FIFA International Match Calendar: Proposed Changes & General Discussion

Discussion in 'FIFA and Tournaments' started by Nico Limmat, Oct 29, 2019.

  1. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Do you mean they cannot base the seedings for the UEFA WCQ draw on the previous NL rankings?
     
  2. almango

    almango Member+

    Sydney FC
    Australia
    Nov 29, 2004
    Bulli, Australia
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Not unless FIFA change their rules.
     
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  3. Viking lord

    Viking lord Member

    Uruguay
    Aug 4, 2022
    Nat'l Team:
    Uruguay
    It was pretty much impossible since Conmebol announced that they will keep the same qualifying format and that they won't start in March.

    There's just not enough time
     
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  4. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Rumour is the 2025 Gold Cup will be expanded to 24 teams (eight guests) to serve as the "testing event" for the 2026 World Cup. Do you really need another test after the 2024 Copa America?

    Will this be put on the FIFA calendar for the guests? :rolleyes:
     
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  5. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    I suspect we will see more and more of these expansive tournaments as a direct result for the shutting down of the biennial world cup.

    FIFA may be getting their revenge in a subtle way.

    For those who crave more international football, this would be a welcome development.

    Apparently the suggestion for the 2025 Goldcup is

    16 concacaf teams
    2 uefa teams
    2 CAF teams
    2 Conmebol teams
    2 AFC teams.
     
  6. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    FIFA decided in December that the 32-team CWC will be held in the June-July 2025 slot, so I expect the Gold Cup will not be held in the summers preceding the WC.
     
  7. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What if the new deal is that the host confederation for the World Cup has to let in guests for its own championship?

    Inb4 everyone fighting for an at-large berth in the Euro :ROFLMAO:
     
  8. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    They should call it the CONCACAF Platinum cup instead of Gold.:D
     
  9. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    Well, technically the 2024 Copa America is a testing event for the United States.

    Canada and Mexico also need a testing event too. ;)

    (Along with any stadiums that do not host Copa America in the USA.)
     
  10. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    #985 HomietheClown, Feb 5, 2023
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2023

    My random kicks and giggles guesstimation:
    Group A in Toronto (Opening match too since Canada does not get opener or closer in the WC.)
    Canada
    AFC
    CONCACAF
    CONCACAF

    Group B in Vancouver
    England
    AFC
    CONCACAF
    CONCACAF

    Group C in USA city that does not get Copa America
    USA
    CAF
    CONCACAF
    CONCACAF

    Group D in USA city not in Copa America
    Italy
    CAF
    CONCACAF
    CONCACAF

    Group E at EL Azteca
    Mexico
    CONMEBOL
    CONCACAF
    CONCACAF

    Group F at Guadalajara
    CONMEBOL
    CONCACAF
    CONCACAF
    CONCACAF


    Knockouts in USA.
     
  11. almango

    almango Member+

    Sydney FC
    Australia
    Nov 29, 2004
    Bulli, Australia
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    I don't think the USA really needs a test event. The playoff tournament will act as one but it should be held in either Canada or Mexico. I've no problem with CONACAF trying to expand their continental Championship but not so sure they really need 8 guests. If they really want to use it as a test event then make sure a significant portion of games are at world cup venues and the teams are at proposed training venues for the world cup itself. Over the years so many people here have constantly told me that the USA could host a world cup at short notice because of the venues and facilities already in existence so I really don't know why it needs all these test events.
     
  12. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    Two things can be possible at the same time.

    The USA can host the event in short notice.
    But they also would like to test things out because the NFL stadiums usually just host American Football events not Big International soccer events.

    As for eight guests I think that is a little excessive too but remember there are three teams in CONCACAF hosting looking to play as many good warm up matches as possible and CONCACAF competition is not going to cut it at all.
    So the more teams you invite the more chances those three teams get to play better competition.
    It is just a numbers game.
     
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  13. almango

    almango Member+

    Sydney FC
    Australia
    Nov 29, 2004
    Bulli, Australia
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    My main point, even it was approached obtusely, is that the USA doesn't need to host every possible international tournament in the lead up as a "test event". Copa America, Gold Cup and the playoff tournament should be more than sufficient.
     
  14. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    I think we all can agree on that.

    The USA does not need to host that many tournaments.

    We all should also agree that tournaments and sponsors like to make money. And the USA needs to play matches that are against good quality opponents. And the Stadiums and cities need practice hosting soccer events.
    So it just is all just a bunch of big partnerships made in heaven.
     
  15. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    FIFA announced yesterday that the new 48-team men's U17WC will begin in 2025.
     
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  16. BocaFan

    BocaFan Member+

    Aug 18, 2003
    Queens, NY
    Maybe UEFA will get their 6th spot back. :rolleyes:
     
  17. Athlone

    Athlone Member+

    Feb 2, 2013
    Nat'l Team:
    Jamaica
    Reading the proposal now and it is very interesting.

    https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/687f1...r-the-future-of-global-youth-competitions.pdf

    Pages 25 and 26 contain the real significant stuff

    • The U20WC will remain the same - biennial, 24 teams
    • Two different proposals for world cups at younger ages:
    1. Proposal A: Keep the current U17 WC, but hold it annually and expand it to 48 teams
    2. Proposal B: Ditch the U17 WC, replace it with both the (1) U16 WC and (2) U18 WC, each to be held annually at 48 teams

    At a minimum, we are getting the U17 WC every year at 48 teams, but we might get even more if Proposal B is implemented at some point.

    I like proposal B. In the absence of a biennial senior world cup tournament, this is great way to help smaller nations out by getting them more international competition at a developmental level. For a lot of countries, the increased exposure their best players could get from ages 15-17 will be gamechanging, and give them a better chance at putting together stronger quality campaigns for qualification at the more senior levels as those players age.

    Having an Under 18 tournament is also really helpful for countries without strong professional setups to season their best youth players. Right now, a player who ages out of the U17 has not much to do until the U20 (if his team can qualify) and also cant get a pro deal abroad, but this adds a little more high level international action for them to get better experience until they turn 18 and can sign abroad.

    Proposal A will still do plenty of good though - basically everything I said above about Proposal B, just on a moderately smaller scale. So big win either way.

    I would very much have liked to see the U20WC expanded to 32 as well (remaining biennial), but so be it.
     
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  18. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I agree, but remember there is nothing to prevent a confederation from holding annual under 20 competitions and using every second edition to qualify for the U20WC.
     
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  19. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
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  20. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Presumably FIFA will allow the UCL final to continue to be held on the last Saturday in May.
     
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  21. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Especially now that the most immediate UCL winner will not take part in the expanded CWC unless they were qualified for a previous UCL triumph, so no rush.

    FIFA also confirmed that we will still have separate September and October windows in 2025, when we'll get close to wrapping up the field for United '26.
     
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  22. dna77054

    dna77054 Member+

    Jun 28, 2003
    houston
    How many countries will be interested in, or even can, host a 48 team U-whatever WC? Simple stadiums would suffice, but I do not see much financial incentive to host it. Seems like a lot a prep work for mostly empty stadiums.
     
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  23. BocaFan

    BocaFan Member+

    Aug 18, 2003
    Queens, NY
    I don't get it :confused:. So, the annual club WC featuring the club champions of each confederation will still go on, but the expanded CWC is happening too?!.
     
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  24. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    There will be very few one Nation bids for World Cups. There will be multiple Countries and Cities from across regions bidding and winning from now on.
     
  25. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    #1000 HomietheClown, Mar 15, 2023
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2023
    Basically the European Champs will play at a neutral site against the winner of the rest of the teams that beat up on each other to earn the right to lose to Real Madrid in Miami.
     
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