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
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?
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.
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.
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
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: Proposal A: Keep the current U17 WC, but hold it annually and expand it to 48 teams 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.
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.
The Men’s International Match Calendar for 2025-2030 has been approved: https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/org...ouncil-approves-international-match-calendars
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.
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.
I don't get it . So, the annual club WC featuring the club champions of each confederation will still go on, but the expanded CWC is happening too?!.
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.
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.