2023 World Cup (Iearth)| 2023 Melmingen World Cup |
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| Host country |  Besmenia |
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| Dates | April 1st - April 26th, 2023 |
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| Teams | 32 |
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| Venue(s) | 7 |
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The 2023 World Cup, also called the 2023 Melmingen World Cup, was an international football tournament contested by men's national teams which took place between 1 April to 26 April, 2023 in multiple cities throughout Besmenia, mostly in Melmingen. It was the 49th 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 57 national teams. It is the fourth World Cup tournament to be held in Besmenia, the last having been in 2013, and the second to be held in Melmingen, the last having been in 1999.
Due to a series of corruption scandals in the lead up to the 2023 World Cup, including the sudden resignation of WCO president Jasmin Devillers, the 64-team rule was altered after the new World Cup Organization president Cekov Marino of Zoygaria refused to approve the entrance multiple teams, including that of Drambenburg, Beleroskov, and Yuan. As such, 7 national teams who placed at the top of their respective regional leagues were given automatic qualification status for the tournament phase: Besmenia, Greater Normark, Timeria, Shoassau, East Chanchajilla, Haduastan, and Unified Sera. This move was met with mixed reception, as some praised it for combatting corruption, and others criticized it for excluding other potential contenders.
Teams
Venues
Most of the matches took place in Melmingen. Cities and stadiums outside of Melmingen that wanted to host some of the 63 matches had to submit an expression of interest to the Besmenian Football Association (BFB). By the last day of submission, 10 cities and stadiums submitted the required documentation. During the application process, Samaroda, Eisenberg, St. Butz and Fröndenbruck withdrew. The remaining 6 cities and their stadiums were evaluated in terms of stadium capacity, infrastructure and security aspects. On March 3, 2020, the presidium of the BFB announced that Laitstadt, Richtersberg, Helmfurt, Hetenberg, Berkafurt and Freiz will host some of the 63 matches in addition to Melmingen.
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony took place on April 1st in the Melmingen Olympic Stadium. At 2:00 p.m., the opening ceremony, which lasted around 48 minutes, began with a performance of about 2500 performers, who formed the emblem of the World Cup 2023 with different colored clothes. Afterwards each of the 32 participating countries was then represented with a musical parade. The finale of the musical parade was the release of around 212 balloons designed after the national flags of the 32 participating countries. Besmenian pop singer Mella performed her song Best Feeling. Finally, the tournament was officially opened with a speech from Besmenian Federal President Vincent von Schilling.
Group Stages
Qualifying Rounds
57 competing countries were divided into eight groups (groups A to H). Every group, with the exception of C, had a team that had automatically qualified. Teams in each group played one another in a round-robin best two-out-of-three, with the top four teams advancing to the knockout stage with the Round of 32.
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Knockout Stage
Round of 32
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
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| 5 April 2023
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Group E
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| 6 April 2023
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Group F
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| 6 April 2023
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Group G
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| 6 April 2023
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Group H
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| 6 April 2023
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Round of 16
Group A
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Group B
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Group C
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Group D
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Group E
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Group F
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Group G
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Group H
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Quarter-finals
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Semi-finals
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Third-Place
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Final
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Organization
Security
Due to the problematic security situation worldwide, the security measures to protect the public and athletes were discussed intensively, especially in the run-up to the tournament. The focus was on measures both to ward off terrorist activities and to curb hooliganism. The BVP brought up a proposal in the Federal Chamber after the 2022 Oftbon attacks to use units of the Besmenian Federal Army for the security of the 2023 World Cup, which was voted for by a majority of MPs. The matches were protected by an increased police presence and by 8,700 members of the Besmenian Federal Army; there were also private security services.
Financing and marketing
The sponsors of the 2023 World Cup are divided into three categories: World Cup Partners, World Cup Sponsors and National Supporters. The National Supporters are all Besmenian sponsors.
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World Cup sponsors |
National supporters
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Economic impact of the World Cup on Besmenia
The Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Trade at the time, Manfred Roßbach, predicted a long-term economic gain of over BS nine billion in gross domestic product for Besmenia in 2020. This revenue would primarily come from the approximately five million additional overnight stays that are planned. The Besmenian Organizing Committee for the World Cup expects around 4.1 million visitors, of whom around 1.8 million are expected to come from abroad. However, the long-term consequences of such a major event on economic development are very difficult to assess due to uncertain forecasts and diverse multiplier effects. In addition to positive effects such as increased reputation or additional tax revenue, the World Cup could also have negative effects such as traffic and safety problems as well as environmental damage from increasing tourism and the associated high follow-up costs.
According to a study published in July 2022 by the Melminger Tageszeitung, the 2023 World Cup will create around 28,000 new jobs. In Maurenmark alone, the top event will create over 21,000 additional jobs in the coming year. As the main venue, Melmingen in particular will benefit from the World Cup with around 11,500 new jobs. In addition to gastronomy and the hotel industry, numerous other service sectors would also benefit.
Media
The World Cup Organization, through several companies, sold the broadcasting rights for the 2023 World Cup to various local broadcasters. After having tested the technology at limited matches of the 2020 Heimdahl'ia World Cup (via private tests and public viewings in the host city of Heimdahl'ia), the 2023 World Cup is the second World Cup in which all matches were produced in 4K ultra high definition (the previous 2022 Dabatta World Cup being the first). The WCO stated that at least 75% of the broadcast cut of each match would come from 4K cameras (covering the majority of main angles), with instant replays and some camera angles being converted up from 1080p high definition sources with limited degradation in quality. These broadcasts were made available from selected rightsholders and television providers.
Within Besmenia, the public broadcaster BRF received the local broadcasting rights, which will broadcast most matches on BRF SPORT and a few on BRF 1. The following are international broadcasting rights:
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Hasaari
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Coaitte
Selle
Eserrei
Andaluni
Arenacia
Latilli
Zoygaria
Caspiaa
Sontre
Kossmil
Sulifa
Paraboca
Blallia
Candatora
Norlansia
New Anea
Slavic Union
Saint Croix and Bens
Democratic Aurea
Emmiria
North Icadania
Durnstaal
Elborra
Alcarres
Saint Offeat
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Great Alescoll
Allieu
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Saint Lorrain
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Saint Astaba and Beck
Noravia
Cylata
Versenia
Pian Islands
Beatavic
New Elkland
Ivite
Vrakara
Vœyetska
Constantio
Artegana
BDDV
United Cavollon
Albarine
Besmenia
Shoassau