USQ World Cup X in Oxford

By Andy Marmer, Quidditch Post CEO

US Quidditch has announced that the premier tournament of the 2016-17 season, World Cup X, will be held at Horspath Athletics and Sports Grounds in Oxford, United Kingdom.

Commissioner Alex Benepe explained the decision: “Oxford has hosted numerous tournaments, so it seems only logical to bring a World Cup to the city so that it can finally see top-flight quidditch, which requires watching American teams.”

With the event moving overseas, USQ felt comfortable reverting to the name World Cup. Benepe explained, “Although the tournament will only feature American teams, since we’re having it outside the US, that makes it a World Cup...right?” 

Quidditch UK President Amy Maidment was critical of the decision. “We have three challenge shield fixtures and a fantasy tournament scheduled for that weekend, all in Oxford; this will really impinge upon our ability to host tournaments.” 

The rest of Quidditch Europe was similarly upset. An anonymous member of the community said, “This is just another example of American imperialism. They think they can do whatever they want.” 

In 2012, Oxford hosted the Olympic Quidditch Summer Expo, while in 2014 the city hosted the first British Quidditch Cup. Later this year, Oxford is slated to host European Quidditch Cup 2015. 

“For the past eight years, we’ve made West Coast teams experience lengthy flights if they wanted to play at World Cup,” noted USQ COO Alicia Radford. “We thought it was time that East Coast teams faced similar challenges.” 

While USQ has not announced a date for the tournament, it is expected to be sometime during the winter when the average temperature is in the 40’s and it is typically raining.

“I think our Mid-Atlantic and Northeast teams will appreciate the opportunity to enjoy such tropical weather,” stated USQ Events Director Sarah Woolsey. “This will be the first time they’ve had the opportunity to play in weather above freezing rain with hail and hurricane force winds.”

While the more Eastern regions might appreciate the weather, West teams are likely to be dismayed by the early World Cup, distance, and weather forecast.

We asked West Regional Coordinator Evan Bell for comment before determining that no one cares what he has to say.

USQ has yet to announce the location of USQ Nationals for the 2015-16 season; that information is expected two weeks before the tournament.