The group stage of the Slopfest 2026 Intermicronational Haxball World Cup concluded yesterday. Co-hosts Hasanisan and Brennonia both qualified in top position within their respective groups, alongside Stanland, Nesea and Mahuset. Tymbarc will join them with an automatic qualification to the quarter-finals as the best second-placed team, with the help of a +9 goal difference, while the other second-placed teams (Parasolia, Minaki, the Independent Team and Ludzervik) will battle it out in the playoff round for a place in the quarter-final.
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| Final group standings |
The quarter-finals will see two highly anticipated contests, Stanland vs Nesea and Mahuset vs Tymbarc. Stanland vs Nesea will see the winner of the so-called "group of death" Stanland face off against a Nesean team who are the tournament's top scorer and leader in the golden boot race, both regarded as potential champions. Meanwhile, Group B runner-up Tymbarc will seek to show their capability against a Mahuset who dominated Group E. Co-hosts Hasanistan and Brennonia will play the winner of the two playoff games, respectively Parasolia vs Ludzervik and Minaki vs the Independent Team.
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| Knockout bracket (excludes playoff games) |
In the first playoff game, to face Hasanistan, the second-ranked and fifth-ranked runner-ups face off. Second-ranked Parasolia heads into the game as strong favourite, having advanced with a confident 4-1 victory over New Oplaya in Group A. Their opponent Ludzervik are the only knockout stage team to have not actually won a game, having only qualified through technical victories (due to Knuffeldierland's withdrawal and a marginally-higher tournament ELO rating than Hortania being in their favour when both teams failed to play by the group stage's deadline), and their only actual game being a crushing 11-1 defeat to Mahuset.
In the other playoff game, the third-ranked and fourth-ranked runner-up teams play to eventually challenge Brennonia. This match that appears to be a closer contest, with both teams having similar group stage performances. Third-ranked Minaki (previously known as Alpecona) had previously played Brennonia, losing 4-0, but came second after a 1-0 victory over Kustia and a technical victory due to Arlandica's disqualification for inactivity. The Independent Team's campaign began with a 9-2 defeat to Nesea, but they recovered soon after with a 3-1 victory over the Republic of Pona and came second in their group after Todia forfeited their game with the Independent Team due to technical issues.
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Second-placed team rankings |
A full list of group stage results, as well as links to match recordings and the tournament ELO rankings, can be seen here.
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