CONCACAF changes World Cup Qualifying Process

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by NashSC, Jul 10, 2019.

  1. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I prefer an even amount of teams in each group and no off days, but that's not always possible. Don't you think that fans would consider these two games played breakdowns very different if they were told how many games each team would finish with? The numbers below are games, not points:

    Group of 3: Finish with 4 games each
    Team 1: 2
    Team 2: 2
    Team 3: 0

    Group of 10: Finish with 18 games each
    Team 1: 10
    Team 2: 10
    Team 3: 10
    Team 4: 10
    Team 5: 10
    Team 6: 10
    Team 7: 0
    Team 8: 0
    Team 9: 0
    Team 10: 0
     
  2. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    OK.
     
  3. Daniel from Montréal

    Aug 4, 2000
    Montréal
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    You disagree? The whole USA-Mexico thing skews every competition in the region. I don't know if Costa Rica was ever officially in the top 2, but they'll always do gymnastics to keep the USA-Mexico games. No other confed is set up this way.
     
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  4. DonJuego

    DonJuego Member+

    Aug 19, 2005
    Austin, TX
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    CONMEBOL could do two groups of 5. Comparing confeds qualification systems seems pointless. Each confed has to devise something that works for them relative to their characteristics and number of slots at the final.

    I don't see how having one hex hurts CR or anyone else over having two hexes? USA-Mexico WCQs are the greatest sporting events in this continent if you ask me. Why not have a system that delivers that? Especially if you have a good system which is how I consider the old system (moreso than the new system).

    In fact, I think two-hexes would hurt CR. Now they get 10 games to manifest their quality versus the other teams in CONCACAF, where with two-hexes they would have to likely have to prevail in a 2-game tie in order to qualify.

    I guess all moot. With 46 teams in our finals-future the hex is headed for the dust-bin of history.
     
  5. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This is the last time they will have a hex with USA and Mexico. Also they could have rigged the Nations League format to force USA and Mexico to be separated until the final, but they didn't do so.
     
  6. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    Nope, I just don't care. When Canadian team sucks less I might.
     
  7. JayRockers!

    JayRockers! Member+

    Aug 4, 2001
    Depending on how many slots CONCACAF gets you could still do a Hex for 3, a second Hex simultaneously and playoffs between main Hex losers and second Hex winners.

    Thx,

    Jay!
     
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  8. Ismitje

    Ismitje Super Moderator

    Dec 30, 2000
    The Palouse
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    One more major consideration: travel costs relative to national federation budgets.

    (Which may be included in your use of "characteristics")
     
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  9. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Costa Rica has been in the Top 2. For example, in the July 2014 FIFA Rankings, which were the first ones after Costa Rica was Concacaf's only Quarterfinalist:

    15. USA
    16. Costa Rica
    18. Mexico
     
  10. cleazer

    cleazer Member+

    May 6, 2003
    Toledo, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Very close to the real thing:

    MEX 1603 (-1)
    USA 1545 (-3)
    CRC 1442 (-3)
    JAM 1435 (+10)
    HON 1359 (+9)
    SLV 1327 (-15)
    --
    CAN 1322 (+10)
    CUW 1320 (+11)
    PAN 1316 (-15)
    HAI 1277 (-11)
    TRI 1226


    Canada, Curacao, and Panama all have big-point games coming up against the top 3. If just one of them has a successful outcome, El Salvador could be out of the top 6.

    Honduras has 2 "free" games against Martinique, which they'll obviously want to win, but won't affect them in the Fifa rankings. As long as they don't get swept by Trinidad, they'd have to work pretty hard to drop out of the top 6.
     
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  11. cleazer

    cleazer Member+

    May 6, 2003
    Toledo, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    By the way, a question:

    I've seen lots of people offering scheduling suggestions and input in this thread, but I'm curious, when exactly is the next edition of the Nations League expected to take place?
     
  12. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    I don't know if CONCACAF has ever said.

    19-20 CNL goes until June 2020.
    2022 World Cup qualifying goes from September 2020 until October 2021.
    I guess they could have it in 2022 before the World Cup.
     
  13. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    It's a good question... I know the UEFA NL is on a rolling two-year cycle, so one might assume the CNL might be as well - but I would also see CONCACAF holding off for 2021 so that their NL schedule aligns with UEFA's (i.e. next one would be 2022-23). That would also allow them to really fold the 2024-2025 CNL into the qualifying cycle for the 2026 WC.
     
  14. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Given that it's CONCACAF, we shouldn't be 100% sure that there will be a next edition of the Nations League. That being said, the following dates would be available between the (almost) end of WCQ and the World Cup.

    October 2021 (except for the two teams in the WCQ playoff)
    November 2021
    March 2022 (except for the one team in the inter-confederation playoff)
    June 2022 (four games allowed in this window)
    September 2022
     
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  15. SetPeace

    SetPeace Member+

    Jun 22, 2004
    SC Illinois
    Club:
    Torquay United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Is CONCACAF (or for that matter, FIFA) really going to finish qualifying 13 months before the World Cup begins? I would have thought they'd have qualifying finish in March of 2022 (or perhaps April for playoff finalists) with the draw being held in early May or possibly June. World Cup will be held in November and December, 2022. Can't remember the exact dates for the tournament (thought it was November 21 to December 18).
     
  16. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Qualifying will finish in March 2022 with 3 inter-confederation matchups involving one team from each confederation. Everything except that has to be complete by November 2021. CONCACAF finishes the hex in September and then has its 4th place vs. Others playoff in October. I presume the reason for finishing earlier is to create room for the Nations League.
     
  17. almango

    almango Member+

    Sydney FC
    Australia
    Nov 29, 2004
    Bulli, Australia
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Only 4 confederations. Europe and Africa aren't involved in inter confederation playoffs.
     
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  18. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You're right, thanks for the correction.
     
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