2026-08-01, 08:41 PM - Word count:
For those who missed the premise of this series, you can find the full background here.
The short version is that the winner of the first ever SSL game is awarded the initial MacGuffin trophy, which is then passed on whenever the current title holder loses in competition play (Friendlies don't count). I will track how many games each team starts with the MacGuffin in order to determine the true best team in SSL history (because everyone knows the MacGuffin points are the true measure of greatness).
You can see previous entries in this series here:
S1-2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
With the introductions out of the way, let's take a look at where we left off last time!
All Time Standings:
1) Tokyo S.C.
- 21
T-2) Reykjavik United
- 20
T-2) Hollywood FC
- 20
4) Inter London
- 12
5) CF Catalunya
- 11
T-6) Cairo City
- 10
T-6) Seoul MFC
- 10
T-6) Athenai F.C.
- 10
9) Montreal United
- 7
10) CA Buenos Aires
- 3
T-11) Adowa Accra FC
- 2
T-11) AS Paris
- 2
T-11) F.C. Kaapstad
- 2
T-14) Uniao Sao Paulo
- 0
T-14) A.C. Romana
- 0
T-14) Red Star Laos
- 0
With the MacGuffin currently firmly planted in Division 1, the expectation is that those lucky 8 teams will continue to pull away from the rest of the pack. However, those 8 teams aren't quite the ones you would expect based on the current point spread. Sure, Tokyo and Hollywood are still going strong, but Reykjavik is resting down in Division 2. Even a few of the mid-tier teams (Inter London, Seoul, and Montreal) are stuck at the lower level. Meanwhile, some of the Division 1 teams are stuck at the bottom of the rankings with 3, 2, or even 0 points (come on Uniao Sao Paulo, you can do it). Can those lower point Division 1 teams shake up the rankings? Can the Division 2 teams pull off an upset and take the MacGuffin back? Let's dive in and find out!
S8
Season Start: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 7
Next Loss: 4-6 @ CF Catalunya
New Title Holder: CF Catalunya
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-1 @ Tokyo S.C.
New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 1-2 @ Hollywood FC
New Title Holder: Hollywood FC
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-3 @ Athenai F.C.
New Title Holder: Athenai F.C.
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-2 v CA Buenos Aires
New Title Holder: CA Buenos Aires
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-2 v Cairo City
New Title Holder: Cairo City
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-1 v Tokyo S.C.
New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 1-2 v AS Paris
New Title Holder: AS Paris
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-3 @ Cairo City
New Title Holder: Cairo City
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-1 @ CF Catalunya
New Title Holder: CF Catalunya
Total Games Held: 0
Next Loss: N/A
End of Season
Season Standings:
1) Tokyo S.C. - 10
T-2) Hollywood FC - 2
T-2) CA Buenos Aires - 2
T-2) Cairo City - 2
T-2) AS Paris - 2
T-6) CF Catalunya - 1
T-6) Athenai F.C. - 1
Well, the MacGuffin certainly got around Division 1 this season (except for Uniao Sao Paulo; come on guys!). However, just because seven of the eight teams in Division 1 held the MacGuffin at some point does not mean their production was evenly spread. Well, for most of them I suppose that was the case, but Tokyo S.C. stands out as the clear dominant force in S8. Not only did they open the season with an astounding seven game winning streak, they popped up twice more over the course of the season! For those counting at home, 10 MacGuffin points in one season is a new league record. Their 10 points also equaled the production of every other team combined. Impressive showing.
All Time Standings:
1) Tokyo S.C. - 31
2) Hollywood FC - 22
3) Reykjavik United - 20 -1
T-4) Inter London - 12
T-4) CF Catalunya - 12 +1
T-4) Cairo City - 12 +2
7) Athenai F.C. - 11 -1
8) Seoul MFC - 10 -2
9) Montreal United - 7
10) CA Buenos Aires - 5
11) AS Paris - 4
T-12) Adowa Accra FC - 2 -1
T-12) F.C. Kaapstad - 2 -1
T-14) Uniao Sao Paulo - 0
T-14) A.C. Romana - 0
T-14) Red Star Laos - 0
Man, Tokyo S.C. already had the lead coming into S8. After such a dominating performance, they are now well out in 1st place with a nice cushion. Hollywood has pushed its way into sole possession of 2nd, but that feels more like a consolation prize at the moment. There's some minor shuffling down the charts thanks to some making and breaking of ties, but the movement isn't nearly as drastic as the red and green numbers may make it appear (not that a handful of 1's and 2's are that much in the first place). The near miss storyline of the season, though, was CF Catalunya snatching the MacGuffin away from Cairo City in the very last match of the season. If Cairo City had been allowed to keep it for that one game, the MacGuffin would have made its way back to Division 2 as Cairo City faces relegation going into S9. Alas, CF Catalunya will keep it in the upper division...for now. Will they keep it that way? Tune in next time!
The short version is that the winner of the first ever SSL game is awarded the initial MacGuffin trophy, which is then passed on whenever the current title holder loses in competition play (Friendlies don't count). I will track how many games each team starts with the MacGuffin in order to determine the true best team in SSL history (because everyone knows the MacGuffin points are the true measure of greatness).
You can see previous entries in this series here:
S1-2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
With the introductions out of the way, let's take a look at where we left off last time!
All Time Standings:
1) Tokyo S.C.
- 21T-2) Reykjavik United
- 20T-2) Hollywood FC
- 204) Inter London
- 125) CF Catalunya
- 11T-6) Cairo City
- 10T-6) Seoul MFC
- 10T-6) Athenai F.C.
- 109) Montreal United
- 710) CA Buenos Aires
- 3T-11) Adowa Accra FC
- 2T-11) AS Paris
- 2T-11) F.C. Kaapstad
- 2T-14) Uniao Sao Paulo
- 0T-14) A.C. Romana
- 0T-14) Red Star Laos
- 0With the MacGuffin currently firmly planted in Division 1, the expectation is that those lucky 8 teams will continue to pull away from the rest of the pack. However, those 8 teams aren't quite the ones you would expect based on the current point spread. Sure, Tokyo and Hollywood are still going strong, but Reykjavik is resting down in Division 2. Even a few of the mid-tier teams (Inter London, Seoul, and Montreal) are stuck at the lower level. Meanwhile, some of the Division 1 teams are stuck at the bottom of the rankings with 3, 2, or even 0 points (come on Uniao Sao Paulo, you can do it). Can those lower point Division 1 teams shake up the rankings? Can the Division 2 teams pull off an upset and take the MacGuffin back? Let's dive in and find out!
S8
Season Start: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 7
Next Loss: 4-6 @ CF Catalunya
New Title Holder: CF Catalunya
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-1 @ Tokyo S.C.
New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 1-2 @ Hollywood FC
New Title Holder: Hollywood FC
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-3 @ Athenai F.C.
New Title Holder: Athenai F.C.
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-2 v CA Buenos Aires
New Title Holder: CA Buenos Aires
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-2 v Cairo City
New Title Holder: Cairo City
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-1 v Tokyo S.C.
New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 1-2 v AS Paris
New Title Holder: AS Paris
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-3 @ Cairo City
New Title Holder: Cairo City
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-1 @ CF Catalunya
New Title Holder: CF Catalunya
Total Games Held: 0
Next Loss: N/A
End of Season
Season Standings:
1) Tokyo S.C.
- 10T-2) Hollywood FC
- 2T-2) CA Buenos Aires
- 2T-2) Cairo City
- 2T-2) AS Paris
- 2T-6) CF Catalunya
- 1T-6) Athenai F.C.
- 1Well, the MacGuffin certainly got around Division 1 this season (except for Uniao Sao Paulo; come on guys!). However, just because seven of the eight teams in Division 1 held the MacGuffin at some point does not mean their production was evenly spread. Well, for most of them I suppose that was the case, but Tokyo S.C. stands out as the clear dominant force in S8. Not only did they open the season with an astounding seven game winning streak, they popped up twice more over the course of the season! For those counting at home, 10 MacGuffin points in one season is a new league record. Their 10 points also equaled the production of every other team combined. Impressive showing.
All Time Standings:
1) Tokyo S.C.
- 312) Hollywood FC
- 223) Reykjavik United
- 20 -1T-4) Inter London
- 12T-4) CF Catalunya
- 12 +1T-4) Cairo City
- 12 +27) Athenai F.C.
- 11 -18) Seoul MFC
- 10 -29) Montreal United
- 710) CA Buenos Aires
- 511) AS Paris
- 4T-12) Adowa Accra FC
- 2 -1T-12) F.C. Kaapstad
- 2 -1T-14) Uniao Sao Paulo
- 0T-14) A.C. Romana
- 0T-14) Red Star Laos
- 0Man, Tokyo S.C. already had the lead coming into S8. After such a dominating performance, they are now well out in 1st place with a nice cushion. Hollywood has pushed its way into sole possession of 2nd, but that feels more like a consolation prize at the moment. There's some minor shuffling down the charts thanks to some making and breaking of ties, but the movement isn't nearly as drastic as the red and green numbers may make it appear (not that a handful of 1's and 2's are that much in the first place). The near miss storyline of the season, though, was CF Catalunya snatching the MacGuffin away from Cairo City in the very last match of the season. If Cairo City had been allowed to keep it for that one game, the MacGuffin would have made its way back to Division 2 as Cairo City faces relegation going into S9. Alas, CF Catalunya will keep it in the upper division...for now. Will they keep it that way? Tune in next time!
