Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-4435241-20130529170528/@comment-5954191-20130627131021

I think that both pictures are right. I'll take Espio's theory as a reference. The tournament is divided in 2 blocks. Inazuma Japan and its opponents are in one block while that Wolf team is in the other. The opening ceremony that was held in Ep. 2 was only showing one block (hence the opening ceremony pic), while the other block wasn't (probably in a second/first ceremony). If this is right, episode 8 would support the thesis and shows at the same time that there are in fact 2 blocks playing. When the winner of those 2 block is determined (IJ and Wolf) those two will play the final in order to advance to the world tournament.

That is of course only a theory, as it can't be backed up properly (we only have two pics ._.)