Path Routing Mechanics
How bracket stations dynamically resolve without injecting artificial data. A guide for tournament fans.
Defining Node States
The knockout phase uses three structural categories to organize metadata:
1. Confirmed Terminals
Matches with fixed endpoints where final whistle scores have registered. Examples: South Africa 0-1 Canada, Brazil 2-1 Japan, and matches decided on penalty shootouts such as Germany vs Paraguay.
2. Pending Branches
Branch nodes where a confirmed competitor is waiting for a chronological match to conclude. For example, Paraguay is confirmed in the Round of 16, but their opponent relies on the outcome of the France vs Sweden station.
3. Scheduled Routes
Chronological routes set by structural layout. No team is confirmed yet. The channel path is fully mapped but both slots contain "Winner of..." designations.