World Cup 2014 Qualifying Appointments [Rs]

CONCACAF HEXAGONAL MATCHDAY 1
06.02.13 - Honduras : USA - QUESADA (CRC)
06.02.13 - Mexico : Jamaica - GEIGER (USA)
06.02.13 - Panama : Costa Rica - CHACON (MEX)

 

Geiger is the only one who is a candidate, though. For CONCACAF, it's Geiger, Marrufo, Aguilar, Moreno, Garcia, Rodriguez and Lopez.

The USA : Mexico matches will be, as always, interesting. I imagine it's Aguilar and Moreno again, but I hope Lopez sneaks in for one of them (particularly, Aguilar's slot).

Gaming things out just a little, I would suspect a Mexican referee--either Rodriguez or Garcia--on USA's first home match against Costa Rica.

 

Yes. If history holds, Geiger will probably get three matches in the Hex. Getting Mexico at home, out of the gate, is great. It means he likely won't have them home later, when a match will (likely) be less meaningful for them. It sets him up, hopefully, to have a match that might determine who qualifies at the end. All this, of course, contingent on where the USA is in the table. But all things considered, I think getting Mexico at home early is the best possible scenario for an American referee.

 

I think it was a toss-up but Garcia got the nod last year. Chacon is younger, so he's got some time. Of course, Rodriguez--somehow--is age-eligible for 2018, so who knows how things will shake out in Mexico.

 

Don't know the full team yet. Assume Hurd is one--that's almost a mortal lock. The big question is whether or not Fletcher is on the team. He obviously should be, but, for whatever reason, he wasn't included in the trio last round.

 

GEIGER/HURD/FLETCHER/TOLEDO is confirmed as the full team.

 

At some point since the initial publication of appointments, the assignment for a fourth got switched to Jurisevic.

 

CONCACAF HEXAGONAL MATCHDAY 2
22.03.13 - Honduras : Mexico - CAMPBELL (JAM)
22.03.13 - USA : Costa Rica - AGUILAR (SLV)
22.03.13 - Jamaica : Panama - RODRIGUEZ (HON)

CONCACAF HEXAGONAL MATCHDAY 3
26.03.13 - Mexico : USA - LOPEZ (GUA)
26.03.13 - Panama : Honduras - MARRUFO (USA)
26.03.13 - Costa Rica : Jamaica - WIJNGAARDE (SUR)

These still need to be filled out, but the matches involving Mexico have been published. Best possible outcome for USMNT fans, I believe, as I rate Lopez as the best referee in CONCACAF who isn't from Mexico or the US. The return leg is probably between Aguilar and Moreno.

 

CONCACAF updated above. US gets Aguilar at home with Costa Rica, so that might mean Moreno for sure with the home Mexico match--don't see another strong option, but CONCACAF has surprised before.

Marrufo has Morgante, Boria and Toledo with him.

Rodriguez is only in his third year on the FIFA list. Getting a Hex game, on the front end while everyone is still alive, is a pretty big accomplishment.

 

I don't think there's really a "#1" in the sense that you're thinking. Plus, someone has to get the (presumably more critical) return leg in Serbia this September!

Another factor to consider is that I do not believe UEFA allows a referee to work the same group twice in qualifying. So there's a bit of a puzzle factor, too.

But, overall, is this appointment a huge vote of confidence? I'd say so.

 

EDIT: greek ref beat me by a few moments on the UEFA matches, so I'll let him handle Matchday 7 and focus on the other regions...