We’re back!
This time we’ve got big games, big names, and big countries for the USL eCup: FIFA20 Edition.
And, as is customary, I have gone in-depth to provide the sort of knowledge that will be essential to your viewing enjoyment of the tournament over the next six weeks – including pointing out the ringers among the players that will be taking to the sticks starting next week.
We’ve got team pairings that go from the sublime – hello, Saint Louis and France – to the ridiculous – sorry, Memphis and Austria – and everything in-between.
So, dig in and get ready for Monday’s start of the Week 1 Bracket, and as always address all complaints to myself on Twitter (@NJEMurray).
Rank |
Team |
Change |
Summary |
|
1 | FC Tucson Czech Republic Charity: United Way - Tucson |
They don’t have a College National Champion in their squad this time, but the legend of Trent Wieland secures the No. 1 spot for Tucson going in here. | ||
2 | New York Red Bulls II Chile Charity: Wings For Life |
The Red Bulls II have been boosted by plenty of talent on loan over the years. Getting the Red Bulls’ official eSports player Mike LaBelle is a big plus in their favor here. Omar Sowe and Ben Mines lead what looks like a strong supporting cast. | ||
3 | Charlotte Independence Germany Charity: Hemby Children's Hospital |
The Independence couldn’t have asked for better luck in the draw than to pull Germany as its club. Pressure will be on the first-time USL eCup participant to make the most of it. | ||
4 | OKC Energy FC Portugal Charity: Energy Assist Foundation |
Energy FC flamed out in Rocket League, but it has got a retooled squad and the power of Portugal at their fingertips. That should make a difference this time around. | ||
5 | Union Omaha Norway Charity: Omaha Foundation |
Union Omaha stormed through Rocket League and showed off its internal talent, broadcasting its own FIFA tournament. Norway might not be the strongest, but Union should make the most of what’s available. | ||
6 | Tacoma Defiance Slovenia Charity: Big Brothers, Big Sisters - Puget Sound |
There’s a big legacy to live up to here after Josh Atencio’s performance in Rocket League, and that draw of Slovenia wasn’t a kind one. We’ll see if either Chino Perez or Abdoulaye Cissoko can make the magic happen again. | ||
7 | Saint Louis FC France Charity: STL Area Food Bank |
Les Fleurs-de-Lis et Les Bleus? C’est magnifique. There’s a reason Scott Stewart thinks this combination is going to end up among the major contenders with the synergy the city and country bring. | ||
8 | Austin Bold FC Italy Charity: Central Texas Food Bank |
Word on the street is Bold FC goalkeeper Diego Restrepo is a player. Getting paired up with Italy is a perfect match for someone who’s always been stingy defensively. | ||
9 | Philadelphia Union II Spain Charity: City Team - Chester |
The Union II had a brilliant Spaniard in their ranks in Santi Moar a couple of years ago. Now Rocket League captain Evan Slabicki and his teammates have a whole squad of them to play with, which will be trouble for opponents. | ||
10 | Phoenix Rising FC Netherlands Charity: AZ COVID-19 Community Response Fund |
I get a sneaking suspicion Chairman Berke Bakay would have loved his side to draw Turkey, but the brilliant Oranje should sparkle under the control of Kevon Lambert and co. | ||
11 | Orange County SC Cameroon Charity: OCSC Community Foundation |
We saw in Rocket League with San Diego Loyal SC’s Andrew Vassiliadis what can happen when a club owner takes the sticks. Now it’s OCSC’s James Keston’s chance to shine. | ||
12 | Charleston Battery Greece Charity: MUSC Foundation |
Bet the Battery miss having former Greek goalkeeper Alex Tambakis about for this, but both of these squads know how to grind out results effectively. | ||
13 | Loudoun United FC Denmark Charity: Tourism & Hospitality Relief Fund |
They’re red, they’re white, they’re Danish Dynamite! Loudoun United got the perfect color match to go with their uniforms, and they certainly could power the Danes to success here. | ||
14 | FC Tulsa United States Charity: Tulsa Area United Way |
Scott Stewart is a big believer in FC Tulsa / the USMNT’s chances in this thing. As a bonus, they get the biggest opening matchup in the Play-In Bracket against Black Gold Derby rivals Energy FC to motivate them, too. | ||
15 | Indy Eleven Côte D’Ivoire Charity: Community Health Network Foundation |
Jordan Farr looked good in Rocket League, now we’ll get to see how his skills translate to the digital pitch in a potential all-goalkeeper matchup against Austin’s Diego Restrepo. | ||
16 | Greenville Triumph SC Poland Charity: United Way of Greenville County |
Triumph SC forward Jake Keegan has got to be licking his lips to take Robert Lewandowski out for a spin. Don’t sleep on Greenville putting in a run. | ||
17 | The Miami FC England Charity: Communities in Schools - Miami |
A team known for winning wherever it goes – gets drawn to play as a team that valiantly snatches defeat from the jaws of victory every time. Let’s see how this works out. | ||
18 | El Paso Locomotive FC Argentina Charity: El Pasoans Fighting Hunger |
Drawing Argentina as your squad feels like a big plus if you’re looking to play an expansive, attacking game. With his flair for goal, Alexy Bosetti might be making a move up this board sooner rather than later. | ||
19 | Hartford Athletic Scotland Charity: Foodshare |
Ah, Scotland the Brave. A perfectly middling group that doesn’t beat teams that are better than them, and sometimes loses to those it’s better than as well. Hartford’s going to have to coach ‘em up. | ||
20 | Louisville City FC Wales Charity: One Louisville COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund |
Bringing the inside knowledge, Scott Stewart said LouCity’s Magnus Rasmussen will know all the angles on how to set up Wales for success. Personally, I fancy Gareth Bale might be a useful player on EA Sports’ PGA Tour as well. | ||
21 | Tampa Bay Rowdies Colombia Charity: Feeding Tampa Bay |
I know they’re not quite the same spelling, but there’s a beautiful synergy between the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City and the Rowdies drawing Colombia. Will it matter here? Of course not. | ||
22 | Sacramento Republic FC Mexico Charity: Raley's Food for Families |
Republic FC gets the chance to play as El Tri over the course of the tournament. No word yet on whether a digital version of Rodrigo Lopez is going to be inserted into the squad. | ||
23 | Birmingham Legion FC Ireland Charity: Birmingham Strong Fund |
Legion FC’s Bolu Akinyode looks like he’s going to have his hands full in the opening round against Italy, especially since there’s no chance of Ray Houghton coming out of retirement for this one. | ||
24 | LA Galaxy II Sweden Charity: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank |
Los Dos got Sweden – without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, sadly – as their squad, but unlike New York it hasn’t called on first team help on the sticks. Let’s see what Jorge Hernandez and co. have got. | ||
25 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Paraguay Charity: Care and Share Food Bank of Southern Colorado |
The Switchbacks are back in USL eCup playing as Paraguay, but with Communications specialist Cody Costra listed as one of the players. Fingers crossed, but don’t expect much. | ||
26 | Memphis 901 FC Austria Charity: Mid South Food Bank |
Draw day for the USL eCup: FIFA20 Edition was a bit like a bad Christmas Day for 901 FC. Sure, Austria’s perfectly functional, but are they fun? No, they’re not. They’re the three-pack of socks you got left in your stocking. | ||
27 | North Carolina FC Turkey Charity: NCFC Youth Financial Aid Fund |
Dre Fortune’s credentials got a big thumbs up from Kelsi Steele as the draw was being made. He’ll need all of those skills to repair NCFC’s gaming reputation after it got swept in the group stage of Rocket League. | ||
28 | Real Monarchs SLC Switzerland Charity: RSL Foundation |
The Monarchs make their USL eCup debut with Switzerland, which isn’t a bad group to start with. What will Damian German and his teammates have up their sleeve? | ||
29 | Rio Grande Valley FC Brazil Charity: RGV Food Bank |
The Toros could have earned a higher rank here. After all, they got Brazil, which is great! But do players Kembo Kibato and Emile Lagault have what it takes to take down Tucson? | ||
30 | Las Vegas Lights FC Uruguay Charity: Mayor's Fund of Las Vegas |
It’s not a great sign when your player – in this case Jose Carrera – is being told on Twitter that he’s so bad he gets beaten by a rival player’s son (Hi, Rodrigo!). Plenty to prove here. | ||
31 | New England Revolution II Russia Charity: Revolution Charitable Foundation |
The Revolution’s eMLS player John Oliveira has been drafted in on loan, but he’s going to have to get help from Mayele Malango and Joe Rice to have a chance to contend, and Russia isn’t the best draw team-wise. | ||
32 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Belgium Charity: AHN COVID-19 Assistance Fund |
Kelsi Steele’s a big believer in the potential Belgium gives the Hounds to be a contender this time around. After Kenardo Forbes’ performances in Rocket League, though, we’re going to wait and see.. |
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