I would love to see a change in the qualification method from a single HEX to a double HEX The way I see it, the playin round 1 for the bottom 10 teams and the 6 groups of 4 for all but the top 6 for round 2 would remain the same The 6 group winners and the top 6 who received byes would be drawn into a double hex with the top 2 getting world cup bids. That would be a very strenuous and intense qualifying final round.
You should read http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/more-spots-for-concacaf-in-russia-2018.1986066/ if you haven't already. It's a big topic with posts at the end about what qualifying format CONCACAF should use.
The problem with an OCTAGONAL is that in CONCACAF after the 5th or 6th spot the quality of the teams drops dramatically. that means that 2 or 3 teams will become whipping boys. USA MEX CR HON PAN JAM GUAT ES T&T CAN??
After the top 4, I think it gets fairly interchangeable with a handful of teams. Between Jamaica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and Trinidad you can argue that some of these teams are a little better than others, but on a large scale they're basically on the same level. So I don't think it'd water down the competition all that much. I don't really care either way. As a US fan I'll still view an octaganol the same way I view the hex, but from CONCACAF's perspective there is a few teams who could benefit from 14 competitive fixtures against the regions best teams, even if they have little chance to actually make the World Cup
i think so too! 3 pots, 2 from each form the double hex Top 4: US, Mexico, CR, Honduras Mid 4: Jamaica, T&T, El Salvador, Panama Bottom 4: Haiti, Cuba, Guatemala, Canada Would be extremely competitive and put a lot of pressure as you cut the odds of advancing in half.