It's Time for BISERGS 2022

The World Cup will be kicking in less than three weeks and that means it is time for the 8th edition of the BISERGS.  Once every four years, my family members and their significant others stake a claim to the title of BISERGS, the Biggest International Soccer Expert Related to Greg Samuelson. 

Click here to sign up and put teams in order

This year's World Cup is being played in November and December instead of its usual place on the midsummer calendar.  Thanks to the corruption and bribery that FIFA is famous for, Qatar are this year's hosts.  Summer weather in Qatar is not ideal for even the best athletes in the world to show off their skills, so the tournament was moved to cooler months. That meant the BISERGS had to wait a few extra months, but the time has now come.  

Even if you know nothing about International Soccer, don' let that keep you from signing up and playing the game.  The grandiose name of this competition may make you think it is for actual soccer experts, but don't be fooled.  This game is perfectly designed so that family members that haven't watched a soccer match since 2018 have a shot at beating my most enthusiastic soccer loving relatives. This is all about fun and connecting family members that have lost contact through the busyness of life. The World Cup is a lot of fun and by playing the BISERGS you'll be more connected to the greatest sports spectacle on earth and your relatives.

Who can play?

To be eligible to play the BISERGS you have to be related to me, be a significant other to someone related to me, or be related to a significant other of someone related to me.  The definition is extremely loose and I won't be asking for official documents.  Basically, if you want to play and don't mind be connected to this crazy family, you're in. You also have to be at least four years old. The rule has always been that participants have to have been born before the last World Cup ended. So, if you were born before July 15, 2018 you are old enough to play. 

Important Dates

Registration Deadline - November 12th

Draft Order Draw - November 13th

BISERGS Draft - November 14th at 7pm Pacific Time

First match of the World Cup - November 20th

World Cup Final - December 18th

How does it work?

Check out this FAQ page for details on how you get your teams, how points are awarded and  more.

What Does the Winner Get?

The BISERGS winner gets a Kylian Mbappé French National Team jersey. I'm not saying it will be the official $200 shirt from the French Federation, but it'll be nice and in the size requested by the winner.

Kylian Mbappé celebrates a 2018 goal in a thrilling quarterfinal match against Argentina.

More About the World Cup

The Qatar World Cup features 32 teams that fought through two years of regional qualification tournaments to make it to the big show. The 32 entrants will be divided into 8 groups of four teams each for the group stage.  The group stage consists of three matches with each group member playing each other. The top two teams at the end of the group stage advance to the 16 team knockout stage. From that point forward it is win or go home as the field is whittled down until one nation is lifting the World Cup. 

What Country is Going to Lift the Cup?

If we knew that, the BISERGS wouldn't be very fun to play, would it?  As with all sporting competitions there are favorites and there are underdogs. In the 21 previous World Cups, every winner has come from either South America or Europe. Based on the current world rankings, that trend is likely to continue. Brazil is the world's number one ranked team and they have won more World Cups (five) than any other country. Belgium is ranked second and if they lift the Cup this year it will be their first ever. Argentina is third in the world, while defending champion France are currently ranked fourth.

France celebrates their World Cup victory in the rain four years ago.

Don't forget to pay attention to the groups.  Argentina is always a favorite, but their group includes tough opponents in Mexico and Poland. The Netherlands are not ranked as highly as Argentina but their Group A opponents are Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal. Argentina may be more likely than The Netherlands to win the whole tournament, but they are also at greater risk of crashing out in the group stage. The BISERGSer that navigates these tough decisions best will end up on top.

Please sign up and spread the word

I got a late start on the BISERGS this year, so please don't delay in signing up and picking your teams. Also, please help me spread the word and get as many people to join this years BISERGS as possible.