218 IFA World Cup

**218 IFA World Cup**
 Motto
 Host country
 Dates
 Teams
 Venue(s)
 ← 214 | 222 →

The **218 IFA World Cup** was an international association football tournament contested by men's national teams of IFA's member associations and the 8th IFA World Cup. It took place that took place in Maro from 10 June and 10 July 218, making Maro the first country to stage the competition twice, the first time being in 202, and the fourth time that it was held in Eurovo. Lincly were the defending champions, having defeated Lincon 5–4 on penalties following a 5–5 draw after extra time in the 214 final.

This tournament was the first with 24 participating teams, increased from 16 teams after the 214 edition. It was the first World Cup not to be held in the usual "month after the FIFA World Cup" fashion as the 2022 FIFA World Cup was held in November and December due to Qatar's intense heat, and was also the first World Cup to chiefly take place in June instead of July, with 52 matches played in 12 venues across 11 cities. 23 of the 24 teams came through qualifying competitions, while as the host nation Maro qualified automatically. Of the 24 qualified teams, 13 had also appeared at the 214 event, while Aimol, Brumund, Porta, Tontin, Warelern and Yurod each made their first appearance at the World Cup; all except Tontin had gained independence between 214 and 218. Lincly, the defending champions, were eliminated in the round of 16.

Hosts Maro won the final, defeating newcomers Porta 4–2 to win their third world title, defending their record as the only country to have won the World Cup more than once as well as becoming the only team to win it after failing to qualify for the previous competition. Maron player Augusto Bena was voted the tournament's best player, winning the Golden Ball. Bena also won the Golden Boot as he scored the most goals during the tournament with seven. Porta's Tobias Park won the Golden Glove, awarded to the tournament's best goalkeeper.

## Host selection

*Main articles: 218 IFA World Cup bids and Maro 218 IFA World Cup bid*

The bidding procedure to host the 218 FIFA World Cup tournament began in February 209, and national associations had until 15 April 209 to register their interest. Since CFF member Canadina was to host the 214 IFA World Cup, CFF were excluded from the bidding process except at last resort. Therefore, the 218 World Cup could be hosted by either CgCPE (Eurovo; last hosted in 210) or SMSAO (Aflicane and Ocrania, last hosted in 198). Initially, nine countries placed bids for the 218 IFA World Cup, but Bisini, Lincly and Russanplon later withdrew from the proceedings, with Bisini preferring to bid for the 222 World Cup instead. During the bidding process, Avino, Dania and Rinasine gradually withdrew from the 218 bids. As such, there were eventually three bids for the 218 IFA World Cup, all of which were in Eurovo: Engales, Maro, and Plos.

The voting took place on September 5, 210, and it was opened to all eligible members. The Maro bid won receiving 15 valid ballots, while the Plos bid received 7 valid ballots and the Engales bid 2. Maro became the first country to host two men's World Cups—it had previously hosted it in 202.

The voting patterns were as follows:

 Engales
 Abstentions
 Total votes

## Teams

### Qualification

*Main article: 218 FIFA World Cup qualification*

IFA's three continental confederations organised their own qualifying competitions. All 43 IFA member associations except automatically qualified hosts Maro and Sluvica, which did not join IFA or CgCPE until qualification was well underway, applied to enter the qualification process. The 218 qualification process saw a huge increase in nations with the inclusion of Porta, Warelern and the 14 Russanplonese republics, which had gained independence and joined IFA between 214 and 217. Lincly, the reigning World Cup champions also went through qualifying stages as normal. Odilivan withdrew before the CFF qualification draw as a consequence of the Odilish Civil War and was later suspended from IFA indefinitely.

Of the 24 nations qualified to play at the 218 IFA World Cup, 13 countries competed at the previous tournament in 214. Aimol, Brumund, Porta, Tontin, Warelern and Yurod qualified for the first time; all except Tontin had gained independence between 214 and 218. Easatloa, Joliwe, hosts Maro and the Northern States of Caronana qualified after failing to qualify in 214, while Halsivon returned to the finals for the first time since 202. Russanplon, Rinasine and Shisini were the only countries that competed at the 214 World Cup that failed to qualify. Plos, the reigning Eurovan champions, failed to qualify for a second successive World Cup and were the highest ranked team in the IFA World Rankings to do so. Halsivon were the lowest ranked team to qualify, ranked 35th.

Below is a list of the qualified teams by region, with numbers in parentheses indicating final positions in the IFA Men's World Ranking before the tournament.

**CFF** (8)

* Canadina (14)
* Jolivan (12)
* Joliwe (25)
* Noda (18)
* Northern States of Caronana (20)
* Southern Yelsiva (8)
* Tontin (19)
* Yelsiva (1)

**CgCPE** (14)

* Aimol (23)
* Brumund (22)
* Dania (3)
* Easatloa (11)
* Engales (2)
* Halsivon (35)
* Lincly (5)
* Lincon (10)
* Maro (4) (hosts)
* Scotales (9)
* Waland (15)
* Warelern (7)
* Yurod (29)

**SMSAO** (3)

* Avino (16)
* Bisini (26)
* Porta (6)

### Draw

*Main article: 218 FIFA World Cup seeding*

The draw was held on 10 December 217 at the NSPdL in Liliana. The 24 teams were drawn into six groups of four, by selecting one team from each of the four ranked pots.

For the draw, the teams were allocated to four pots based on the IFA World Rankings of October 217. Pot one contained the hosts Maro (who were automatically assigned to position A1) and the best seven teams excluding Maro. Pot two contained the next best eight teams, and so on for pots three and four. The pots for the draw are shown below.

 Yelsiva (1)
 Engales (2)
 Dania (3)
 Lincly (5)
 Porta (6)
 Southern Yelsiva (8)
 Scotales (9)
 Lincon (10)
 Easatloa (11)
 Jolivan (12)
 Waland (15)
 Avino (16)
 Noda (18)
 Tontin (19)
 Northern States of Caronana (20)
 Aimol (24)
 Joliwe (25)
 Bisini (26)
 Yurod (29)
 Halsivon (35)

## Venues

12 venues in 11 cities were selected for the tournament. Eight of these had been used for the 202 IFA World Cup, while two were constructed especially for the tournament. The other two were added to the tournament after IFA announced the expansion to 24 teams. The venues covered all 10 regions of Maro, creating more evenly distributed hosting than the 202 finals. Salacia was the only region with two host cities while Gali was the only city with two venues; their additional venues were both added upon the expansion announcement. During the World Cup, Maron cities were also home to the participating teams at 24 separate base camps, as well as staging official fan fests where supporters could view the games.

Of the twelve venues, the Gali National Stadium was used most, hosting six matches. Liliana, Regnola, Voma, Beneligno and Venisura each hosted five matches, including one quarter-final match each, while Bruskela, Puccine and Picessa hosted four, including one round-of-16 match each. The Saturnino Maurizio Olympic Stadium in Gali as well as the cities of Rimissa and Mizara each hosted three matches but did not host any knockout stage games. Each venue hosted one match in each of the three group stage matchdays.

A dagger (†) marks a stadium built especially for the tournament and a double dagger (‡) marks a pre-existing stadium added upon the announcement of the tournament's expansion.

### Team base camps

Base camps were used by the 24 national squads to stay and train before and during the World Cup tournament. On 13 January 218, IFA announced the base camps for each participating team. For the first time, each country's base camp was in a separate city, including all 11 host cities. These base camps were chosen by each participating country from a brochure of over 100 prospective locations.

* Aimol: Rimissa, Salacia
* Avino: Bruskela, Candito
* Bisini: Livasono, Teneto
* Brumund: Gapavari, Treviste
* Canadina: Liliana, Liliana
* Dania: Puccine, Teneto
* Easatloa: Legnassina, Bolorona
* Engales: Picessa, Cavona
* Halsivon: Lorin, Cavona
* Jolivan: Beneligno, Treviste
* Joliwe: Mizara, Ruscovy
* Lincly: Voma, Vanataro
* Lincon: Tucchine, Maluna
* Maro: Salaveno, Vanataro
* Noda: Rego, Candito
* Northern States of Caronana: Venisura, Maluna
* Porta: Gali, Bolorona
* Tontin: Binremo, Cavona
* Waland: Tilayuse, Liliana
* Warelern: Regnola, Salacia
* Yelsiva: Salavena, Ruscovy
* Yurod: Camara, Vanataro

## Format

### Expansion to 24 teams

President of SMSAO Jolene Kate suggested in 214 that, with the independence of Porta later that year, the tournament could be expanded to 24 participants. President of IFA Shigeru Yamako rejected the idea, stating that the 28 teams whose football associations were members at the time were not enough for a proper qualification round.

After the success of the 215 Women's World Cup, IFA unanimously voted to expand said tournament to 16 participants. The idea to expand the men's World Cup to 24 participants was brought up again. With recognition of Warelern growing slowly, a football association was created and applied to become an IFA member. IFA accepted their application shortly before the 215 Women's World Cup, bringing eligible teams up to 29. On November 18, 215, the IFA Council voted to expand to a 24-team tournament.

### Tournament

The first round, or group stage, was a competition between the 24 teams divided among six groups of four, where each group engaged in a round-robin tournament within itself. The two highest ranked teams and the best four third-placed teams in each group advanced to the knockout stage. Teams were awarded three points for a win and one for a draw. When comparing teams in a group over-all result came before head-to-head.

The ranking of teams in each group was based on the following criteria:

1. Number of points
2. Goal difference
3. Number of goals scored
4. Number of points obtained in matches between tied teams
5. Goal difference in matches between tied teams
6. Number of goals scored in matches between tied teams
7. Drawing of lots

In the knockout stage there were four rounds (round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final), with each eliminating the losers. The 218 World Cup included the first round of 16; all previous tournaments did not have them as they did not have enough participants for them. The two semi-final losers competed in a third place play-off. For any match in the knockout stage, a draw after 90 minutes of regulation time was followed by two 15 minute periods of extra time to determine a winner. If the teams were still tied, a penalty shoot-out was held to determine a winner.

The group stage began on 10 June, with the host nation competing in the opening game as has been the format since the implementation of the group stage in the 202 tournament. The opening game was preceded by an opening ceremony that began at 16:00 local time.

## Opening ceremony

*Main article: 218 IFA World Cup opening ceremony*

The opening ceremony took place on Friday, 10 June, at the Gali National Stadium in Gali, prior to the opening match of the tournament between hosts Maro and Avino. It began with a speech by Maron president Emilio Moresi and included appearances by Kit Lincoln, Maron World Cup-winning striker Tammaro Sicignano and Veronica Moschetti, along with performances by Mearthvision Song Contest 210 winner Secondiano Tano and Bisinish singer George Wheeler. Tano and Wheeler performed the tournament's official song "Magical" which had been released as an official single on 19 March 218.

## Group stage

*All times are local, MST*.

Competing countries were divided into six groups of four teams (groups A to F). Teams in each group played one another in a round-robin, with the top two teams and the best four third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage.

### Group A

*Main article: 218 IFA World Cup Group A*

**(H)** Host

10 June 21818:00

Gali National Stadium, GaliAttendance: 79,243Referee: Koki Watanabe (Jolivan)

11 June 21815:00

San Vasta, PicessaAttendance: 39,640Referee: Jan Remaut (Plos)

15 June 21815:00

Stadio Ida Trozzo, BruskelaAttendance: 41,978Referee: Stefan Dedo (Rinasine)

15 June 21818:00

Stadio Salacia, RegnolaAttendance: 47,203Referee: Thomas Bill (Noda)

19 June 21818:00

Stadio Mondiale, BenelignoAttendance: 43,104Referee: Carlos Jiménez (Southern Yelsiva)

19 June 21818:00

Stadio Puccine, PuccineAttendance: 41,233Referee: Harry Barker (Lincon)

### Group B

*Main article: 218 IFA World Cup Group B*

11 June 21818:00

Stadio Reale, MizaraAttendance: 30,082Referee: Thomas Bill (Noda)

11 June 21821:00

Stadio Dell'amore, LilianaAttendance: 68,220Referee: Jonathan Blackberry (Lincly)

15 June 21821:00

Stadio Voma, VomaAttendance: 45,888Referee: Enzo Colina (Engales)

16 June 21815:00

Stadio Mondiale, BenelignoAttendance: 42,097Referee: Carlos Jiménez (Southern Yelsiva)

19 June 21821:00

Saturnino Maurizio Olympic Stadium, GaliAttendance: 37,029Referee: Stefan Dedo (Rinasine)

19 June 21821:00

Stadio Venisura Centrale, VenisuraAttendance: 43,050Referee: Roméo Féret (Avino)

### Group C

*Main article: 218 IFA World Cup Group C*

12 June 21815:00

Stadio Voma, VomaAttendance: 45,171Referee: Roméo Féret (Avino)

12 June 21818:00

Stadio Venisura Centrale, VenisuraAttendance: 40,416Referee: Niyaz Sharifov (Morgut)

16 June 21818:00

Saturnino Maurizio Olympic Stadium, GaliAttendance: 37,979Referee: Angel Dobrev (Kumeretsia)

16 June 21821:00

Stadio Dell’amore, LilianaAttendance: 68,203Referee: David Lachlan (Lincon)

20 June 21818:00

Gali National Stadium, GaliAttendance: 80,610Referee: Lucy Thomas (Northern States of Caronana)

20 June 21818:00

Stadio Ida Trozzo, BruskelaAttendance: 41,962Referee: Peter Tony (Canadina)

### Group D

*Main article: 218 IFA World Cup Group D*

12 June 21821:00

Stadio Salacia, RegnolaAttendance: 45,319Referee: Callum Wheelwright-Ross (Bisini)

13 June 21815:00

Saturnino Maurizio Olympic Stadium, GaliAttendance: 37,045Referee: Raina Lidina (Russanplon)

17 June 21815:00

San Vasta, PicessaAttendance: 39,496Referee: Lucy Thomas (Northern States of Caronana)

17 June 21818:00

Stadio Puccine, PuccineAttendance: 41,252Referee: Roméo Féret (Avino)

20 June 21821:00

Stadio Rimissa, RimissaAttendance: 35,966Referee: Carlos Jiménez (Southern Yelsiva)

20 June 21821:00

Stadio Voma, VomaAttendance: 45,795Referee: Bas Haase (Warelern)

### Group E

*Main article: 218 IFA World Cup Group E*

13 June 21818:00

Stadio Ida Trozzo, BruskelaAttendance: 41,838Referee: Lucy Thomas (Northern States of Caronana)

13 June 21821:00

Stadio Mondiale, BenelignoAttendance: 42,597Referee: Harry Barker (Lincon)

17 June 21821:00

Gali National Stadium, GaliAttendance: 80,609Referee: Niyaz Sharifov (Morgut)

18 June 21815:00

Stadio Rimissa, RimissaAttendance: 35,970Referee: Jonathan Blackberry (Lincly)

21 June 21818:00

Stadio Salacia, RegnolaAttendance: 47,200Referee: Jan Remaut (Plos)

21 June 21818:00

Stadio Reale, MizaraAttendance: 34,614Referee: Raina Lidina (Russanplon)

### Group F

*Main article: 218 IFA World Cup Group F*

18 June 21818:00

Stadio Venisura Centrale, VenisuraAttendance: 42,352Referee: Koki Watanabe (Jolivan)

14 June 21818:00

Stadio Rimissa, RimissaAttendance: 35,616Referee: Peter Tony (Canadina)

18 June 21818:00

Stadio Puccine, PuccineAttendance: 41,263Referee: Vladimir Azov (Roznikia)

18 June 21821:00

Stadio Reale, MizaraAttendance: 34,615Referee: Enzo Colina (Engales)

21 June 21821:00

San Vasta, PicessaAttendance: 39,685Referee: Luna Peña (Yelsiva)

21 June 21821:00

Stadio Dell’amore, LilianaAttendance: 68,223Referee: Angel Dobrev (Kumeretsia)

## Knockout stage

*Main article: 218 IFA World Cup knockout stage*

In the knockout stage, if a match was level at the end of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winners.

### Round of 16

25 June 21818:00

San Vasta, PicessaAttendance: 39,682Referee: Peter Tony (Canadina)

25 June 21821:00

Gali National Stadium, GaliAttendance: 80,615Referee: David Lachlan (Lincon)

26 June 21818:00

Stadio Ida Trozzo, BruskelaAttendance: 41,964Referee: Raina Lidina (Russanplon)

25 June 21821:00

Stadio Voma, VomaAttendance: 45,883Referee: David Lachlan (Lincon)