FIFA World Cup '26: News & Analysis

Second place is probably the best Nigeria can hope for now. And that at best* sends them to the playoffs where there will be about 4 elimination rounds to survive through to qualify!

[* if they can be one of the top second-place teams]

 

Might there be a forum/thread for AFCON?

 

^ I can't believe they aren't playing these matches at the same time, given that they impact each other so much.

Anyway, Korea finally scored to take a 1-0 lead. Thailand and Singapore are just kicking off.

 

China 'only' lose 1-0 with 20% possession. I guess that's what they were playing for.

So, Thailand need to beat Singapore by 3 goals (or by two goals if its a really high-scoring match like 4-2). So far its one-way traffic, but just 1-0 Thailand at halftime.

 

Thailand win 3-1 but not quite enough. China advances on. Thailand ruined an otherwise good qualifying campaign by not finishing some big chances.

 

We didn't renew the contract of our coach after the afcon. He wasn't the greatest but he figured out a way to have us playing very efficient football. Some critics were angry even with our silver medal claiming the play was "too defensive" and "not Nigerian enough"

So our corrupt federation hired a local coach (this has always been a fierce debate local vs foreign coach) to "save money"

This local coach is utterly clueless and has basically just destroyed everything the previous coaching administration built. His strategy, lineups, substitutions are all whack.He and the federation are more interested in marketing certain players to foreign clubs than calling up the best players.

It's a total mess.

 

Nigeria was so entertaining back in '94. Would be a shame if they did not make it back to North America.

 

#WCQ AFC Third Round seeding

Pot 1 : 🇯🇵🇮🇷🇰🇷
Pot 2 : 🇦🇺🇶🇦🇮🇶
Pot 3 : 🇸🇦🇺🇿🇯🇴
Pot 4 : 🇦🇪🇴🇲🇧🇭
Pot 5 : 🇨🇳🇵🇸🇰🇬
Pot 6 : 🇰🇵🇮🇩🇰🇼

📅 Draw date : 27 June

— Footy Rankings (@FootyRankings) June 11, 2024

Things will get interesting in AFC with Saudi Arabia in pot 3

 

Yup our current coach is a former NT player as well. I dont know why Football federations are so stuck on the idea of former players coaching national teams with little to no experience.

It's like they just think it will magically translate into success and frankly more often than not it is a failure.

Our coach was hired

1. Because the federation could "save money" in other words loot funds.
2. Because many wanted a local coach
3. Because he was a superstar player

No consideration was actually taken into his coaching ability or credentials.

 

Is his name Gregg?

 

Yes from the little I've followed many of you guys hate Greg and think he is clueless. Seems much of the same dynamic of the Nigerian situation, of an ex player turned clueless coach to satisfy the need of those wanting a local coach rather than foreign.

I do think though you are being a bit harsh on Berhalter though, as clueless as you may think he is he has had certain levels of success like dominating Concacaf Nations League and a 2nd round WC showing with basically a young team who have never had any WC experience.

Berhalter may not be your ideal coach, but he has still decent achievements.

 

I was being a little bit sarcastic. It's a disease y'know?

 

True. The good news with all these tight CAF qualifying groups is that its likely to lead to a big/good team finishing second and going to the playoffs. Perhaps 2 or 3 good teams. Which will give CAF an excellent chance to win the inter-continental playoff. And I'd rather a CAF team get that extra spot than AFC or CONCACAF, for the reason you highlighted above (good depth in CAF).

 

Eh, AFC qualifying is still so forgiving with 8 slots that I don't think any of the big boys are in any danger.

Even if you have KSA, JPN and AUS in a group, I don't think any would be in any danger to drop all the way to 5th and miss the next round. And in Round 4, they would be placed with lesser teams with ANOTHER chance of direct qualification. And even if they fail that, they have the playoff where they would surely be seeded.

 

I dont think you need a "good" CAF team to win the intercontinental playoff.

I think even the average ones would be favored. Certainly against AFC or Concacaf.

 

Sure, but the format (single-game elimination) increases the randomness of things, especially if you have to get through 2 elimination playoff games. In practice, the two favorites will be the CONMEBOL team plus the one with the highest FIFA ranking among the other 5.

 

Seems to suggest that Mexico and Canada are in the same part of the bracket. i.e. if they both finish 2nd, they play each other in the R32. (Also, Canada and the US could meet each other as early as the QF)

 

It's not for the fact that one of the big boys will be in "danger" but that it will mean an easier path for other potential new / returning teams.

 

Yeah, I mean the entire bracket must be already known if the potential paths of the 3 hosts are known.

 

Any idea on when the first window to buy tickets will open up?