford Hill FC
Capacity: 69518
Opened: 79BU
Open/Closed Roof: Open seating and field

Waldster FC and Hadford Hill FC is considered the oldest rivalry in the nation, and their 2 stadiums are chalk and cheese. Highland Road, the oldest stadium still in use in Flavovespia has seem many changes over the years, but still stands tall and steeped in tradition. Famously open-air, the atmosphere in the ground is still electric on match-day, and over a century of football at he stadium gives it an unrivalled rich history. The famous red walls of the stadium are one of Flavovespian football's most iconic images

Highland Road FC is open-air, and exposed to the elements. Somewhat of a home advantage for Hadford Hill and potentially Flavovespia, fans need to check the weather before a trip to the stadium. Facilities aren't as glamorous as some of the newer stadiums, but they are nevertheless well-stocked and sufficient for the large crowds the stadium pulls in. One feature of the stadium is that it is in the heart of Hadford Hill, and not in the periphery. Fans can find a variety of pubs, bars, and restaurants to wine and dine in before and after a game, as well as exploring the city itself.

Saints Park
Location: St Aston's
Club team: St Aston's City FC
Capacity: 60000
Opened: 30BU
Open/Closed Roof: Covered seating, open field

Saints Park is the third of the traditional "Big 3" stadiums, and despite not having the age of Highland Road or the glamour of Hornet's Nest, it is still a very well respected stadium. Now past the half-century mark, the fond memories of yesteryear go alongside some of the more recent successes the Saints have experienced. Despite it's age, the relative simplicity of the style of the stadium, whilst at the same time fitting in with the aesthetic of St Aston's makes it a popular stadium for many.

The stadium was originally built for multiple sports, but is largely now just a football venue. All seating is covered, but the pitch is open to the weather. With only 1 main tier, the stadium has a wide concourse behind the seating, and an open plan layout which allows home supporters to traverse 270 degrees of the oval during breaks in play. Situated nearer the outskirts of the city, commuting to the stadium is possible via public transport and cars, although parking is somewhat limited. The city of St Aston's however is very scenic and has a lot to see and do.

City Arena
Location: Marthorpe
Club team: Marthorpe City FC
Capacity: 60000
Opened: 9BU
Open/Closed Roof: Closed roof

City Arena is unique in being the only major football stadium to be fully enclosed 24/7. Built for the at the time controversial Marthorpe City FC, it has certainly earned it's reputation for being a unique place to play, with the acoustics and atmosphere known to create difficulty for away sides. At the time it was considered a no-expenses-spared stadium, although age is somewhat catching up to it a little now, it is still a mightily impressive venue.

The stadium has a fully enclosed roof, but thanks to development of artificial lighting and photosynthesis techniques for indoor farming, the stadium has a natural grass pitch. There's plenty of refreshments available, even if the bowl-like shape of the stadium can make navigation a bit tricky. In terms of transport it is connected to the Hadford Hill Marthorpe Metro (HHMM), which the best method for travel, the high population density of the city of Marthorpe makes travelling by car quite tricky on matchday, and at the best of times.

Rovers Arena
Location: Loxthorpe
Club team: Loxthorpe Rovers FC
Capacity: 55000
Opened: 23AU
Open/Closed Roof: Covered seating, open field

The newest stadium in the Super League, home of Loxthorpe Rovers FC, Rovers Arena has been used for just a few seasons now but is definitely a popular venue for many away fans. The stadium is built on a dedicated site in Loxthorpe, and designed to meticulous detail, not just in the ground and surrounding site, but with regards to the whole city. As a further bonus, the stadium itself sits just 1 mile from the coast, and the sea can be seen at the stadium site.

Being an entirely new stadium, Rovers Arena boasts facilities that are completely unheard of in other stadiums. High-speed internet with dedicated connection centres on the site allow fans unprecedented connectivity. This is utilised in the ability to order refreshments for collection at half-time, in an almost completely automated process. The transport to the stadium utilises a rail connection from the city to the site, via popular fan spots. It's not the highest capacity stadium in Flavovespia, but it's broken ground for how a modern stadium should be designed.

by **Hapilopper** » Thu Jul 25, 2019 10:14 am

The HNFT Training Center, Hapilopper City
A couple of weeks after the Baptism of Fire Finals
Two weeks had passed since the Hapilopper National Football Team had won the 70th Baptism of Fire, but it was time for the players to return to training to get ready for World Cup qualifying. The team would have a very tall order ahead of them, as they would, in all probability, play some of the top nations in the world, and some of the very best footballers the world had seen. In those last two weeks, the players of the HNFT had rested up and were practically fresh as a daisy coming into training for the World Cup qualifiers.

Life had gone on as usual in Hapilopper, except for the fact that many of the players of the HNFT had become overnight celebrities. Ernie Stevenson, the team’s leading striker, found himself mobbed by adoring fans when shopping for groceries at Mel’s Ultra-Mart several days after returning home, and asked his older brother what he did to escape the maddening crowds.

“Well, Mel’s IS open 24 hours a day,” his brother Drake replied. “I usually shop there around midnight or 1 a.m. when all the crowds have left. You should do the same.”

Cooter Harris, the team’s starting goalkeeper and captain, went fishing on Lake Wilson north of Garvinson, where nobody would find him, that is, except for the Midnight Express Trio of Bobby East, Stan Long and John Cornett, who pulled over when they saw their national teammate, sitting alone in his boat, catching nothing but sun rays. Cooter didn’t really want to see anyone, but when he saw it was his teammates, he paddled his boat ashore to greet them, and the four enthusiastically talked about their future World Cup hopes.

It was no secret that Hapilopper’s run in the Baptism of Fire had brought together players that otherwise wouldn’t have rather talked to each other. Cooter wouldn’t have bothered himself with Bobby, Stan and John otherwise. He might have shown them a middle finger, but that’s about it. The fact is, while it wasn’t the stated intention, the HNFT had grown into a group of friends, playing together for a common cause.

That success had resonated to other avenues. A few days before training got started again, Thom Perkins visited Earl Wentzel Middle School, the place where he had taken up the game. Thom was there to talk up the sport to the 6th, 7th and 8th graders at the school. It was an annual visit for Thom to the school, and typically, a handful of students would stop by to hear from him. On this day, however, the entire school came by to listen to him, and boy, were they ever enthusiastic. The HNFT had encouraged a generation of younger Hapiloppians to take the game up, and at his old school, Thom was reminded of that fact by children who walked up to him and told him that they had taken up the game because of the National Team’s successes.

When training started back up, Thom made sure his players knew the significance of their mission. The future of the “beautiful game” in Hapilopper had pretty much been cultivated by their success in the Baptism of Fire. Now they were going up against some of the top teams in the world, and to pull off some giant-killing efforts would do a great deal to lionize the HNFT in the eyes of the Hapiloppian public.

The significance of that generational impact made itself known during training. The training sessions had been open to the public, and thousands of Hapiloppians stopped by to watch their countrymen get ready for the World Cup qualifiers. Many of them were children and teenagers, watching, in person, for the first time, the players that had encouraged them to take the sport up. Seeing the huge crowds, it had hit home for many of the Hapiloppians.

Even more amazing, was there appeared to be nothing but positivity for the team. Even those annoying loudmouths on the H-Sports show “The Hot Take,” Tucker Dunst and Mack Masters, were full of excitement for their fellow countrymen, which was something of a shock. Typically, “The Hot Take” was known for their cynical, and at times vitriolic takes on everything in Hapiloppian sport, to the point where some wondered if they were actively cheering against their fellow countrymen. On this day, however, the two were surprisingly expressing hope for their fellow countrymen.

“This is a team that I hope will go far,” Dunst said.

“You got that right, hell, I hope they go all the way,” Masters said. “There’s something special about this team that just can’t be explained. It might be the fact that they’re stars and they know it, and it might be the fact that they know how to win these games. We’ve got a great shot with these guys.”

That excitement was also seen in the form of ticket sales. While no qualifying matches had been announced yet, it was widely believed that Hapilopper could play at least one of their qualifying matches at home, in Hapilopper. When those rumors came to light, Capital Stadium’s website crashed under the weight of people trying to purchase tickets for a match that hadn’t even been announced yet. When their website went down, their phone lines quickly went down from those wanting to purchase tickets.

Thirty minutes after their phone lines went down, Capital Stadium’s staff put a message on social media, advising those to please pump the brakes before matches had actually been announced.

“At this point, we have no information on if Capital Stadium will host a World Cup qualifier match or when,” the message wrote. “It is the policy of Capital Stadium to not sell tickets or deposits for tickets for events that not been officially announced. As Hapilopper’s de facto National Stadium, however, we will likely be in the running for World Cup qualifiers. If and when those matches are announced, we will let you know and we will open ticket sales for those matches. Until then, we appreciate your patience in waiting for that announcement.”

It was obvious that Hapilopper was wild about their national football team, and it was obvious that the HNFT’s “What’s the worst that could happen?” tour would be well-followed by their fellow countrymen.

by **Port Ember** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:16 am

Port Ember Times

Port Ember's Soccer Team Prepares for the World Cup!

By Erica Davies - Port Ember Times Sports Section

Port Ember's national football team, The Tridents, has returned home from the Free Republics a little over two weeks ago, after participating in the Baptism of Fire 70 league and snatching up the third overall position.

After a well deserved break, they have returned to the Waterstad International Stadium to participate in a Training Camp under the stern watch of team manager and coach Stuart Baxter, in preparation for the World Cup Qualfiers run.

There is much eyes and attention on the team following the BoF, as they have been credited to have lauched a 'Social Revolution', where they have caused a massive following and interest into the sport of soccer, in a nation where there has never been any interest in the sport.

We have had the fortune to conduct a exclusive interview with Coach Baxter:

Erica Davies: "Good day Coach and welcome home! How does it feel to be home and able to train again on your home turf?"

Stuart Baxter: "Greetings Erica and thank you! It is always a good familiar feeling to be home and this is where we have been established as a team, so it is definitely a morale boost to be able to train here."

Erica Davies: "Coach the media has acrredited you and the team to have launched the birth of soccer in Port Ember. How does this make you feel?"

Stuart Baxter: "Well honestly I do not deserve that credit, that credit should go to the lads of the team. Its their hard work and passion which inspired the passion for the sport. And also a large portion of the credit should go to the nation themselves -their passionate and wholesome support is a large element of the team's success."

Erica Davies: "It has been noted that you have calmed down and have become a lot more humble, compared to your controversial arrogant rants during the Baptism of Fire tournament."

Stuart Baxter: "Indeed Erica, as I have said during the tournament, I have learned my lesson and have been humbled. However I do wish to say that I wish the media would focus more on the amazing performance of the lads instead of the rumblings of an old man..."

Erica Davies: "I am sure they will come around. I hear the local football clubs have expressed serious interest in signing up the national players for their clubs, although the PEFA is refusing such offers.."

Stuart Baxter: "That is indeed the case. There is a good reason for it however. The lads needs to be world class players in order to force a change and improvement to the local teams, and in order to achieve that, they need to be exposed to the highest level of football - the World Cup. PEFA will allow the lads to sign on to the local clubs as soon as the World Cup has finished."

Erica Davies: "Makes sense to me! What do you hope to achieve with this current Training Camp?"

Stuart Baxter: "Well we are going back to the basics and to what we know works, so we will focus heavily on basic field drills and teamplay. This will also be a physical camp, in an attempt to maintain and further increase the team's fitness levels. We are also incorporating lessons-learned from the BoF offcourse, learning from what we did right, and the mistakes which we made."

Article by Erica Davies

by **Balqia** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 9:47 am

-Citizens all over Balqia are anxious. The Sports Ministry announced our participation in the 83rd World Cup a few months ago. Since then people are talking about the event and their expectations. Since the declassification from the Cup of Harmony and the controversy regarding the team we have some speculation among football fans. However, after the announcement of the official roster and the unexpected permanence of Laqlo Estwan Mus as Head Coach social media became a turmoil and everyone is expecting a fiasco…
The television is suddenly turned off. With a cup of water in his hand the man shouts.
-GOD DAMN KORVAN, I HATE YOU, AM I A JOKE TO YOU?
A feminine voice can be heard, coming from the kitchen.
-Calm down honey, everything will be fine.
-Oh, if you only knew how bad thing really are…- his voice was trembling with fear -I need some alcohol, oh God, I need a whole gallon of whiskey.
His wife leaves the kitchen and walks in his direction. Her short black hair, brown eyes and smile are enough to calm him, but she wants more and melt his heart with a short hug.
-Don’t worry, Laq, you will do a great job as always.
Laqlo E. Mus isn’t a emotional man, but since his new appointment as Head Coach of the National Team his nerves are going crazy.
-For God’s sake Jen, I can’t believe they are doing this to me. That guy almost killed me because of a piece of cake, I can’t even imagine what they are going to do with me if we go as bad as in the other WC.
She got up. He hated that, if being around people with a normal height was enough to make him look like a dwarf his wife’s 190 centimeters were enough to compare him to a Hobbit.
-I don’t believe that, they just don’t like you because you act like an, well…
-Like a moron.
-Yes!...I mean, only when you are doing your job. If you acted more nicely they would treat you better.
He sighed, she was right after all.
-But I can’t. Being this short is like a curse in a country were the average height is 180 centimeters. If I act nicely the respect disappears instantly.
Laqlo remembered his father’s lessons. The man was two centimeters shorter than him, but managed to become a Marshal and fight in the Civil War. He always told him that a man’s height must be inversely proportional to his niceness, the time proved him right.
-Oh, honey you will be just fine. Remember the time when you was the most hated PE teacher in Balqia and managed to classify an entire team of students to the National Olympics? This time will be the same, but with a professional team of football players and an international cup of football.
That analogy wasn’t very good, his students won some medals, but they complaint so much about him that the school dismissed him in the day after the end of the olympics.
-You are right.- He was lying, or at least trying. -I must relax. After all I am married with a beautiful woman who happens to be a professional volleyball player. I couldn’t ask for more.
She smiled, as always she didn’t catch him lying, or didn’t made it clear.
-I love you Laqlo. Just calm down and relax. Your flight will be tomorrow and you must be relaxed so you can do your job.
And with that she returned to the kitchen. He turned on the television and whispered.
-Well, I still want that drink.

by **Timuria** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:37 pm

VisitTimuria.gov.tmr

Guidance for Football Fans in Timuria

The Department for Tourism and the Department for Recreational Activities welcome you to Timuria. This section of our tourism website has been published in the aftermath of the official selection for venues for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers with specific advice for each host city, as well as sights to behold in our beautiful country. The host cities for games during the qualifiers shall be: the capital city Demir, Elektriklestirme and Uryan, with three stadiums in Demir, one in Elektriklestirme and one in Uryan hosting matches.

General National Information:

Arrival to Timuria:
Timuria is a large nation of ~61 million people located in the southern Atlantian Oceania, north of one of the co-hosts for this edition of the World Cup Banija. Arrival from Atlantian Oceania is a relatively simple task, with many regional airlines having routes to the capital Demir as well as to each of the 5 regional capitals. Otherwise TimHav provide flights from further afield at a reasonable subsidised rate.

We advise that while drugs are decriminalised in Timuria that you do not travel with them into the country as you may encounter difficulties in your country of origin. Additionally we do not recommend the import of alcohol or tobacco into the country due to the substances relative cheapness in the country. TimHav flights have priority for baggage claim and so we recommend for a fast exit from your airport of choice that you fly with them. Travel to Timuria is visa free for all people, with only random checks at passport control being necessary. You may travel to Timuria with a recognised national ID if you are from Atlantian Oceania or a country that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has deemed "Friendly" please check the website TimMFA.gov.tmr for more information about your specific nation.

The national currency is the Demir, which typically trades at NS$ 1.15-1.35. It is available for exchange at all border facilities, however the removal of Demirs from Timuria is strictly illegal and you are required to change any remaining Demirs back into a currency of your choice before you leave.

Local Laws and Customs of Note:
The possession, consumption and sale of all so called "narcotics" are decriminalised within Timuria, though consumption of these materials outside of designated venues or private domiciles is considered impolite. There is a public ban on smoking and injecting, those caught violating those bans face a fine of up to 500 Demirs. The age of majority in Timuria is 16, granting full rights conferred to adults in the country.

Sex work is decrminalised within Timuria, with both the sale and purchase of services of a sexual nature decriminalised. Same-sex relationships are given equal legal status to heterosexual relationships and generally the country is welcoming towards members of the LGBTQ+ community, with most visits by such people being completely trouble free. Public displays of affection are common and tolerated within Timuria, though public acts of obscenity will result in arrest. Hate crime laws are fairly punitive in Timuria, any crime motivated by prejudice towards a protected characteristic could lead to a custodial sentence of up to 3 years. All public places are required to be accessible to those with wheelchairs so access should not be a problem.

Identification is required to be carried on your person at all times, failure to produce a valid ID when prompted by a member of police will result in a fine of up to 100 Demirs.

Possession of firearms is strictly illegal outside of private domiciles or designated hunting clubs. Possession of an unauthorized firearm will lead to either a fine of up to 20,000 Demirs or a custodial sentence of up to 15 years.

Most Timurian's are friendly, kind and welcoming to foreigners, though loud and brash behaviour may not be acceptable in more rural/conservative parts of the country. In more Islamic areas the consumption of alcohol and during the day food and drink is considered impolite during the holy month of Ramadan, though recent surveys indicated that only 4% of Timurians observe Ramadan.

If bringing prescription medicine you will not be required to declare it at the border, but if you run out of/lose your prescribed medication a prescription note from a Timurian doctor is required in order to obtain the medication. General Practitioners are required to provide free service at the point of need to any person, regardless of status within Timuria and will provide the prescription note, which can be presented at any pharmacy which will provide the drugs for a small nominal fee of 1.50 Demirs.

Most Timurians primarily speak Turkish, but regional populations also speak: Azeri, Turkmen, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Uzbek as well as other minor Turkic languages. There is a lingua franca within the nation known as "Demirce" or "Iron-speak" but that is mostly used between citizens from different linguistic backgrounds. Fluency in English, Italian and German is common, though it is not unheard of for embarrassed Timurians to point in the wrong direction when asked for directions if they do not speak the language of the person asking them.

Due to the prevalence of Folk Religions, it is not uncommon for their to be large festivals around the time of: the Summer/Winter Solstice, the beginning of Spring, The month of October or at various points year round in different localities due to the variance in deities worshiped within Timuria. It is also worth noting that Eid (known as Bayram in Timuria) is also celebrated by the general population leading to festivals.

Safety, Security and Health Information:
While almost every visit to Timuria is trouble free and the nation has an exceptionally low rate of every kind of crime, tourists have been known to be targeted by petty criminals in some parts of the country. If an attacker has a weapon and demands property, the official advice is to comply and contact emergency services either in person or via a public telephone (in the event of loss of your personal phone). Emergency services may be contacted on 555, with all emergency responders trained to speak in one of English, Italian and German. In the case of non-urgent inquires to authorities, the number is 433.

There has not been a terrorist attack on Timurian soil in recent memory, however general vigilance is advised. The nations current level of security alertness is 1, meaning there is no credible threat to the nations security at this time.

All health care is provided for free at the point of need regardless of status within Timuria or ability to pay. Health care in Timuria is of a universally high standard.

Natural disasters are unlikely to occur in Timuria though extreme weather events are known to very occasionally occur with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius recorded in a heatwave.

Transport Within Timuria:
The ownership of personal vehicles is frowned upon by the general population, but is not illegal. There are taxes that are paid upon entry to the country with a non-electric car and the prevalence of fossil fuel based refuelling points has declined significantly. Be aware that most cities do not allow personal vehicles within a certain radius of their centre and you will be required to park your vehicle.

In order to drive in Timuria you are required to have a valid license, with foreign ones able to be converted into temporary permits at special offices at the border either as you enter the country by road or at airports. If you are a citizen of another nation within Atlantian Oceania you do not need to obtain a temporary permit as your license will be valid. Car rentals are available at airports, though they are very infrequently used.

There is an extensive network of high speed public transport that connects major cities, specifically Maglev trains, intercity bus services and domestic flights. There is also an extensive network of public transport in every region of Timuria with regional bus services and local high speed trains. Within cities there are comprehensive tram networks and fleets of self-driving cars that can be accessed via the KKA app in each major city in the country that can take you to your destination. Public transport is covered by the Tasima Karti (Transport Card) that can be topped up at any shop, cash point or public transport node. For a visit of one month the recommendation is 40 Demirs be put on a card.

The Host Cities:

Demir
Brief Overview:
The capital of the country, Demir has a population estimated to be around 7.6 million people. It is notable for the amount of green space available to relax in. Public transport in the city is exceptional, as it is across the country. The city is famous for its many green spaces as well as its abundance of music venues. The cities name means "Iron" and is host to the country's parliament the Gönüllü Meclisi (The Volunteers Assembly).

Stadiums:
Manat School Sports Centre, Capacity 6500. Transport available via tram (Manat Okul stop).

Belediye Park, Capacity 5800. Transport available via tram (Merkez stop).

Hisar School Field of Excellence, Capacity 6250. Transport available via tram (Hisar Okul stop).

Sights:

The Gönüllü Meclisi

Milli Kütüphane (The National Library)

Halk AVM

Elektriklestirme
Brief Overview: A city of around 3.8 million, Elektriklestirme is named for the electrification of the nation. It is where most of the power generation in the country occurs and has one of the largest solar farms in the world. Transport to the city is possible for foreigners via a high speed local train service from Demir, bus services or by personal vehicle.

Stadium:
Tim-Enerji Park, Capacity 7000. Transport available via tram (Tim-Enerji Merkez stop).

Sights:

Halkın Güneş Çiftliği (People's Solar Farm)

Uryan:
Brief Overview: The famous mining city has a population of 5.3 million. Foreigners may access the city via Madenci International Airport which serves the city as the regional capital. Most famous for its abundant natural resources, the city has undergone a green revolution in recent years as the country has almost completely phased out fossil fuel usage.

Stadium:
Maden-Is Stadium, Capacity 3400. Transport available via bus route 11, (Madenciler stop).

Sights:

Çalışan erkek ve maden ocağı kadınlarına anıt. (Monument to the working men and women of the mines.)

by **Polkopia** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 4:42 pm

Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 (Part 1) • Chapter 4 (Part 2) • Chapter 5 (Part 1) • Chapter 5 (Part 2)

The following passages are taken directly from Polkopian author, Yakub Orvin's novel, Pelyučidnost', in which he describes the novel as a sort of a revitalization of the "golden age" of Polkopian literature dating back to the 18th century. By releasing the novel to the public, Orvin hopes to grow his international fanbase, as well as showcase the "hidden treasure" of Polkopian literature to the multiverse.

06. Pyotor

"Few years ago, those Yeshkevi cunts caught us at about this spot righ' here and I 'member I drove my pike up this poor bastard's ass during all that. Bes' fight of my life and I'll 'member that day till my last."

Pyotor marched with the fellow cadets of the Mur'kumskovskiy Regiment and listened intently to the conversation taking place between the men marching in the row ahead of him. One of the more stout gentlemen in front of him chuckled while recounting war stories and the men around him seemed as in high spirits as him. Pyotor himself listened too, but remained stone-faced and disciplined during the long march as if they were on the way to meet the enemy in open field.

"Everytime we do one of these drills against them Peetovički, them memories flood my head, you know? I feel this weapon in my 'ands and I'd love nothing more than to wield it and use it like my life depended on it. I've had to stop myself before, seconds before I was gonna skewer a poor boy. Las' time the boy couldn't have been olde' than 16 but the blood rushes to yer 'ead, you know? You see the enemy on the ground and you see his eyes get real scared, knowing you 'ave the power to send another soul to God himself, but you 'ave to keep remindin' yerself who the real enemy is."

Pyotor took his eyes off of the men in front of him and looked around. Most of the men here were laughing and joking amongst themselves in a similar fashion and Pyotor rolled his eyes in disgust. It astounded Pyotor that most of the men surrounding him were as undisciplined as they come, and Pyotor dreaded the day where his life would depend on some of these men out there in the battlefield, when the enemy would be without blank shots, but actual bullets that tore through cloth and flesh alike, and bayonets that penetrated a man's body and left him choking on his own blood in agony during his final moments on this earth. It was evident that a great deal of these men had been drinking, or were currently doing so, and cleverly concealed a flask in their otherwise handsome outfits. The stench of alcohol flooded the rank and several of the men closest to Pyotor struggled to march in an even pace with one another. Oh what a sight they must have been! A band of joyous drunken oaths stumbling through the swamps of Polkopia, falling amongst themselves as the ground swallowed up their boots. It was a wonder the regiment managed to maintain even a vague portrayal of the rectangular formation that they were accustomed to marching in.

The officers on horseback were almost just as bad due to their blatant apathy at the lack of discipline their men showed while in uniform. Hand-selected by the King himself, these men were expected to uphold the same principles in dignity and morale as one would expect a professional standing army to behave in the battlefield, but the willpower of these officers are triggered only when the King or one of his chief advisors are rumored to be inspecting the regiment, and the officers crack down on their men in fear of exile or losing their own heads as a result.

Disregarding the behavior of the men, the regiment itself - from a distance, looked professional enough to withstand an onslaught by enemy forces. The entire regiment was made up of six hundred men, each of whom marched in vertical rows of different 10x10 units and each of these units were accompanied by four officers who were situated on four of these corners. Of these 600 men, seventy-five were on horseback and marched at the very end of the regiment. In the center of the regiment, twenty-five men were with cannon and additional supplies for the entire regiment were carried by wagon at the rear. The Mur'kumskovskiy Regiment marched with their traditional dark maroon uniforms and tricorn hats, trimmed in silver and an egret feather poking vertically from their hats.

In recent years, the Polkopian army faced several hardships when dealing with outside foes. The infamous war with the Tsardom to the east resulted in a devastating loss of manpower, and Polkopia was forced to relinquish its claim to Dravelia and the fortress of Yurin. Decades later, the Polkopian army was still regarded as being technologically backward compared with most of its neighbors and the threat of foreign invasion remained a constant threat among military leadership, although little is ever done about it. Since this war, King Draako II sent out a decree that every Polkopian state and municipality raise a provincial army with regularly-scheduled drills and battles with one another - though these battles were to be conducted with non-lethal weaponry. When King Draako II died three years after, this decree was upheld by the successor, King Vsevolod I, however the diplomatically-minded king seldom took an interest in enforcing his father's edict and the quality of these regimental training drills rapidly deteriorated. While Pyotor joined regiment only two years ago, his father had lectured him on Polkopia's military history and personally oversaw his physical and mental training exercises prior to Pyotor joining the Mur'kumskovskiy Regiment. By joining this regiment, Pyotor was only required to attend drills conducted on a weekly basis, and an occasional march to a predetermined location in order to engage in battle with another provincial army. Pyotor himself had not yet seen battle, as the Mur'kumskovskiy Regiment had never actually been called up to defend its country since he joined, but Pyotor maintained the mentality that every march or training exercise was to be conducted as if it was.

Polkopia's geography had often played a large part in the army's failure to withstand enemy firepower. Supplying such a force, in particular, seemed to be the root of the problem, in Pyotor's mind. The rivers in Polkopia primarily run north to south and do very little to assist in supplying a nation whose largest threats come from the east and west. Therefore, regiments have been forced to trudge through the wet and swampy ground in order to get to their destination, and many hardships came with this. Difficulties such as losing cannon or supplies in the terrain or horses breaking their limbs during their journey have been only some of the issues that have prevented the army from becoming a formidable force when faced with rapid mobilization against an advancing enemy army.

It was the crack of dawn now, and Pyotor could see the golden hues of sunlight peak from over the horizon. Such a sight nearly blinded him and Pyotor took a moment to shield his eyes from the blinding light and nearly stumbled into the man in front of him. Looking around him, Pyotor realized the regiment was stopped and moving into battle formation. The cavalry had already begun to ride off separately, waiting for orders to charge in, but these orders normally came late in the battle when the enemy rank had already begun to break and a cavalry charge would finish the job. Squinting his eyes, Pyotor could barely see the white uniforms of the Peetovskiy appear from over the hills. The Mur'kumskovskiy Regiment moved to a horizontal line and moved the artillery up front, which had already been prepared to fire blanks upon the enemy. As the deafening booms of the artillery rung in Pyotor's ears, both sides eventually ceased fire and started to advance in order to engage in musketfire. The two regiments set up in a valley and all around Pyotor, men started getting their muskets ready. Pyotor lifted his musket and focused it on the front lines of the enemy and waited for the officers' signal. He closed one eye as he trained the barrel of his gun on the poor Peetovičk standing in front.

by **Lisander** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 6:44 pm

It was a beautiful summer morning at the Blanchecroix family home in Atlantic Gardens, Kasandora. Cédric and Corinna would enjoy a rest Saturday while little Alexander, six, spent the weekend at his grandparents' house in Grandeville. Getting out of the car, a two-year-old Dunneot Anera, they looked like a perfect family, straight out of one of those margarine commercials.

"It's not always that we have the opportunity to come here, husband." said the woman, straightening her red hair. His face was freckled and his eyes were the color of honey fresh from the hive.

"Finally a little peace, wife. No business at all. Just a quiet weekend. What do you want me to do for dinner, Corinna?" The husband answered as they walked across the lawn. His black hair was high at the sides, reasonably thin and fell in a fringe, almost covering his thick glasses.

A neighbour from the front house, mowing the lawn, waved to the couple and shouted from afar:

"Why now, if it's not the Blanchecroix! And where is the little one?"

They waved back and the wife said:

"He'll spend the weekend with the grandparents! Let's finally have some peace of mind!"

Then she spoke separately to her husband, spoke in a clearly troubled tone.

"Unless these fools invent another one of those peach pies. For Jah's sake, there's a limit to the invasion of privacy ..."

Her husband discreetly pinched her, waved to the neighbour, and responded with a mock smile.

"We really need it, right, Corinna? We'll just have some rest. At most, watch the World Cup draw on television! The week was very, very crowded."

The couple then went to the front door. Looking at the mailbox by the door, they could see a piece of brown paper coming out of it. Cédric looked back at the street and asked the neighbour:

"Hey, could you tell me if the postman passed today?"

The man answered:

"Yes, it happened this morning and left a small package for you. According to the man, it was an international priority order ..."

It was strange that the family house in Kasandora received correspondence, after all, most of the time was spent in the Family House in Soria. The couple became curious and quickly entered the house, locking the door.

Inside, they were safe.

"Corinna" took off her red hair wig and fake freckles, revealing herself as someone else. At the same moment, "Cédric" got rid of his glasses, his wig, and his fake moustache. Their faces were no longer the ordinary faces of a couple of modestly successful IT entrepreneurs. They were returning to their true identities: Their Sovereign Highness, Johannes VII and Armine I, Prince and Princess reigning in Lisander, and Alice Bay's Monarch and Consort. It was a well-crafted lie to ensure the anonymity of the country's most important family. It was a way of escaping the Paparazzi and living like a normal family, even if it could only be for a little while at a time.

They were not pretending, however, that they were coming to rest and that their son had gone to spend the weekend with his grandparents. That part was true. Little Armin was indeed spending a few days with the Prince and Princess (Emeritus) in Palace of Ermine, Princely City of Grandeville.

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Surprise Announcement at FAC on tap
Chris Drummond
The Daily Mail Staff Writer

The Football Association of the Commonwealth have scheduled a press conference for Monday, for what is expected to be major announcement about the current senior coaching staff.

Sources indicate that it will announced that women's assistant manager Kate DiMarini will be leaving the FAC, as she has been granted a release from her contract. DiMarini, currently on maternity leave following the birth of her first child several months ago, is said to be entertaining offers from a handful of clubs to fill managerial positions.

Additionally, a preliminary player pool for the upcoming World Cup qualifying is also expected to be announced; however there is speculation that the national team will not utilize the split squad format that was employed during the qualifications for WC 81 & 82.

With the announcement that Banija & Equestria will co-host the upcoming World Cup Final, there is anticipation that a pre-qualification friendly match will be scheduled against one or both the co-hosts. Also, there are confirmed reports that Old College Park in Southend has been reserved by the FAC for a NT match to take place in the near future.

by **Schiavonia** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 10:52 am

A lot can happen in thirty years. It’s thirty years since anyone last heard anything from Schiavonia, the last act being to host two group games at World Cup 75. Ever since then, just silence. The tourism just seemed to stop overnight. The RP machine wound down. The ragtag bunch of friendly (naive) halfwits stopped broadcasting on the Schiavone International Broadcasting Service. The outside world seemingly cut off from the Sunshine Paradise.

And yet, seemingly out of nowhere, for the eighty-third edition of the greatest tournament in the multiverse, there on the entry list reads Schiavonia. It wouldn’t be their first comeback ever. Once, a shipment of over-confident wild animals saw the demise of their pacifist forty-six islands, and the nation was resurrected by Carlos Cueto, a former legend of the Schiavone game, gathering together as much of the same squad who had played fifty years previously They then bought an island, which turned out to not be stationary, and travelled the multiverse instead of playing it at football. As I guess you would if your tiny island could do that.

Then, once they eventually learned that their island was a sentient being, they stopped. Animal cruelty isn’t really in their repertoire. They found a seemingly uninhabited island, and set up home, only to find it was also home to the Garundi tribe, a group who were distant relatives to the Schiavones, but more primitive. And with actual red skin, akin to the colour on the Schiavone flag. Without the luxury of travel, a return to the world of sport was in order.

Then there was the time they forgot to send their application email. For twelve years.

Oh, and then there was World Cup 57. Nobody ever mentions World Cup 57. Because nobody knows who actually entered World Cup 57 as Schiavonia.

And the last we heard? The depressed son of the coach had gone missing in San Jose Guayabal, intrepid explorer Randy Dalton was looking for Margaret, and the King Francesco Stadium hosted matches featuring Frenline Delpha, Brenecia and Ko-oren at World Cup 75.

And now, an application to enter the fray once again. But this did not appear to come from Schiavonia. A repeat of 57, but a century later? For starters, the application came with a Krytenian postmark. The official address listed for the Schiavone Football Federation was a semi-detached house in the suburbs of New Cefn. Their Chief Executive, Miss Isla Llewelyn - not a known Schiavone family name. And the roster? Gone are names like Sanderson, Cueto and Blige, replaced by some teenagers, foodstuffs and whatever else could be found. And a few more unusual entries.

But how did we get here? How did a nation with a proud football heritage get reduced to this? Will they actually be any good? And will the writer of this story have time to tell it all to you over the course of the coming weeks and months of the qualifying campaign? I guess time will only tell. However, there’s a Krytenian girl on her way to Banija for a World Cup draw, representing a nation she only vaguely knows about in a sport which, until recently, she had very little interest in.

Here come the Sloths...

by **Lisander** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 2:33 pm

Lisander Football Federation, at the end of the draw.

"Strange, I can't see Lisander in the groups. Jim, have you sent the yellow envelope to World Cup Committee?"

"Wait, what yellow envelope?"

"The one with our signup, your dumbass!"

"Oh, I forgot it."

"HOLY MOTHER OF FUCK, JIM. YOU HAD ONE JOB AND YOU FAILED! Lisander is out of the world cup because of you. I'll need to explain this mess to the entire nation! You're fired!".

World Cup 83 - Roleplay Thread

World Cup 83 - Roleplay Thread

Here we go again

Family Secrets, 1: The Blanchecroix Family

Schiavonia Return for WC83Q

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