So if Americans are involved, it can't be good, but if they're not involved, the country doesn't care. Nice no-lose you set up for yourself.
Again, welcome to 2019. It’s hard to find someone under 40, particularly on the coasts, who didn’t grow up with soccer.
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well, this is qatar thread in the end, so time to go back to bashing FIFA for what they've done to all of us and to common sense as well! btw, any update on stadium cooling? I will believe in that first when I see it
Concacaf promoting segregation: https://www.concacaf.com/en/world-c...-2022-fifa-world-cup-confederation-qualifiers That's a horrible format. The teams not in (Concacaf's) top 6, according to their FIFA ranking, hardly get any scraps. The bulk of Concacaf's "members" have to fight over one lousy intercontinental playoff spot. To get that scrap (not even plural) you'd have to win your group, advance through quarters, semis and a final and then play the 4th placed team from the Hex.
Best part yet, is that if the interconfed playoff rotation, between Concacaf, AFC, OFC and Conmebol, happening since 2010 continues, whomever wins their playoff spot, most likely will get to play against Conmebol's 5th, for that WC spot.
No existe una "rotación" en las repescas intercontintales.... para 2006 fueron diseñadas directamente por FIFA (Conmebol vs. Concacaf - AFC vs OFC), y para 2010, 2014 y 2018 fueron por sorteo
It is bllsht, but it doesn not insure the USA goes through, the HEX stage is where they screwed it up last time.
Whilst that is true, Rickdog's point I believe was that since 2006 the draw has conveniently followed a "rotation" pattern. 2006 Conmebol v OFC, AFC v Concacaf (not a draw but an allocation and the first time we had 4 confeds involved in the playoffs. 2010 Conmebol v Concacaf, AFC v OFC (draw) 2014 Conmebol v AFC, OFC v Concacaf (draw) 2018 Conmebol v OFC, AFC v Concacaf. (draw)
Dear most of Concacaf. This is what being in the OFC was like for us (and still is for those left behind) J
Actually, for 2010, there wasn't a draw, as the ties were decided over time zones. Afterwards, a draw did take place, only to decide whom gets to play home for the first match, and whom to play home for the second match (in which case, if no team had won by then, a pk definition would've been needed)
Nope. For the 1990 WC, Mexico didn't make it there (got banned by FIFA, for using over aged players in some youth tournament). For the 1982 WC, USA got wiped out by Canada on a previous stage (whom at the final hex, which was played completely in Honduras in one single round robin, also didn't make it through).
You are correct and thanks for refreshing my memory. The AFC/OFC playoff was set as part of the backroom negotiations when we moved to AFC ( I assume it was as it was pretty much announced at the same time) and justified because of the difficulties that were encountered getting teams from one side of the world to the other in 4 days (3 and a half if the move was the wrong way). It was the next two draws that neatly worked out to a rotation. I would be comfortable if they just used FIFA rankings of the teams in the playoffs to decide the draw once those teams are known.
CAF "reverting" to 2014 quals (according to wikipedia) First round: 28 teams (ranked 27–54) will play home-and-away over two legs. The 14 winners will advance to the second round. Second round: 40 teams (teams ranked 1–26 and 14 first round winners) will be divided into 10 groups of four teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The 10 group winners will advance to the third round. Third round: The 10 teams which will have advanced from the second round will play home-and-away over two legs. The five winners will qualify for the World Cup. J
Well, compared to giving 6 teams a bye through to the last stage I suspect pretty much everything is. J