User:Osarius/BOF68Draft

Baptism of Fire 68
Teams	48
Host(s)	Farfadillis Semarland
Champions	Cobrio
Second	Shofercia
Third	Template:Country data Carloso
Matches played	128
Goals scored	468 (average 3.66 per match)
Affiliated tournaments	World Cup 81 Cup of Harmony 73
Previous	Baptism of Fire 67
Next	Baptism of Fire 69

The 68th edition of the Baptism of Fire was a football tournament hosted by Farfadillis and Semarland prior to World Cup 81. The competition was open to every unranked team as of the World Cup 81 cycle. Cobrio won the tournament in Ferdullaele but fell short of qualifying for the World Cup finals.

Host selection

There were four bids to host the 68th Baptism of Fire, though the bid from Farfadillis and Semarland won a majority of votes in the first round of voting.

Voting results
Bid	Votes
Farfadillis and Semarland	5
Starblaydia and Equestrian States	1
Mattijana and South Toronto	1
Lycrabon	0
Re-open bids	1
Total	8

Stadiums

Stadium	City	Seats
La Fantás	Ferdullaele	100,000
Gra Aguaviva Mitologica	Frion	50,000
La Gran Avenida	El Gran Bosque	40,000
Naš Stadion	Karuvis	32,000
Adar Jak	Szoirsia	32,000
Ján Rülánd Dêrmáá	Ruland	10,000
Natunolstadion	Jansberg	86,000
Stadion Aestahaade	Aestahaade	42,000
Stadion Metner	Krsthaven	63,000
Eastlands	Finqaar	44,000
Quayside	Kolberg	54,000
Solsholm Arena	Solsholm	43,000
Stadion Reyenoord	Eikborg	53,000
Stadion Matovallanen	Matovallanen	45,000
Lindersson Arena	Nuholm	52,000
Stadion Laguna	Jansberg	37,000
Sorensen House	Kangemark	43,000
Stadion Aalemark	Aalemark	37,000
Arkjetstadion	Molsbik	57,000
Fransborg Park	Fransborg	39,000
Stadion Jansberg	Jansberg	72,000
Saint Adren Road	Saint Adrensburg	45,000

Group stage

Draw

Thirty six teams entered the tournament. As all the teams are unranked, there is no seeding, so all the teams are randomly assigned into 6 groups, with Groups A-C being hosted by Valladares and D-F by Chromatika.

Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D
Template:Country data Liongya Neo-Romanum Michine Template:Country data Huffingshire	File:Flag of Mareibat.png Mareibat Template:Country data Kilaguni Template:Country data Ravsol Template:Country data Soute	Template:Country data Czarna Gora Template:Country data Alenburg Template:Country data Saint Emelie Template:Country data Corindia	Template:Country data The Hungarian Nation Sorrentopia Central Shaneville Shofercia
Group E	Group F	Group G	Group H
Kavagrad Template:Country data Leodomum Template:Country data Bellarona Template:Country data Zeleny Hrebenia	Cobrio Template:Country data Halfdansodal Template:Country data Kedroiqua Squornshelan Remnant States	Template:Country data The West Cape Template:Country data Penguinland Template:Country data Acheia Template:Country data Vithuland	Template:Country data Innovian Indusse Template:Country data Raffiah Unified Hispania Template:Country data Santa Rafa
Group I	Group J	Group K	Group L
Template:Country data Rannoria Template:Country data Tarper Template:Country data Illahee Oscioru	Template:Country data Guriguay Yanghoon Togonistan Template:Country data Carloso	Template:Country data Tobria Template:Country data Axuva Template:Country data Petrovskia Template:Country data Egyptosian	Template:Country data Altai Almas Blaneu Template:Country data Tanzanique Template:Country data Rakivland
Group M	Group N	Group O	Group P
Template:Country data Nuadh-Alba Sharktail Template:Country data Krenorus Template:Country data Routcher	Template:Country data Dormill and Stiura Template:Country data Greater Libertania Template:Country data Brittany Normandy Aquitane Template:Country data Hertisiana	Busoga Islands Template:Country data Pink Floyd FC Template:Country data Timmy's Tigers Template:Country data The South Falls	Template:Country data South Libertopia Template:Country data Miznan Template:Country data Schweiser Freeport

Format

Teams played each other team in their group in a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each group, plus the four third-placed teams with the best record, advanced to the round of 32, and the tournament continued from there in a single-elimination bracket.

Group standings were determined in the following order of precedence:

Points
Head-to-head record
Overall goal differential
Coin flip
in reality, this was a judgement based on the quality of roleplay by the controlling user

In the single-elimination stage, matches were decided by extra time if scores were level after ninety minutes, and penalty shoot-out if necessary after that.