It was feared that for the first time, the month of March would be without a crazy tournament. Filling in for March Madness is the Ultimate QuaranTeam Cup, a FIFA 20 tournament featuring 128 teams from around the world.
During the break, several clubs’ social media teams played games like Connect-Four to fill the void of the football break.
Time for some international football...
It's @bayer04_en v @HullCity... and it's connect four!Who's winning this one?#bbcfootball https://t.co/tpscKd4MJB
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 14, 2020
English League Two side Leyton Orient decided a FIFA 20 Ultimate Team tournament of 64 teams would be better. The tournament is helping raise money for EFL clubs struggling to survive because of the break and to raise money for the World Health Organization.
Sure, connect four is cool but we’ve got a better idea!
We need 63 other teams to enter a knock-out FIFA 20 tournament.To enter, all we need is the club to RT this tweet.
We will host a live draw this Tuesday…
for an away day to @ManCity #UltimateQuaranTeam #LOFC pic.twitter.com/7aycsrn48r
— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) March 15, 2020
The tweet absolutely blew up and the demand to join Leyton Orient’s tournament spread like wildfire. Soon all 64 slots were filled with more teams knocking on the door to be added into the QuaranTeam Cup. So naturally the bracket was expanded to 128 teams for one of the biggest FIFA tournaments in history.
I know a landslide when I see one.
Executive decision...PLAY ON https://t.co/NvJpkjfvL9 pic.twitter.com/u1GK7ew3hA
— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) March 16, 2020
Each club participating in the tourney nominated a representative to play in the tournament, many teams choosing a player from its roster. Small clubs in League Two to Champions League giants like Manchester City and Atalanta are all joining in.
Gooooooooooood ebening and welcome to everyone tuning in for this, a Twitter based commentary on a draw for FIFA.
I'm the Leyton Orient Admin, and I'll be taking you through all 64 ties tonight - with teams from all over the world competing.Who's ready?#UltimateQuaranTeam pic.twitter.com/6TuQsQwUW8
— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) March 17, 2020
Representing #ncfc... https://t.co/NDbq9gwBHV pic.twitter.com/QUMCVg0fM7
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) March 17, 2020
Representing the United States are Orlando City and late-entry DC United.
Representing the Black-and-Red...@KingCJ0 ! #VamosUnited https://t.co/PaKBaaq3Oq pic.twitter.com/cbpQJPelaK
— D.C. United (@dcunited) March 17, 2020
This should be fun! City will be representing the United States and MLS in the #UltimateQuaranTeam Cup. #VamosOrlando https://t.co/0i7VsgCkSK
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) March 16, 2020
On Tuesday the draw for the 64 ties was held with plenty of interesting matchups. Below all of the ties are listed.
Ultimate QuaranTeam Cup Draw:
- Manchester City (ENG) vs. KV Kortrijk (BEL)
- DC United (USA) vs. Celta Vigo (ESP)
- Fiorentina (ITA) vs. Nottingham Forest (ENG)
- West Ham (ENG) vs. AFC Wimbledon (ENG)
- Atalanta (ITA) vs. Vitesse (NED)
- Orlando City SC (USA) vs. Feyenoord (NED)
- Newcastle United (ENG) vs. Gillingham (ENG)
- Aston Villa (ENG) vs. VVV-VENLO (NED)
- Ajax (NED) vs. West Bromwich Albion (ENG)
- Marseille (FRA) vs. Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR)
- Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) vs. Derby County (ENG)
- Wolverhampton (ENG) vs. Adelaide United (AUS)
- PSV (NED) vs. Djurgardens (SWE)
- Norwich City (ENG) vs. Fleetwood Town (ENG)
- Benfica (POR) vs. Swindon Town (ENG)
- AZ Alkmaar (NED) vs. FC Utrecht (NED)
- KRC Genk (BEL) vs. Luton Town (ENG)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (ENG) vs. Sparta Rotterdam (NED)
- Watford (ENG) vs. Amiens SC (FRA)
- PAOK FC (GRE) vs. FC Midtjylland (DEN)
- Portsmouth FC (ENG) vs. Dundalk FC (IRE)
- Birmingham City (ENG) vs. Sunderland (ENG)
- Sheffield United (ENG) vs. Carlisle United (ENG)
- Walsall FC (ENG) vs. Roma (ITA)
- Orlando Pirates (RSA) vs. FC Sion (SUI)
- Sydney FC (AUS) vs. Barnsley FC (ENG)
- Oxford United (ENG) vs. FC Nordsjaelland (DEN)
- Stoke City (ENG) vs. Blackburn Rovers (ENG)
- MK Dons FC (ENG) vs. Heracles Almelo (NED)
- Burnley FC (ENG) vs. Shrewsbury Town (ENG)
- Accrington Stanley (ENG) vs. Wycombe Wanderers (ENG)
- Leyton Orient (ENG) vs. Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS)
- Bristol Rovers (ENG) vs. Southend United (ENG)
- FC Lorient (FRA) vs. KV Mechelen (BEL)
- Mansfield Town (ENG) vs. KAA Gent (BEL)
- Derry City FC (IRE) vs. Queens Park Rangers (ENG)
- Cheltenham Town (ENG) vs. Salford City (ENG)
- ADO Den Haag (NED) vs. Willem II (NED)
- Colchester United (ENG) vs. Rotherham United (ENG)
- Reading FC (ENG) vs. Crystal Palace (ENG)
- Grimsby Town (ENG) vs. Motherwell FC (SCO)
- Forest Green Rovers (ENG) vs. Northampton Town (ENG)
- Hibernian FC (SCO) vs. Millwall FC (ENG)
- Peterborough United (ENG) vs. Exeter City (ENG)
- Melbourne Victory (AUS) vs. Ipswich Town (ENG)
- Waterford FC (IRE) vs. Angers SCO (FRA)
- Brentford FC (ENG) vs. St Mirren FC (SCO)
- Rochdale AFC (ENG) vs. Coventry City (ENG)
- Central Coast Mariners (AUS) vs. Shamrock Rovers (IRE)
- Cork City (IRE) vs. Ross County (SCO)
- Stevenage FC (ENG) vs. Blackpool FC (ENG)
- Fortuna Sittard (NED) vs. Newport County (ENG)
- Standard Liege (BEL) vs. Bolton Wanderers (ENG)
- Huddersfield (ENG) vs. Middlesbrough (ENG)
- Plymouth Argyle (ENG) vs. ESTAC Troyes (FRA)
- Preston North End (ENG) vs. Doncaster Rovers (ENG)
- Burton Albion FC (ENG) vs. Sligo Rovers (IRE)
- Sheffield Wednesday (ENG) vs. Cambridge United (ENG)
- Crawley Town (ENG) vs. RKC Waalwijk (NED)
- Oldham Athletic (ENG) vs. Finn Harps FC (IRE)
- FC Emmen (NED) vs. Port Vale FC (ENG)
- Scunthorpe United (ENG) vs. Charlton Athletic (ENG)
- PEC Zwolle (NED) vs. FC Groningen (NED)
- Morecambe FC (ENG) vs. Hamilton Accies FC (SCO)
We'll be contacting clubs directly about how it will all get underway - but some details in the meantime:
Clubs will be encouraged to stream on Twitch
It's on PS4
All 85 rated squads as per earlier poll
One knockout gameMuch more to come.#UltimateQuaranTeam
— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) March 17, 2020
