2021 Sulifa World Cup
| 2021 Sulifa World Cup | |
|---|---|
 The official emblem | |
| Tournament details | |
| Host country | Sulifa |
| Dates | April 12th - May 2nd, 2021 |
| Teams | 32 |
| Venue(s) | 6 (in Sulifa City, Araja, Cubai, Susairah host cities) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Durnstaal |
| Runners-up |  Zamastan |
| Third place |  Timeria |
| Fourth place |  Jyau |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 63 |
| Top scorer(s) | Isaiah Ross (Zamastan) |
The 2021 World Cup, also called the 2021 Sulifa World Cup, was an international football tournament contested by men's national teams and took place between 12 April to May 2nd, 2021 in multiple cities throughout Sulifa. It was the 47th World Cup, a worldwide football tournament held once every year. The tournament phase involved 32 teams, of which all came through qualifying competitions at the start of the event from an original 64 national teams.
In the final, Durnstaal defeated Zamastan 1(1)-(0)1 in overtime to secure the country's third world title and its first since 2013.
Teams
102 national teams applied to join the World Cup, but ultimately 64 national teams were able to reach the qualification rounds. Among the firsts were Ossinia and their newly formed Ossinia national football team, since the deposed government of Martin Saint-Yves had previously boycotted World Cups.
Notably absent from the World Cup qualifying rounds were longtime qualifying teams Avergnon and Gladysynthia, the latter of which was host to the previous 2020 Heimdahl'ia World Cup.
Venues
Six venues were utilized during the tournament in four cities across Sulifa; Sulifa City, Araja, Cubai, and Susairah. Sulifa, with limited physical geography and a largely urbanized central area, played host in multiple areas throughout the country instead of one singular city. The bid evaluation report stated: "The Sulifa bid proposes 4 host cities and 7 stadiums, thus exceeding the World Cup Organization's minimum requirement. Three of the 6 stadiums would be renovated, and 1 would be newly constructed."
Sulifa ultimately reduced their total stadium to 6. Construction of the proposed Kyabib Feros stadium in capital was cancelled by the government due to difficulties with construction permits. A total of Z$7.8 billion was spent on hosting the tournament.
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the World Cup took place on Sunday, April 11th at the Al-Kayib Royal Stadium in Sulifa City. King Abdur Rasheed el-Abad gave a speech, welcoming the countries of the world to Sulifa and calling football a uniting force.
Group Stages
Qualifying Rounds
64 competing countries were divided into eight groups of eight teams (groups A to H). Teams in each group played one another in a round-robin, with the top four teams advancing to the knockout stage and the Round of 32.
Group A
Group B
Besmenia 3-1 New Elkland
Group C
Alecburgh 2-1 Rio Palito
Jerku 1-0 Mist Carthara Islands
Alonnisosa 0-5 Caspiaa
Serra Leon 1-2 Jyau
Group D
Group E
Somodi 0-1 Beleroskov
Group F
Durnstaal 5-2 Constantio
Ruskayn 2-0 Saint Offeat
Group G
Drambenburg 4-2 Alluna
Group H
Knockout Stage
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Round of 32
Group A
Versenia 1(0)-(1)1 Yuan
Sulifa 2-0 Egilanak
Group B
Zamastan 4-0 Janapa
Besmenia 3-2 Cadair
Group C
Alecburgh 3(2)-(1)3 Jerku
Caspiaa 1-2 Jyau
Group D
Vuswistan 3-1 Sephariantasia
Vitosium 5(1)-(2)5 Kossmil
Group E
Ossnina 1-2 Quetana
Beleroskov 4-1 Tervali Islands
Group F
Albarine 2-3 Durnstaal
Ruskayn 8-2 Khaytan
Group G
Drambenburg 2-1 Shoassau
Qolaysia 0-1 Emmiria
Group H
Slavic Union 4(2)-(1)4 Tire Blin
Timeria 2-1 Siniapore
Round of 16
A: Yuan 1 - 3 Sulifa
B: Zamastan 3 - 2 Besmenia
C: Alecburgh 2(1) - (2)2 Jyau
D: Vuswistan 0 - 2 Kossmil
E: Quetana 2 - 1 Beleroskov
F: Durnstaal 4 - 1 Ruskayn
G: Drambenburg 1 - 0 Emmiria
H: Slavic Union 3(0) - (1)3 Timeria
Quarter-finals
Sulifa 1(0) - (1)1 Zamastan
Jyau 2 - 0 Kossmil
Quetana 1 - 2 Durnstaal
Drambenburg 2(0) - (1)2 Timeria
Semi-finals
Zamastan 2 - 1 Jyau
Durnstaal 1(2) - (1)1 Timeria
Third-Place
Jyau 1 - 2 Timeria
Final
Zamastan 1(0) - (1)1 Durnstaal
Durnstaal won their third World Cup title after narrowly pushing Zamastan into a ten-minute overtime.