World Cup Opening Round

[Center Forward]

I have thought about this for a little bit, and was wondering what others think. So here goes..
If FIFA moved the inter-confederation World Cup playoffs (CONCACAF #4 vs. CONMEBOL #5 and OFC #1 vs. AFC #5) to 3-4 days before the Group Stage of the World Cup, they could play them at the site and call it the World Cup Opening Round, to include two more teams, and the Oceanic confederation into World Cup play each time. Each winner could have a designated group they would advance into, and it would only add a couple of days at the beginning. Meanwhile, the four competing countries would feel a part of the World Cup. They could add another Opening Round game if the World Cup spots changed, possibly allowing for another UEFA team to get a shot. I just thought of the NCAA Tournament Opening Game, and how it would be an interesting idea for the World Cup to add to it without adding too much extra.

[EvanJ]

It's not a horrible idea, but I don't know if the four countries involved would want to travel to the World Cup knowing they may only play one game there and those countries might rather find out if they will be in the field of 32 in November the year before the World Cup than in June. I personally don't like the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Opening Round game.

Edit: A problem with your idea would be if a team that would be seeded if they qualified ended up in an interconfederational playoff. In that case FIFA would need to do two separate draws before the World Cup depending on whether the potentially seeded team won or lost. Then if those games were televised worldwide fans of the 30 countries in the World Cup not in the opening round could have a rooting interest in that game because it determines how easy or hard other teams' World Cup groups are. It would also require countries to scout 6, 7, or 8 possible group stage opponents before the tournament rather than 3 (3 opponents for each of the two World Cup draws plus 1 more each if the team was drawn into a group with one of the Opening Round winners).

[Jwaksman]

It's not a horrible idea, but I don't know if the four countries involved would want to travel to the World Cup knowing they may only play one game there and those countries might rather find out if they will be in the field of 32 in November the year before the World Cup than in June. I personally don't like the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Opening Round game.



Keep in mind that the ncaa baskeball tournament scenario can't happen to FIFA. What happened with the NCAA was that they added an automatic bid (the Mountain West, which had broken off from the WAC). The NCAA wasn't going to take away an at-large bid, so they added an extra game to deal with the problem.

The only way this could happen to FIFA would be if some other conference grew out of the ocean chock full of soccer teams looking for a bid to the World Cup... obviously I'd short that bet.

It might not be a bad idea to expand the World Cup, because would anybody really complain about more games? And it's not like it still wouldn't be a fight for teams for qualify. But you are right that teams won't want to risk training for a world cup where they might only get one game. You've got to start with a group phase, no matter what. Teams need to be guaranteed a minimum of three matches.

[Bread Bin]

Quite a good suggestion, if i had to decide i would vote against it as.

1. It would mean that team would have to play 8 games in the finals which may be to much to do.
2. I would rather my team secured a spot the year before.
3. Travelling over for one game then going home would seem pointless.
4. I would find following the 2 legged inter-continental qualifyers more interesting.

but not a daft suggestion like a lot of the suggestions for changing the world cup format.

[scmcbride21]

We all know that NCAA Tournament Opening Round game isn't really an opening round. People don't pay attention to it. We all know the NCAA Tournament beings on a Thursday not on a Tuesday. As for the opening round idea for soccer. I am not in favor. I'd much rather see the home and away leg playoffs like they have now. I think the way qualification is set up now is the best way and most entertaining way to do it.

[Gary V]

We already have a World Cup opening round. Several of them, in fact. Three each in North America and Africa, 2 in Europe and Oceana, 1 in South America, and 5 in Asia. Plus a few intercontinental playoff games after that.

[EvanJ]

CONCACAF (which is not just North America) actually has 4 rounds of qualifying this cycle:

35 teams to 24 (top 13 teams get a bye)
24 teams to 12
12 teams to 6
6 teams to 3 + 1 in interconfederational playoff

[Gary V]

CONCACAF (which is not just North America) Yeah, yeah, and UEFA is more than just Europe.

actually has 4 rounds of qualifying this cycle:

35 teams to 24 (top 13 teams get a bye)
24 teams to 12
12 teams to 6
6 teams to 3 + 1 in interconfederational playoffForgot that minnows round.

My point was, there's a whole lot of World Cup play before the teams get to Germany or RSA or Brazil or wherever it goes next. We don't need a "play-in game" because all the teams in the world have been eligible for play-ins in their own confederations.

[rednow.red4ever]

We don't need a "play-in game" because all the teams in the world have been eligible for play-ins in their own confederations.

This is obviously true, I think he was just trying to get more teams to the actual tournament country...however the only way i see this being feasible would be by full tournament increase (to 40 perhaps)....which i certainly do not see happening any time soon, if ever....

[Neuwerld]

The only way this could happen to FIFA would be if some other conference grew out of the ocean chock full of soccer teams looking for a bid to the World Cup

The sound of that paints a very cinematic image in my mind for some reason. Just imagining an island rising out of the ocean with two dozen guys standing on each nation suited up. It'd be like in a movie when the enemy army appears over the hill. :D

Anywho, sounds like the idea would be more work than it's worth. One team would make the trip for one game while not everyone would know their full group. There are benefits, but again, doesn't seem very feasible to me.