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**Edit: March 10th - We figured out the issue with tournaments! Thanks to Digi and Omarsorto over on the SI board for the help sorting it out. So, I am proud to present the FM 23.3 version of the CONCACAF Extended Universe**
About a decade ago, the user Raysox created a three tier US pyramid complete with crests and kits for 72 teams. He released an FM mod for the set, which is how I got into the game, and ever since I've updated and expanded it for new versions. It's grown a bit from his original vision (now ten tiers and 384 teams in the US and four tiers and 80 teams in Canada), but explores what it would look like if the US and Canada had functional soccer pyramids, as well as a world where CONCACAF has continental club competitions that are a notch below UEFA's.
This first post will cover the US and Canadian competitions. For both, I created a basic and advanced version. The basic files don't have a lot of the immersive features (cup draws, FFP, deadline day experience, or VAR), so if you don't want those features, use those files. The advanced ones have some more editor magic (the above, plus U21 and HG U23 players are always eligible, schedules are more balanced, etc.) So, you can pick your preferred game experience.
USA - 10 Tiers
- The US has four professional leagues (Apple+ MLS, Prime Championship, Peacock League One, and Paramount+ League Two), three semipro leagues (reconstituted USL Championship, 1, and 2), and three amateur leagues (NISA, UPSL, and NPSL.) The lower five leagues are split into regional divisions, while the top five are national in nature. There is a good amount of TV money throughout the Pyramid and is on a winter schedule, beginning in August and running through May.
- There is one national Cup, three cups based on league type (named for major figures in US Soccer history), and twelve regional cups that take place in the winter months.
- All teams in USL1 and above have reserve teams, and all teams have a U19 squad. The teams are split into regional youth and reserve competitions.
(3/10)- Advanced File has FFP regulations, Immersive deadline days and cup draws, VAR, Schedule adjustments to address congestion (especially for the first year, thanks winter world cup), and other fun features around revenue splits and cup dates.
(3/19)- It looks like there may be a bug impacting saves that start in the lower levels (Peacock League One and below) in the advanced database. I have a bug report logged with SI, but until further notice use the basic database if you want to do a lower level save.
(5/31) - I created top tier where the top 3 teams get CL spots and the bottom 4 are given out through a playoff. There are more details about it at the end of the thread, but I wanted to append a copy here.
Also, a quick update on the CTD bug for the lower tiers - the crash happens at level 3 or below on the 4th Monday in August. If you quit the Sunday before and sim past that Monday and retake your job, you can play for another 364 days without disruption. Unfortunately the issue is with the game, not the database, so I can't do anything to fix it.
(6/8) - I updated the US files with the Messi transfer. It goes through on July 1, 2023.
(10/2) - I found some errors in the US files (including why Miami and a few other MLS teams didn't have their correct rosters), so this update addresses those problems.
The USA kit and logo files can be found at this link
Canada - 4 Tiers
- The Canadian Set-up has two professional leagues (The CPL and the Canadian Soccer League), one semi-pro league (CSL 2nd Division), and one amateur league (CSL 3rd Division.) The lower two levels are split into regional divisions. There is also TV money, but not nearly as much as the US. The season runs from April to October.
- There is one national cup and four regional preseason cups.
- All teams in the top two tiers have a reserve and a U18 team, split up according to the preseason cups.
(3/10)- Advanced File has FFP regulations, Immersive deadline days and cup draws, VAR, Schedule adjustments to address congestion, and other fun features around revenue splits.
The Canadian kit and logo files can be found at this link
Both of the graphics files have the kitbasher files for the teams and sponsors in each country, so you can easily update the kits as you advance through the save.
Comments
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TiltedAiri
Also! I don't know if anyone has told you this, but the USA Prem League Logo & League Two Logo are switched 🙂 Prem League has the Peacock Logo & League Two has the Apple Logo xdd
Trey B
Is it possible to upload a version with no hyper inflated league rewards? (prize money) I like this but don't like how USA goes to super league within a few seasons because the clubs (even D2) have so much money
Chris Nielson
As a Zealand fan, I feel obliged to sing the LOANS song to you (look for loans to fill out your team (essentially a short term contract where the player returns to their original team at the end of it.) You get up to six, so choose wisely.) If you want more FM tips, I found his youtube channel helpful.
Chris Nielson
Hi Trey - the league rewards were an attempt to combine US TV rights with the prize structure of the Premier League, and it was an intentional part of the design. However, it seems like this is presenting an issue for some, so if you want to test the file in this post out and let me know what you think I'd appreciate it (I cut the D1 prize money by 70% and the D2 prize money by 30%.)
TiltedAiri
Thanks! I'll def look into it!
Also just a question, did you make the logo packs for the leagues? There's a couple eras (the one I mentioned earlier) and the St. Louis City logo no appear 😢 But not sure if this is a problem with the pack, or because I have another logo pack installed for the rest of the world
Chris Nielson
I did make the packs. It's good to know about St. Louis City (I had to remake it for this edition because of a change in the database) and the league logos. If you let me know the other ones I'll make the changes and re-upload it. Thanks Airi!
TiltedAiri
No Problem! I'm currently having an issue where it crashes in Late August every time I try to sim, but I'm troubleshooting rn to see if it's one of these databases, or something else I have installed. I'm not sure if there's any known issues like that that you know of XD
TiltedAiri
Also minor suggestion, have you ever thought of making a Discord for the leagues so people can join troubleshoot, and share their careers in it? I think it'd be great to have 😀
TiltedAiri
I figured it out. It's a problem in the USA Advanced file. I'm not entirely sure if it has to do with the Start Dates or something else, but the regular file late start date pre-season for NPSL is in July, but in the Advanced file its in August. When in August in the advanced file, NPSL - League One All crash in Late August around August 22nd, 2022. Or just Late August if your start date is after that.
I switched to regular file, with all my other databases & nothing broke at all anywhere. Dunno if this is a problem with the Advanced version, or if it's a problem with FM itself! But thought I'd let you know!
Trey B
Thank you! I will test this as soon as some other leagues get updated for 23.3.0
*Edit* Ok one issue with reduced money file (maybe normal advanced file too) is that the start date for USA D1 is August 1st. I miss the entire preseason and the meat of the transfer window. If this can be fixed I will restart the reduced $$ file to see if there are any other issues. Thank you.
Chris Nielson
Hi Airi! Thanks for beta testing this file for me. It looks like the August 22nd date isn't connected to anything in the game - there was a cup draw on that date, but I moved it and it still crashed to desktop. We had a similar issue in FM 22, (https://community.sigames.com/bugtracker/previous-versions/football-manager-2022-bugs-forum/pre-game-and-in-game-editor/10-tier-database-ctds-in-january-of-first-year-r6026/?tab=comments#comment-40720), so I'm afraid it's probably a bug in the game. I'd suggest using the basic database then if you want to do a lower level club.
Chris Nielson
Hi Trey! Also thank you for your work. I'm attaching two options for you - an advanced and basic one. They have the same cash values, and this way you can look at it either in the higher or lower levels. Thanks again for taking a look!
TiltedAiri
Unlucko! Hopefully it gets fixed miraculously (or maybe I'm just super unlucky XD). Still having a blast with the basic database though 😀
Pappy709
At what level is the advanced USA database playable without crashing on August 22?
Chris Nielson
Based on the test I just ran and Airi's tests, I think everything at and below Peacock League one (the third tier) CTDs on August 22nd.
Trey B
Thank you! So far the new advanced file seems to work fine. There are some issues with club logos for example Inter Miami has Charlotte FC's badge and CFC doesnt have a badge. Great work on this file!!
YoShadii
I haven’t had any issues to be honest with your file at all. I did change the Top 3 leagues into a split after half a season. But it has not crashed on me yet. i am going into my second season soon and no issues. Started with Miami flamingoes. Going up next season. But I am also still using the beta advanced files you provided with minor tweaks. If anything changes I will report it
TiltedAiri
What Graphics mods (skins, facepacks, logos, etc.) do you use?
Maybe its an issue with one of those interacting with the file. Or maybe I just drew the short end of the stick with how it interacts with my hardware xdd
YoShadii
I don’t use facepacks. I’m using flut skin and sometimes Zealand skin. Logos is the fm ones off this site. but other then that I don’t use many graphic mods to be honest.
TiltedAiri
Thanks for the info! I'm gonna make a backup of my files soon and try it with no mods & re-add them one at a time to see if it's one of them that's breaking it!
TheGhostyBear
Looks like the update on the 29th broke the files for new saves . All have the caution symbol now and cant be used.
TiltedAiri
YEP Gonna have to be updated, I'm trying to work on it myself but idk how the editor works at all XDD
TiltedAiri
Any idea what could be causing this error in the editor? I've looked around particularly in the Championship League in Stage 0 and it says teams from database and in the database it has 24 teams so I'm very lost on this one xdd
the Canada database works just fine 🙂
nmazza921
Any word on the 23.4 update? I love this database!
Chris Nielson
Yes! I needed to take a little bit of a break after getting it out for 23.3, but I'm planning to hop back in and start upgrading. I'm hoping to have it done by the ebnd of the weekend - I'll post here when it's done.
Also, Airi - my guess is that one of the hardcoded MLS teams is causing the break in the file. I'll have to dig in and figure out what the problem is. Thanks all!
nmazza921
Absolute GOAT man thanks so much
Chris Nielson
I just updated to 23.4 for all of the files in the database. It's also live on steam if you are subscribed over there. Thanks everyone for your patience!
StuartNG
Hi there can I ask what the difference is between the basic mode and advanced mode? I like to play as New Mexico Utd and quite like the idea of promotion and relegation which I know is fantasy mode. Thank you
TiltedAiri
WOOOH CHRIS GOAT
Chris Nielson
Yep! For your purposes you'll want to use the basic database - there is a bug in the game that causes lower level saves to crash to desktop on August 23rd of the first season. There are a lot more features in the advanced db, including the immersive deadline day experience and ffp rules, but I started a save with the basic one and it was a fine experience.