Question

16 teams enter a competition. They are divided into four pools (A, B, C and D) of four teams each. Every team plays one match against the other teams in its pool. After the pool matches are completed: - the winner of pool A plays the 2nd placed team of pool B. - the winner of pool B plays the 2nd placed team of pool A. - the winner of pool C plays the 2nd placed team of pool D. - the winner of pool D plays the 2nd placed team of pool C. The winners of these 4 matches then can play semi-finals, and the winner of the semi-finals play in the finals. How many matches are played altogether?

Answer 1

4 teams per group (A, B, C and D), for every group, total number of matches are as follows:

assume that the teams in group A are 1, 2, 3, 4.

the matches for this group will be:

1 vs 2

1 vs 3

1 vs 4

2 vs 3

2 vs 4

3 vs 4

total = 6 matches, for each 4 groups 6*4 = 24 matches

then quarter finals, 4 matches

semi-finals, 2 matches

and finals 1 match.

total of 24 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 31 matches.