You can either:

• Draw → Mix up all the team cards, then take turns picking cards without looking
• Pick → choose the teams you love the most!

Set the rest of the cards aside.

Split the 16 teams evenly among players:

• 2 players: You each get 8 teams
• 3 players: One person gets 6 teams, two people get 5 teams
• 4 players: You each get 4 teams
• 5-8 players: You each get 2 or 3 teams

These are YOUR teams for the whole game!

Look at your game board — find the 16 boxes numbered 1–16 (8 boxes on one side for #1–#8, 8 boxes on the other side for #9–#16).

Shuffle your team cards without looking. Keep them face down in your hand.

Take turns placing the top card, face up, into the next empty box in number order: box #1, then #2, then #3… until #16.

• Each box holds one card.
  

As soon as two consecutive boxes are filled, that’s a matchup: #1 vs #2, #3 vs #4, #5 vs #6, and so on.

Super easy:

• Each match is decided with one roll of the die per team.
• Players roll for their own teams.
• The bigger number wins and moves forward in the bracket.
• If both teams get the same number, it's penalty time! (check Rule 7)

Move winners forward through the bracket until a champion is crowned:

Round of 16 → Quarterfinals → Semifinals → Final → Champion!

Each player gets a Team Sheet to follow their teams:

• Write down your team names
• Draw ❌ when your team loses, draw ➡️ when they win
• Update your sheet after every match so you don’t lose track!

If a match ends in a tie:

• Shuffle the 10 Penalty Cards (5 ✅ GOAL, 5 ❌ MISS) and place them face down in the middle of the table.
  
  
• Both players flip from this pile, taking turns one by one — just like a real penalty shootout.
  
  
• Each player flips 5 cards total. Shout out each penalty like a soccer commentator!
  
  
• The player with more ✅ GOALS wins the shootout.
  
  

If both score the same, go to Sudden Death: each player flips 1 card at a time until one flips a ✅ and the other flips a ❌.

Power Play Cards are special cards you can play when your team rolls lower in a match. They extend the game and give you one more shot at glory!

• The rule: Each player can use up to 5 Power Plays per tournament. Check a box at the bottom of your Team Sheet every time you use one.
  
• What you get: 15 Power Play Cards (5 of each type). Shuffle them all together into a single deck, face down. Place this deck in the middle of the table.
  
  
• How it works: When your team rolls lower in a match, you may flip the top card of the deck to see what Power Play you get.
  
• If the deck runs out: Shuffle the used Power Play Cards and make a new deck.
  

Types of Power Play:

• Last-Minute Equalizer → Take the match to penalties.
  
• Video Review → Force your opponent to re-roll the die.
  
• Unbelievable Turnaround → Flip the result! Your team wins with an epic comeback victory! 🎉

• Commentate the matches with drama and excitement.
  
• Read the fun facts on the nation cards as your team take the field.
  
• For the Grand Final: play a real soccer match outside with your friends to crown the true champion!

• 💡 Did you know you can even play on your own? Make your dream tournaments, try wild matchups, and see which teams lift the Mini Cup!