We’ve been watching the WFTDA Latin America Championships this weekend, and what a weekend of derby it was!
Congratulations to the new Latin America Champs – 2 x 4 Osom!
Seeing the Bogotá Bone Breakers battle their way from the very first round all the way to the final reminded us exactly why playoff season is the most brutal, beautiful time of the year. Leave it all on the track kind of derby that has us looking ahead to Champs in Malmö and saying the quiet part out loud…will this new playoff system actually let the best teams in the world compete for the Hydra?
Because looking good on a WFTDA spreadsheet doesn’t mean a thing when you’re lining up against a top tier tripod. But before we start tearing apart the GRR and GUR rankings to prove it, we need to talk about why these brackets are so warped in the first place: the massive, self-funded price tag required to even exist in global Roller Derby.
Money vs Maths
Pre-2020, WFTDA playoffs were purely based on global rankings. If you were in the top 40 globally, you went to a global playoff. While this was mathematically pure, it was a logistical and financial nightmare. Expecting a team from Australia, Europe or Latin America to raise tens of thousands of dollars/euros/pounds/kronor to fly to the USA for a Playoff weekend, and then fly back to the USA a month later if they qualified for Champs, was simply unsustainable.
Following the pandemic, WFTDA rightly recognised that the sport needed to recover. The Regional Competitive System, launched in 2023, has a noble goal at its heart – lower the barrier to entry, cut down on prohibitive travel costs, and guarantee that every region around the world gets representation at the highest level of the sport. By regionalising the playoffs, teams only have to travel within their own region to qualify for Champs.
Now, let’s be honest, we all share the same goal: to watch incredibly high-level roller derby while actively investing in the long-term future and accessibility of the sport worldwide.
But here’s the rub…where the noble intention clashes with the mathematical reality. In solving a massive financial and accessibility problem, WFTDA created a system where geography fundamentally takes precedence over actual global gameplay levels.
So, notebooks out. We’re going to break down how the brackets might come together, where the friction lies, and if there is an ideal system out there that balances the map, the money and the maths.
Decoding – GRR vs. GUR
First up, we need to talk about the two different sets of numbers running the show: the GRR and the GUR.
GRR (Geographic Regional Rankings): Exactly what it sounds like. It calculates how you stack up against the teams in your specific geographic region. The catch? It only takes into account games played against other teams within your same region. It’s a closed-loop system.
GUR (Geographically Unrestricted Region): Despite the clunky name, the GUR is essentially WFTDA’s global ranking. It calculates where teams stand worldwide. However, to get a GUR ranking, your team has to play at least one extra-regional game (a game against a team from a different region) within a rolling two-year window.
VIP note on GPA: Before we get into it, we need to issue a quick disclaimer! You absolutely cannot compare the Game Point Average (GPA) of a team in the GRR with the GPA of a team in the GUR. They might use the same maths but they’re calculating performance against entirely different, isolated pools of opponents. Any direct comparison between a regional GRR GPA and a global GUR GPA is mathematically useless.
Got no GUR?
Say a team hasn’t played another team outside of their region in the last two years, then they simply don’t exist on the global (GUR) leaderboard. They’re completely uncalibrated against the rest of the world and live entirely in their own regional bubble.
Back to that friction we mentioned…because the 2026 Champs invites are handed out based purely on region, a team with no GUR can still secure an invite to Playoffs and Champs. Meaning, if they’ve only played teams in their own back garden, they get a pass.
Guessing the Invites
We know that the 2026 Global Championships in Malmö will be a 16 team tournament, up 3 more teams than 2024. We’re also pretty sure that every WFTDA region is guaranteed at least one participating team. What we absolutely don’t know yet is how the WFTDA will slice up that 16 team pie across the seven playoff tournaments. We’ll have to wait and see what the Calibration Committee serves up.
But, looking back at recent years and weighing current global strengths, here is our educated guess for how those 16 invites will likely be allocated under the current structure:
NA West: 3 invites
NA Northeast: 4 invites (split over 2 playoffs)
Europe: 3 invites
Oceania: 2 invites
NA South: 3 invites
Latin America: 1 invite
If this allocation holds true, the regional maths becomes incredibly difficult for some, while offering a relatively smoother path to others.
Surviving the Group of Death: NA West
Assuming the West gets 3 invites, the region is currently so packed with top tier talent that it’s practically a bloodbath. Teams like regionally ranked #4 Groms: Legacy A are also ranked in the Top 16 globally on the GUR. Because the West will likely only have those strictly limited 3 invites, world class teams are going to be forced to eliminate each other just to advance. Statistically, it is highly likely that multiple Top 16 global teams will miss out on Champs because their region is simply too crowded.
“The maths proves that a fourth or fifth place finisher in these regions meets that global standard; they are top class, completely capable of holding their own against the best on the planet.”
No Deep End: NA Northeast
On the flip side, we have the NA Northeast. Splitting the Northeast into a Canadian tournament and a US Northeast tournament means they will need 12 teams each. While the Northeast certainly has absolute powerhouses at the top (like Arch Rival and Montreal), they’ll likely have to dip much further down the regional rankings just to fill out the brackets. Because of this lack of overall depth compared to the West, lower ranked teams in the Northeast have a significantly different path to competing for those expected invites.
High Ranking Hosts: Europe
For those of us in Europe, the maths is incredibly tight. Fan favourite teams like Crime City, Nantes, and London Brawling are sitting right on the bubble, fighting for, what we guess, will be 3 spots. And it gets even messier when you consider the unique case of the Paris All Stars. Currently, Paris is missing from the global GUR because they haven’t played that extra-regional game. Living their best life entirely in their own highly successful regional bubble. But, and it’s a big but, they are still a top seed in Europe.
This makes them the only top seed at any playoff tournament without a GUR. And because they are extremely likely to claim one of those limited European spots at Champs, this mathematical quirk creates an oddity: a team completely uncalibrated against the rest of the world is almost certain to push out another European team that holds a legitimate Top 16 global ranking. But we can’t punish a team for dominating the track in front of them without bankrupting themselves on international flights.
Bridging the Gap: NA South & Oceania
Roller Derby’s developmental gap is most visible in the NA South and Oceania regions. While Latin America’s 2×4 is undeniably a strong contender globally, the top teams from NA South proper often rank lower on the GUR. If Oceania teams secure those 2 invites, it further pushes out mathematically stronger North American or European teams to fill out that 16 team bracket.
“When the global skill gap on the track is simply too wide, the result isn’t a compelling underdog story; it’s a blowout.”
Competitive Champs
While guaranteeing geographical representation is a noble goal for the post-pandemic era, the WFTDA Calibration Committee is staring down another, equally pressing priority – preventing massive, uncompetitive blowouts on the global stage.
Making decisions like where to allocate the new, extra invites for Malmö’s expanded 16 team bracket, the powers-that-be aren’t just looking at who takes home the regional gold. There’s close examination of the GPA spreads within each region. Specifically? Looking at the gap between a region’s number one team and their number four or five team. The WFTDA will be considering these specific spreads to ensure that a region’s depth is genuinely up to a global standard before handing them additional tickets to Sweden.
In the exceptionally deep talent pools in NA West and Europe, the GPA spread is real tight. The maths proves that a fourth or fifth place finisher in these regions meets that global standard; they are top class, completely capable of holding their own against the best on the planet. In other regions, however, the GPA spread tells a different story, and the skill drop off after the top seed or two can be dramatic.
Another collision point…Maths vs the reality of the sport as a spectator event. We all saw what happened at the 2024 Championships. When the global skill gap on the track is simply too wide, the result isn’t a compelling underdog story; it’s a blowout. No one, not the skaters spending thousands to be there, not the officials, and certainly not the fans tuning in around the world, wants to see massive, demoralising point differentials on the sport’s biggest stage.
The only way to ensure a truly competitive Champs is if WFTDA acts strategically. Funnelling those extra invites to the regions with the tightest GPA spreads isn’t just a nod to statistical greatness; it’s a necessary safeguard. To have a tournament in Sweden where every single jam is a battle of equals, the math dictates that those extra invites have to go to the regions whose deep rosters definitively meet the global standard: NA West and Europe.
Every Fix Has a Flaw
This got us wondering: if the current regional system artificially restricts the deepest talent pools to satisfy geographic quotas, and requires a level of strategic assistance from the WFTDA… how do we fix it? Should we fix it? What does an ideal system look like? Is there an ideal system?
Uncomfortable truth time. The perfect system/bracket does not exist. Every structural solution forces us to choose between mathematical accuracy, financial viability, and global inclusion. Let’s look at the options on the table, and the massive catch that comes with each one.
Option 1: Math Utopia (Pure GUR / Wildcards)
What if we guarantee one invite for every regional champion (to ensure global representation), and then hand out the remaining spots as Wildcards purely based on the Global Rankings (GUR)?
Result: The NA West’s “bloodbath” is averted as their top teams easily secure spots. Europe gets a boost.
Catch: It’s a wealth test. Do you know how you get a high GUR ranking? You play extra-regional games. Do you know how you play extra-regional games? You have the money to travel. Handing out wildcards based on the GUR just guarantees that the wealthiest teams who can afford to constantly fly around to inflate their global strength factor get to hoard the spots. It turns the postseason into a financial arms race.
Option 2: Coefficient System (UEFA Model)
Instead of relying on regular season algorithms, WFTDA could base regional invites on how teams actually perform at Champs. Every region gets a baseline number of invites, but if the NA West sends 3 teams to Malmö and they all finish in the top 5, the West earns a 4th invite for their region in the next cycle.
Result: It completely removes the wealth factor of the regular season. Regions earn their invites on the track at the World Championship, not with their travel budgets.
Catch: Derby moves too fast. Unlike professional football, grassroots roller derby rosters experience massive turnover year-to-year. A coefficient system punishes or rewards the skaters of 2026 for what retired skaters did in 2024. It is too slow to adapt to the reality of self-funded skaters.
Option 3: Day One “Repêchage” (Play-In Tournament)
If we can’t agree on who the 16th best team is on a spreadsheet, let them fight for it. WFTDA could hand out 14 guaranteed regional invites, and then invite the 4 highest ranked bubble teams to Malmö a day early for a Play-In tournament. Win, and you enter the main bracket.
Result: Purest distillation of “prove it on the track.” No algorithms, just Roller Derby.
Catch: It is financially AND emotionally devastating. Asking a self-funded team from Colombia or Australia to fundraise thousands of dollars to fly across the world to Sweden for a chance to play in the main tournament, only to potentially be eliminated on a Wednesday morning after one game, is cruel. (As anyone with a background in martial arts will tell you.)
Option 4: Status Quo (Strict Regional Quotas)
Which brings us right back to the system we currently have. WFTDA assigns strict regional invites based on geography to guarantee that developing regions have a secure seat at the table.
Result: Travel costs are lowered, the barrier to entry is accessible, and the sport grows in Latin America and Oceania.
Catch: World class teams are left at home. Top 16 global teams in the NA West and Europe will eliminate each other in their regional playoffs, meaning statistical greatness is no longer enough to earn a spot at World Champs.
No Magic Wand
When you look at the options laid out side-by-side, it becomes clear that the WFTDA is operating in a landscape of impossible choices. You can’t fix the maths without breaking the bank, and you can’t protect the bank without breaking the maths.
Tricky Travel & RSVP’s
Even with all this mapped out, the reality of 2026 remains fluid. Invites for the postseason have only just been sent out. On top of the ranking chaos, there are massive travel and visa issues to navigate this year. To prevent teams from having to unnecessarily leave or enter the USA, WFTDA is strategically inviting teams to specific North American Playoffs (Lansing, Michigan or Waterloo, Ontario). A logistical move that guarantees qualifying North American teams can attend a postseason event without facing hardship due to current US passport and immigration policies.
Our 30,000-Foot View
This year’s Champs in Malmö is built on a devastating trade-off. Even with the Calibration Committee funneling extra invites to the deepest regions, it isn’t enough. WFTDA is still mathematically sacrificing top teams from NA West and Europe, leaving world class skaters to watch from the stands. The derby played in Sweden will still be fiercely contested, but we can’t pretend the current system is fair. Writing off the heartbreak of these eliminated teams as ‘growing pains’ ignores the thousands of dollars/euros/pounds/kronor and endless hours they sacrificed for a shot they never truly had.
We must keep having these difficult, messy conversations about how we balance global inclusion with elite competition. Because while geography might dictate who gets a ticket to Sweden this year, the undeniable reality of who actually dominates on the track remains, and the teams pushing those boundaries deserve a system that will eventually reward them for it.
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