Country Contest 20

Quarter-final date
 Semi-final 1 date
 Semi-final 2 date
 Semi-final 3 date
 Final date
 Venue
 Number of entries
 Debuting countries
 Voting system
 Winning song

The **Country Contest 20** will be the twentieth edition of the contest, serving as a jubilee event. As in the tenth edition, the CCU announced that the contest would be welcome to any public broadcaster in the world as long as they are in the UN, or otherwise accepted by the CCU, as long as they are the first in the country to confirm its interest.

## Location

Although it is presumed the event will take place in the Zagreb Arena, it is possible that it will be hosted in Stadion Maksimir with a temporary roof being built for the duration of the contest. On 25 October 2018, HRT announced that the semi-finals would be held in Arena Zagreb, with the Grand Finale taking place in a renovated (roof-built) Stadion Maksimir, the following week. HRT stated, "While 22,000 is a good amount of seats for the [Country Contest], such a big and international contest like this edition would never fulfill its potential unless being held in a venue [Stadion Maksimir], which can hold a bigger capacity."

## Presenters

On 17 December 2018, HRT announced that Croatian actress and singer Severina would be one of the hosts of the competition. However, it was not revealed how many there would be in total and who else would host.

With Stipe Erceg having hosted the Croatia draw, it was reported that "he would join Severina to host the competition," however HRT denied this by saying that "the other presenters would be announced in due course." However, Erceg confirmed in January 2019 that "HRT did not contact him further." However, HRT stated that they had other hosts lined up for the main event, with him retaining some hosting duties for minor non-televised events.

On 15 January 2019, HRT announced that Croatian-American actor Goran Višnjić would be joining Severina as the second host. It was also revealed that Leona Paraminski would join Severina and Višnjić in a smaller hosting role. It was subsequently reported that Marija Škaričić and Zrinka Cvitešić would also be involved "as hosts". HRT confirmed on 21 January 2019 that Croatian TV show host Dean Pelić would join the others as a host, but at an unspecified role. Ivana Roščić was subsequently rumored as a host, but to no extent.

On 6 February 2019, HRT confirmed following the month of rumors that Croatian actresses Zrinka Cvitešić and Marija Škaričić would join the rest as hosts, in unspecified roles. Additonally, HRT stated that "the hosts would be split between the three semi-finals and Grand Final." HRT also stated that after further negotiations, Stipe Erceg would nevertheless have a hosting role in the contest. Croatian press reported that HRT had wanted a host to support Severina, to ensure for a smooth presentation.

The following were confirmed as presenters:

* Goran Višnjić - actor
* Severina - actress, singer
* Leona Paraminski - actress
* Dean Pelić - TV host
* Zrinka Cvitešić - actress
* Marija Škaričić - actress
* Stipe Erceg - actor

They will host the following shows:

* **Semi-final 1:** Leona Paraminski and Dean Pelić
* **Semi-final 2:** Severina and Stipe Erceg
* **Semi-final 3:** Zrinka Cvitešić and Marija Škaričić
* **Grand Final:** Goran Višnjić, Leona Paraminski and Zrinka Cvitešić

## Format

### International competition

The CCU stated that considering the contest is not what it was ten editions ago, the interest level would be "extremely high." As such, 3 semi-finals will no longer be enough. The CCU stated that the amount of participating countries "is expected to be as high as 100 from all over the world." As such, it is likely that continental finals will take place in order to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition.

The CCU confirmed that the actual competition itself would be limited to 60 countries, up 2 from the 10th edition. As such, 94 countries would need to battle their spot into the competition, with the top 6 countries from the previous edition having free spots in the Grand Final. Countries which won bidding rounds to host continental finals were also given free spots to the semi-finals as a reward for their hosting. Additionally, the CCU stated that there would be no limit on participating countries, which may even require continental semi-finals if interested countries in 1 continent exceeds 26 participants (case in point, for European countries which will now have to fight their way to the competition).

### Kosovo

On 6 September 2018, the CCU announced that they would soon vote to decide the fate of RTK's participation of Kosovo in the contest. The CCU additionally invited broadcasters such as BHRT and RTS for potential settlement or agreement. On 1 October 2018, the CCU announced that after its long and thorough process, that they had accepted RTK and Kosovo into the Union, and would therefore qualify for participation in all of its Original Contests. An unanimous vote reportedly landed in Kosovo's favor, but the exact result was never revealed. The CCU furthermore declined to comment on the Kosovar vote.

### Host draw

On 26 December 2018, HRT broadcast live the random draw to determine Croatia's position in the Running Order of the Grand Final. The 30-minute special one-off program, which was hosted by Croat-German actor Stipe Erceg, also featured a live performance from Severina and unveiled more details, including the revelation of the slogan *Vjeruj san*. The slogan, in English, would mean *Trust the Dream* or *Believe the Dream*. At the end of the programme, it became apparent that Croatia would perform in the twenty-seventh position in the Grand Final. The draw took place to prevent potential bias towards the choice of the Croatian running order position.

### Semi-final allocation draw

On 6 February 2019, the CCU confirmed alongside HRT that the Allocation Draw would take place at Centar Zamet in Rijeka, Croatia, an indoor venue cable of hosting 2,350 seats. The 54 semi-finalists were divided into five pots, based on their competing continent/region, with the Oceanic countries joining Asia to avoid neighborly and voting bias in the semi-finals.

* Africa: 11 countries
* Pan America: 15 countries
* Asia: 15 countries
* Europe: 13 countries

Additionally, the Big 6 countries were allocated to the semi-finals they would vote in, with two of them voting in each semi-final.

The draw took place in 12 February 2019, with the fifty-four semifinalists allocated into three semi-finals as well as voting finalists. The following day, they were allocated into halves and were shortly confirmed with their running order.

## Qualification to competition

Further information: Countries in the Country Contest 20
Six countries are pre-qualified to the Grand Final, for their top six performance in the previous edition, as in previous editions. Another 5 countries are pre-qualified to the semi-finals, for their hosting of their respective continents' qualification final to the competition. The remaining 51 countries are expected to qualify via continental finals, as well as a wildcard round.

### **Slot allocation**

* Africa: 9+1 slots
* Pan America: 12+1 slots
* Asia: 8+1 slots
* Europe: 16+6+1 slots
	+ Big 6 countries: 6 slots
* Oceania: 2+1 slots
* Wildcard: 2 slots

The slots were allocated similarly as will be for World Cup 2026, but with an automatic spot for continental hosts, as well as 1 extra slot for Oceania and 2 extra for the renamed wildcard round. However, this system was criticized due to Europe receiving 21 slots, 38% of the total continental slots, compared to FIFA's 35%. Nevertheless, the current FIFA system (to be used until 2022) consists of 42% European slots. As a result, the CCU announced that the *Big 6* would count as European slots, reducing them to 10 and giving other continents further slots.

A new slot allocation was furthermore introduced, with each continent (minus Oceania) receiving one extra slot, Europe losing 5, and two added to the wildcard. Europe therefore represents 24% of the competing slots, and 30% of the overall competition.

The wildcard system was introduced on 24 October 2018, which reassured the allocation of four slots for its winners. The wildcard round host was confirmed to be Croatia, which the CCU appointed to "test their hosting skills ahead of the big event", which were already automatically qualified as part of the Big 6. To keep the round minimalistic, the three highest-placing non-qualifiers from each continent would qualify. The 15 participants would then vote, alongside other broadcasting nations. Four countries, regardless of their continent, will then progress.

* **Pan America: 13+1+1 slots**
* **Asia: 9+1+1 slots**
* **Europe: 11+6+1+1 slots**
	+ **Big 6 countries: 6 slots**
* **Oceania: 2+1+1 slots**
* **Wildcard: 4 slots**
	+ **Africa: 3+1 slots**
	+ **Pan America: 3 slots**
	+ **Asia: 3 slots**
	+ **Europe: 3 slots**
	+ **Oceania: 3 slots**

### **Table**

A total of 31 countries debuted in the contest, marking 52% of the competing countries.

### **European selection**

Main article: Countries in the Country Contest 20#European semi-finals
A record number of participants from Europe took part, including the debut of England, Scotland and Wales. Bosnia–Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Liberland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Romania and Russia made their return to the contest. A total of 46 countries took part in the selection, with the top 6 from #19 and selection hosts Montenegro automatically qualified from this round. The semi-finals marked notably marked the first non-qualification streak from Luxembourg and Switzerland and the 5th consecutive non-qualification from Finland. The finals marked merrier and stronger streak-ends, and such.

From the final, 11 countries directly progressed to the main competition, whilst three countries qualified for the international wildcard round. The entire Big 6 from #19 also voted here, alongside hosts Montenegro.

Italy was most notably eliminated in the selection, before having participated in every edition and being the most successful country with 3 wins. However, Italy took a wrong turn starting with its worst (23rd) result in #18, followed by non-qualification in the next edition. As a result, Germany became the only country to participate in every edition of the contest.

Additionally, Russia failed to qualify for its first time ever in its 12-edition history, having taken a 7-edition break to return this edition. Greece also broke its 7-edition qualification streak with its early elimination. The only debutant not qualifying, England, also broke its 5-edition qualification streak as UK. Previous edition hosts, Czech Republic, also broke their 4-edition streak with their elimination.

Overall, 27 countries which competed in the previous edition were forced to withdraw. England unsuccessfully debuted and some countries unsuccessfully returned.

### **Pan American selection**

23 countries took part in this selection, with 13 of them directly progressing and 3 indirectly to the wildcard. 7 countries were eliminated from the competition, notably Venezuela, whom placed 14th in the tenth edition.

### **Oceanic selection**

5 countries participated in the selection, with 2 of them directly progressing to the competition. The other 3 qualified to the wildcard round. As a result, no countries in this round were eliminated. Following the selection, many argued that only one country should qualify from Oceania, considering the size. The CCU responded, stating "inclusivity is our number one priority, especially when it comes to edition's like this. [New] and [Papua] earned their spots in the competition."

### **Asian selection**

18 countries participated in the selection, with 9 of them directly progressing to the competition. The other 3 qualified to the wildcard round. Six countries were directly eliminated from the competition.

### **African selection**

Twenty countries will participate in the selection, making it the third largest selection behind Europe and the Americas. Half of them directly progressing to the competition, with three other countries qualifying to the wildcard round. The seven rest of the countries will be directly eliminated from the competition.

### **Wildcard selection**

The top three countries from each continental selection will qualify to the Wildcard selection, as opposed to the normal qualification system. Four countries will qualify for the semi-finals.

The five countries which passed from the elimination stage:

* + **Two points were required for direct qualification. Fiji, Vietnam and Cyprus therefore qualified. Costa Rica and Ghana rematched for double points.**
* **Fiji (w GA, VI, CO, l CY;** 2**)**
* Ghana ( w CO, l FI, VI, CY, CO2; **-3**)
* **Vietnam (w GH, CY, CO, l FI;** 2**)**
* **Cyprus (w FI, GH, CO, l VI;** 2**)**
* **Costa Rica (w GH2, l FI, GA, VI, CY;** -3**)**

The five countries which were eliminated in the second round:

* Solomon Islands
* Kenya
* Thailand
* Slovenia
* Cuba

The five countries which were eliminated in the first round:

* Vanuatu
* Angola
* Uzbekistan
* Bosnia–Herzegovina
* Panama

Draw seeds:

**1st place**
1. Fiji
2. Ghana
3. Thailand
4. Slovenia
5. Cuba

**2nd place**
1. Solomon Islands
2. Costa Rica
3. Angola
4. Vietnam
5. Bosnia–Herzegovina

**3rd place**
1. Panama
2. Cyprus
3. Kenya
4. Vanuatu
5. Uzbekistan

### **Final split**

* Azerbaijan
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* France
* Germany
* Iceland
* Kosovo
* Liechtenstein
* Montenegro
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* San Marino
* Scotland
* Spain
* Wales

* Argentina
* Brazil
* Canada
* Curaçao
* Greenland
* Peru

**Asia** (4)
* China
* Japan
* Mongolia
* Vietnam

* South Africa
* Zimbabwe

**Oceania** (2)
* Australia
* New Zealand

## Semi-finals

### **Semi-final 1**

Azerbaijan and Poland will also vote in this semi-final. The top seven overall countries qualified to the Grand Final, with the separate Rest of the World vote being used to select the eighth qualifier.

### **Semi-final 2**

Germany and Kosovo will also vote in this semi-final. The top seven overall countries qualified to the Grand Final, with the separate Rest of the World vote being used to select the eighth qualifier.

### **Semi-final 3**

Croatia and Spain will also vote in this semi-final. The top seven overall countries qualified to the Grand Final, with the separate Rest of the World vote being used to select the eighth qualifier.

## Final

The 24 qualifiers from the three semi-finals, as well as the top 6 of the previous edition took part. This which marked the grand final of the edition to be the largest in the competition's 20 edition history. For the first time, non-participants were also invited to vote. As a result, all countries which competed in the main competition voted, alongside most competitors which did not pass their regional continental selection. The Rest of the World vote was effectively removed, for the edition, as was no longer necessary.

The CCU confirmed on 18 February 2019 that 34 of the 63 countries which failed to qualify would vote alongside the 60 participating countries.

Controversially, this edition marked the first edition since #15 to have the jury favorite win instead of public favorite. As in #15, the winning country only placed 12th with the public vote.

## Other countries

Further information: List of countries in the Country Contest
### **Active CCU members**

* Northern Ireland – On 16 October 2018, BBC Northern Ireland confirmed that the country would not attempt at debuting in the current edition, but would observe the contest.
* Vatican City – On 4 October 2018, VR reiterated that Vatican City would no longer be participating in the contest, and once again stated that "[they] never meant to be a regular participant in [the contest]."

### **Non-CCU members**

* Haiti: On 24 September 2018, TNH confirmed that Haiti would not comepete in the edition, following growing speculation. The country is the most populous in the Americas to not compete.

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