Impact of Nations Leagues (UEFA original, Concacaf) on World Football? [Multiple R]

Discussion in 'FIFA and Tournaments' started by Nico Limmat, Mar 27, 2014.

  1. Hexa

    Hexa Member+

    May 21, 2010
    Club:
    Vasco da Gama Rio Janeiro
    C'BOL is still cooperating with UEFA

    • Finalissima Femenina
    Fecha: 13 al 25 de febrero (ventana FIFA Femenina)

    Sede: Europa

    They will do a women's Finalissima in Europe also.
     
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  2. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #752 Paul Calixte, Jan 26, 2023
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2023
    I'd argue that the current Nations League outlook is about what we can expect for the near future, right?

    UEFA - On Tuesday, they announced adjustments to the men's int'l football calendar, shortening Euro & WC qualifiers to make room for more Nations League :eek: Specifically, more relegation playoffs and a quarterfinal round in League A. As well, those of us that suspected that the rumored invite to Conmebol sides was nothing more than a political ploy to scare Infantino off the biennial World Cup proposal can claim vindication: Tuesday's update makes no provision for guest teams whatsoever.

    Conmebol - Add in Conmebol keeping their WCQ league format, and the writing was on the wall. Domínguez has already ruled out Conmebol launching its own Nations League as redundant; I still maintain that there's room and incentive for a Pan-American Nations League, but it wouldn't happen any time soon even if Concacaf & Conmebol bury the hatchet.

    Concacaf - Montagliani's stated vision is to have back-to-back NL tournaments in the first two years of each WC cycle. I imagine Mexico and co. playing along with this is his price for negotiating their reentry into the Copa América; even so, I still anticipate some eventual pushback to having five Concacaf competitions every WC cycle (2 NLs + 2 Gold Cups + WCQ).

    AFC, CAF - No word on them launching their own NLs (either separately or together); and with FIFA giving up on trying to stitch together a global version, I wouldn't wait up on it happening anytime soon.

    OFC - Until travel conditions improve, it's unfeasible.

    And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention UEFA and Concacaf committing to launching their respective Women's Nations League... although the latter's giving the US and Canada direct byes to the Final Four o_O
     
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  3. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    UEFA women's NL will also be used as qualification for the Olympics, starting with the 2023/24 edition.
     
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  4. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Well, I for one welcome the UNL expansion.

    I always thought the potential Conmebol addition was more of a political stunt.
     
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  5. If the need arises to counter the bi-annual robbery, when you don't need to play WC qualifiers, you can easily slot in extra teams.
     
  6. almango

    almango Member+

    Sydney FC
    Australia
    Nov 29, 2004
    Bulli, Australia
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    AFC have already announced their qualification programme for WC26 and AC27 and it's pretty much filled up the calendar. Someone on Wikipedia (copied below) has posted a proposed schedule based on AFC's announcement of the format and the FIFA Calendar staying pretty much as it is and there aren't any spare dates for a nations League. The losers of the 1st round (11 nations) will be free for a league or tournament amongst themselves. 36 nations participate in round 2, 18 nations participate in round 3. The 18 nations (along with 6 of those eliminated in the 1st round) will participate in Asian Cup qualifying to determine the final 5 or 6 nations at the Asian Cup 2027. Maybe a nations league could be squeezed in to the gap between the 2026 WC and the 2027 AC but what would be the point with the Asian Cup just around the corner.

    upload_2023-1-27_9-57-20.png
     
  7. Hexa

    Hexa Member+

    May 21, 2010
    Club:
    Vasco da Gama Rio Janeiro
    IMHO, this was a huge mistake by C'bol. UEFA's NL represented strong competition for every team in C'bol and huge financial success. At this point C'caf would bring financial success but won't provide the same level of competition. I hope C'caf gets a permanent 4 spot invite for Copa America (to be played in SA) but really wouldn't commit to a joint NL, rather take my chances scheduling friendlies with whomever is free (ex-UEFA).
     
  8. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    Nations League Europe/CONMEBOL combo thing would have been fun in theory but it would have probably gotten stale because all the games would have been in Europe.

    The PanAmerican Nations League would have been good for CONCACAF but South American teams and fans just do not get hyped up for matches like that unless it is a friendly in Miami or NJ.
     
  9. Hexa

    Hexa Member+

    May 21, 2010
    Club:
    Vasco da Gama Rio Janeiro
    Not sure why playing in Europe would diminish a joint NL. IMHO, it would be a WC light, with great infrastructure and stadium. Playing in Portugal (Brazil), Spain (SA team ex- Brazil and Argentina) and Italy (Argentina) would fell like home.
     
  10. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    #760 HomietheClown, Jan 27, 2023
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2023
    Yes, Brazil, Argentina , Peru and Colombia would have felt at home in Europe with fans taking over stadiums. It is the other Countries that would be affected.

    Who wants to see Estonia- Venezuela or Bolivia- Kazakhstan?

    Also, South American fans in South America would see it as stale obviously because they would want to see those matches in South America.
     
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  11. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ...so, I was wrong: there is a significant update.

    The next edition of the Concacaf Nations League (2023-24) will now serve as qualifying for the next Copa América :eek:

     
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  12. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    That's huge.
     
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  13. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That Guatemala-French Guiana game is huge :eek: I'm pretty sure the Copa América berths will only be available up in League A, so promotion is crucial.
     
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  14. Hexa

    Hexa Member+

    May 21, 2010
    Club:
    Vasco da Gama Rio Janeiro
    No one know the format of this now defunct NL. But I some speculation pointed C'bol teams competing in league A and league B. While Venezuela and Bolivia is not a hot ticket these team would have access to quality competition on a regular basis. It would provide them with much needed competition - These teams are invited for many friendlies and don't have the star power to make teams play them at home.
     
  15. Hexa

    Hexa Member+

    May 21, 2010
    Club:
    Vasco da Gama Rio Janeiro
    Nice development; I have no problem with inviting C'caf teams as long as it is played in SA.
     
  16. Hexa

    Hexa Member+

    May 21, 2010
    Club:
    Vasco da Gama Rio Janeiro
    This didn't age well... 2024 Copa America to be played in the US :cool:. At least they will expand Copa America.

    New club competition! why and to be played when, I rather see 4 C'caf team entering Libertadores as guest.

    C'bol top brass focusing on $$ instead of the game, again...
     
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  17. Viking lord

    Viking lord Member

    Uruguay
    Aug 4, 2022
    Nat'l Team:
    Uruguay
    Wait, so they are going to be play another Nations League right after the current edition? I was under the impression that the next edition was going to be in 2024-2025
     
  18. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    We have to beat Belize away and French Guiana at home by a good goal difference. I hope we can do it!

    Nations League just became very relevant.
     
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  19. almango

    almango Member+

    Sydney FC
    Australia
    Nov 29, 2004
    Bulli, Australia
    Club:
    Sydney FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Just a thought I've had but has the UEFA nation's League been a positive for the 2nd tier Euro nations? The last world cup saw those nations struggle with a number of teams from CONCACAF, AFC and CAF outperforming them. My own nation had, much to my surprise, it's best world cup in history. We also had what I would call our weakest squad in terms of individual players since the 1980s. Has the lack of cross confederation competition blinded these second tier Euro nations to what is going on elsewhere? Has the NL and its closed competition given them a false sense of superiority? Is it just a statistical anomaly helped by having a world cup away from its normal season and in a new location? Perhaps the lack of friendlies and the desire of second tier nations to compete against the best teams (particularly if in league 1) is possibly stopping some experimentation in tactics and playing force that friendlies provide making it harder for these second tier teams to regenerate leading to stagnation and a decline. I'm not really sure of the answers to any of these questions, but I do think that running 2 leagues between world cups along with a Euro in the middle is confusing issues in UEFA. Does UEFA really need 3 different teams that can claim they are Champions between world cups.
     
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  20. Hexa

    Hexa Member+

    May 21, 2010
    Club:
    Vasco da Gama Rio Janeiro
    The only teams that wasn't league A on 2020-21 NL and went to the WC was Wales (will play league A on 2022/2023) and Serbia (still on league B). I think both teams improved. Wales reached the WC and Serbia had a decent WC show.

    IMHO, the game is created and developed at the club level. There is no doubt that Europe is the center of club soccer. It is were new systems and tactics and created, tested and perfected.

    UEFA NTs are getting stronger, but there is a ceiling. I don't think the top will be able to walk over Brazil and Argentina. But I do think that the second tier (still play on league A) will get stronger and they do benefit from UEFA's NL. But league B teams usually are from relative small countries so they have a very limited player pool to chose from.
     
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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
    You're thinking of the UEFA cadence. In Concacaf, the preference is to play 2 NLs, yes, but back-to-back in the first 2 years of the cycle, leaving the last two years free for WCQ.
     
  22. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    All good questions... or is it simply that UEFA teams tend not to travel well for World Cups? See: terrible outings by their standards in 2014 & 2022 sandwiching a de facto Euro 2018.

    Strongly disagree on Serbia: in recent years, they dumped Haaland's Norway out of the Euros and stole their promotion to League A, either side of beating Portugal to the direct WC berth. How a team like that views a last-place group finish in the WC as anything other than a failure is beyond me.

    I mean, Poland had their best WC in ages :D

    But I dunno - even with the world football calendar still working out the kinks from the post-lockdown restarts, I'm hard-pressed to explain how Italy and Denmark have looked so consistently good in UEFA competitions, only to stink it up in the World Cup (qualifying, in the former's case).
     
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  23. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Also the CONCACAF NL was originally set up to finish in even years, the opposite of the Gold Cup. COVID and the unusual 2022 WC schedule threw everything out of place, so it looks like they're returning to the intended pattern.
     
  24. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    I'm sorry but I see little evidence of this.

    stronger in relation to what ?

    I mean I would say that a lot of 2nd and 3rd tier teams are improving WORLDWIDE, but I certainly wouldn't say this is limited to UEFA.

    I also dont see UEFA getting stronger in relation to any other confederation either.

    Like Almango pointed out. This past WC shows that UEFA if anything IS GETTING WORSE compared to the ROW.
     
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  25. Hexa

    Hexa Member+

    May 21, 2010
    Club:
    Vasco da Gama Rio Janeiro
    You are looking at one point evidence, hard to say if this WC was an outlier or if this is a new trend. Just like some ppl said C'bol was finished after 2018 all European final.

    But I also shouldn't argue that UEFA teams are getting better due to NL. The rise of France, England, Croatia isn't due to NL play.

    I am biased towards UEFA NL that is clear. Time will tell. I do think they created a system that will foster competition and development compared to other Federations. C'bol has only 10 teams and other Federation do not have (at this point in time) the same number of top teams (global powers).
     

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