FIFA’s “April 1st Tournament Improvement Committee”, recognizing the shortcomings and arbitrary nature of the coin-toss as a "tie-breaker of last resort" has, in its infinite wisdom, decided that the two tied teams should BOTH be sent on to the round of 16, and further, that a playoff between them would be impractical due to the tight tournament schedule. Unfortunately, this would require three teams to compete in the scheduled Round of 16 match, and the Committee failed to devise a match format that could accommodate three teams in a single game. So, in the spirit of service to the game, I am offering to the Committee the following suggestions to accommodate the three teams in a single soccer match. Others are encouraged to offer their own suggestions as well. Dave American Soccer History Archives www.sover.net/~spectrum SUGGESTED THREE-TEAM MATCH FORMATS: 1. Standard soccer pitch, but teams rotate on and off the field every ten minutes. Team A and Team B start match with Team C on sidelines. At 10:00 mark, A goes to sideline, B switches ends, and C takes B’s place. At 20:00 mark, B goes to sidelines, C switches sides, and A returns to field. Repeat entire sequence two more times, giving each team 60 minutes on the field. 2. Triangular field with three goals, and no sidelines -- and some amazing corner kicks (which goal should I shoot for??) 3. All three teams play on a hexagonal field, bisected by three “radial midfield lines”, with alternating goals and mini-sidelines along the six-sided perimeter. 4. "Wild Card Team" -- Three teams on field at all times. Teams rotate between North Goal, South Goal, and "wild card team" ultimately playing a total of 30 minutes in each role. Wild Card team does not defend a goal. They can score into either goal, and/or help defend either goal against shots from either or both of the other teams. To spice things up, referee can put a second ball into play at any time. 5. “Double Agents” – Unlike the “wild card team” procedure above, the third team players will actually play FOR one of the other two teams on the field, but they may switch sides at will or whim. Teams are encouraged to make back-room deals with incentives to earn loyalty. The wild-card team’s goalkeeper will serve as a second referee. 6. Play three 45-minute mini games as a one-day round-robin. The following two formats would not be appropriate for the World Cup, but would be viable for a three-conference league that wishes to have each conference represented in their annual all-star game: 7. “Substitution squad”: Each of the three all-star teams consists of exactly 11 players. Team drawing the short straw is designated the “Substitution Squad” from which each of the other two teams may draw up to five substitutes. The eleventh substitute is simply out of luck. If goals scored by members of the substitution squad provide the margin of victory, each team from that conference wins an additional pick in the next annual player draft. 8. Automatic forfeit: Instead of coin flip, three teams draw straws. Short straw forfeits and the other two teams take to the field.