The Sun “Road to Rio” Game Now Open for Entry

The Sun launched its new World Cup warm-up game earlier today. “Road to Rio” is free to play for all registered Dream Team managers, with a £15,000 prize pot on offer. If you don’t have a team registered for the main 2013-14 Dream Team Game, you can still qualify by purchasing the Game Premium-In-Play packages prior to the closing date on Saturday March 15.

Running alongside the normal Dream Team offering, this game uses all the same rules aside from the player list, which is custom built to include only those players in contention for the World Cup, complete with new player prices.

If, like me, you’ve suffered a long string of ill-timed injuries this season, Road to Rio offers a much-needed opportunity to start from scratch and bid for some belated Dream Team glory, with a £10,000 winner’s prize on offer.

Having backed the likes of Theo Walcott, Sergio Aguero and Philippe Coutinho in my starting squad, not to mention the stalling Robin van Persie, my campaign suffered a false start and never really recovered. Typically, even when granted a chance to tinker in the Transfer Windows, I’ve managed to target the next major injury with uncanny accuracy. I’ve taken it on the chin but it’s further proof that a run of cruel setbacks can scupper your Dream Team ambitions, making multiple lineups almost a necessity if you want to avoid riding your luck.

Road to Rio arrives to provide the perfect antidote, reviving our end of season interest. With a new player list, there’s fresh incentive to assess the data and search out some undervalued gems and, with one team per entry, there’s an even playing field competing for prizes.

You can click here to register your new team and get started. Below, we’ve compiled an FAQ on the game and how it works.

In the next week we’ll bring you our Road to Rio starting XI to provide you some tips on compiling your Samba-themed teamsheet.

What’s Road to Rio?
It’s the Sun Dream Team’s World Cup warm-up tournament, featuring a brand new player list, with new values. It runs according to the regular Dream Team rules, with scoring starting on the weekend of March 15 until the end of the season.

What’s in it for me?
There’s a prize pool of £15,000 on offer, with £10,000 going to the winner and the rest of the cash split amongst the five teams that follow.

1st £10,000
2nd £2,500
3rd £1,000
4th £750
5th £500
6th £250

How do I get involved?
If you’re already registered for Dream Team then you’ll be given your free Road to Rio entry. Entries are limited to one team per person. Click here for details.

If you’re yet to register for Dream Team and are looking for a Premium-In-Play package, simply click here to get involved. You will then be eligible for the Road to Rio.

All entries must be in by the first kick-off on March 15 to be included.

How does my team score points?
The rules for Road to Rio are identical to the main Dream Team game so points are earned from Premier League matches, along with FA Cup, Champions League and the Europa League. For a full guide to the Dream Team rules, click here for our guide.

Can I enter more than one team?
Not for Road to Rio. Entry is limited to one team per person so you’ll need to do what you can to avoid the injury-prone, red card magnets and those who often suffer from rotation.

Can I make transfers?
Nope, this is a fire and forget game. Your initial starting XI will take you through from now until the end of the season.