That is all fine. But once everyone agreed to the rules, those are the rules. You can't start a competition with the rules, then decide to change them because you have arguments against them that should have been made before they were adopted. All the concerns are also mitigated by the dual tracks. I still think Canada had a better chance of qualifying on the original format than any since proposed. We will see the new FIFA calendar soon, supposedly. Then we will hear the format.
Since it was based on FIFA ranking, it has started since the first FIFA window since the format was agreed. So, June 2019? March 2019?
This. Its just plain common sense. If the system is messed up then you fix it for the NEXT time. But you can't change the rules once you have already started a cycle.
All WCQ is based on fifa rankings (seeding of groups etc.) So going by your ridiculous definition of "starting" the WCQ for 2026 and every following WC has"started" and thus no rules should ever be changed. Nothing has started. Stop being ridiculous.
Huh? Team Winners Runners-up Third place Fourth place Mexico 8 (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019) 1 (2007) 3 (1991, 2013, 2017) — United States 6 (1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017) 5 (1993, 1998, 2009, 2011, 2019) 2 (1996, 2003) 1 (2015) Canada 1 (2000) — 2 (2002, 2007) — Panama — 2 (2005, 2013) 2 (2011, 2015) — Jamaica — 2 (2015, 2017) 1 (1993) 2 (1998, 2019) Brazil — 2 (1996, 2003) 1 (1998) — Honduras — 1 (1991) 2 (2005, 2009) 2 (2011, 2013) Costa Rica — 1 (2002) 1 (1993) 4 (1991, 2003, 2009, 2017) Colombia — 1 (2000) — 1 (2005) Haiti — — 1 (2019) — Trinidad and Tobago — — 1 (2000) — Peru — — — 1 (2000) Guadeloupe — — — 1 (2007) Guatemala — — — 1 (1996) South Korea — — — 1 (2002)
I'm not talking historically but recently Who went to the last World Cup? Costa Rica Who beat the USA twice during the WCQ? Costa Rica (4-0) & (2-0) Who finished 2nd overall in the Hex? Costa Rica Who plotted to block the USA from joining the World Cup by purposely dropping games to Honduras and Panama? Costa Rica & Mexico...too soon? There were posts about a possible conspiracy to block the US after the loss to T&T But somehow, they are no longer a CONCACAF top team but the US are despite bit qualifying.... Makes no sense
Methinks you do protest too much. We had a bad cycle because we made terribles decisions on our coaches (who then made terrible decisions themselves). Mexico had a terrible cycle in 2014 and only Zuzi bailed them out. It happens - but the two best teams are undoubtedly Mexico and the US. I'm not worried about Costa Rica (even though they're tough away) or any other squad not named Mexico. In some cycles, it's Trinidad (Dwight Yorke), some it's Costa Rica with Navas. Maybe even Canada will take its turn as a shooting star for a cycle or two based on Davies.
Move the 2021 GC to 2022 which would help the GC because managers would press their best xi to play in GC (I'm looking at you Keilor Navas) so teams could get ideal preparation for Nov 2022 in Qatar. And use the summer of 2021 for WC quali's instead.
And no matter good, bad or the very ugly, the US are to be forever branded #2. Right.... Why are you going back 2 cycles ago lol?
He's right though that it had started because CONCACAF had made the decision to base the hex on FIFA rankings (which I think was a really, really poor decision in the first place). Once nearly all of the possible games had happened and a certain team hadn't met expectations, then a rules change allowing them a second chance are proposed? That's fishy at best.
Costa Rica had an excellent 2014 World Cup. They were my favorite team to watch (outside of the USA) and I pulled for them all the way. They were excellent in that tournament, hands down. One very good tournament, surrounded by several good years somewhat anomalously, doesn't put them close to Mexico followed by the US.
Class (or pedigree) vs. Form. Or another way to look at it is assets. Despite a down cycle that ended in failing to qualify, as a program we are ahead of Costa Rica. Just as, even as we went through a period of beating Mexico consistently, as a program they were -- and still are -- ahead of us. In this respect, the top 2 hasn't changed. If anything, the US has probably extended its distance with Costa Rica (which will be apparent in a few years).
Not to mention how does one determine the "fact" of who is currently number two? The U.S. is ahead of Costa Rica in FIFA ranking, finished second at the Gold Cup, and had a better Nations League group performance. Seems like there's some room for argument provided you're not one just throwing fanboy quips around.
I wouldnt be surprised if Costa Rica doesn't qualify for Qatar. I'm pretty sure US and Mexico will make it. 3 and 4 will be fought between Canada, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Honduras, even Haiti
That question goes both way. In this region, it's Mexico than the rest and after that, the rest of the rest. FIFA ranking are a joke. Not even Europeans makes a big deal out of them They lost to Mexico on a tougher side of the bracket...same team that beat the US Most would agree that they are in a tougher group. However the Hex, which I based my claim on, clearly showed the pecking order. Next WCQ is where it will be decided again
You're right in that it's your claim, I'll give you that. It might be close but I'd favor the U.S. in a hex situation if we're talking right now and not three years ago, so I disagree with your interpretation of a clear pecking order.