A few days ago, I saw on ESPN FC (taking it with a grain of salt) that there are rumors of a newly proposed qualifying format for the 2022 World Cup because of the global pandemic. I did some further digging and saw that it hasn’t been confirmed by CONCACAF, but there are a lot of articles reporting this rumor. Who knows if it’s true. This would abandon the Hex and instead, have the top 12 countries (based on FIFA rankings) in groups of 3. Pot A: Mexico, US, Costa Rica Pot B: Honduras, El Salvador, Jamaica Pot C: Canada, Curaçao, Panama Pot D: Antigua, T&T, Haiti Obviously, the three first place teams from each group would qualify directly. The second place teams would go to join the winner of the tournament for the lower ranked teams (13-35) for a mini tournament to determine who represents CONCACAF in the intercontinental playoff. I know it’s all speculation, but if there is any truth to it, what do you guys think? It would end the match in Columbus and the US going to the Azteca, but would give a fighting chance to teams outside of the Hex, like Canada. Either way, I miss football and talking about it.
I think it would definitely make it easier for the US, but depending on who would be drawn with Costa Rica, especially since their “golden” generation is aging and fading, it might cause a surprise
It was noted in another thread that based on current ranking the US would be in a group with Panama and Canada,so maybe not?
You could be referring to what somebody gave as a possible draw given the pots. The FIFA Rankings determine the pots, but not the actual teams. Being the second best of three teams on Pot A doesn't tell anything about what team from the other pots USA will be drawn with. If a draw is done with those pots, each team has 3x3x3 = 27 equally likely combinations of opponents.
News regarding the 2022 format Reports that the format for the Concacaf playoffs of 3 groups with 4 teams was rejected. Reports are suggesting that the 3 groups of 4 @Concacaf WCQ format has been rejected by the members. https://t.co/Vz73ZZv7au— Duane Rollins (@24thminute) June 15, 2020 1272568623538884612 is not a valid tweet id According to sources, Octagonal is being considered They are now considering an octagonal for @Concacaf WCQ. #CanMNT would be part of an 8 team format. Assumption would be top 3 advance with 4th playing winner of the repechage tournament.— Duane Rollins (@24thminute) June 15, 2020 Mexico United States Costa Rica Jamaica Honduras El Salvador Canada Curacao
So, FIFA approved that original monstrosity of a format; but, is rejecting this even though it's very similar to past formats? Bizarre. So FIFA must also really want the $$$$ from USA-Mexico matches? Are there enough open fixture dates for an Octagonal? That would incredibly harsh on Panama and Haiti in my view, as #6-10 are really very close in points - there's a bigger dropoff to T&T at #11
If https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONCACAF) is correct that WCQs will start in September (it doesn't have to be correct about the format in order to show how many matchdays are available), two pairs of matchdays would need to be added. In June 2021 the bottom 29 is supposed to play Semifinals while the top teams don't play. Both paths are scheduled to end in September 2021 with the playoff in October 2021. Since the interconfederational playoffs are in March 2022 (they are in November before summer World Cups), they could push rounds back and end in November 2021. If that was done and the fourth place Octagonal team won the playoff against the bottom group, that team would play two WCQs in nine consecutive periods from September 2020 through March 2022. With leagues finishing 2019-2020 seasons in July and starting 2020-2021 seasons later, FIFA could change when the matchdays are and/or how many there will be. Even a normally basic question like how many matchdays are available can't be guaranteed. If WCQs will start in September, Concacaf needs to get moving because they need to make a draw and schedule and let teams decide where to play.
the octobox is idiotic, and it puts more games out there than necessary, 2 groups of 6, 10 matches a group, top of each group qualifies, 2nd places play off for the 3rd spot, loser of that goes to intercont playoff why is this so hard?
Was told by someone with knowledge of CONCACAF that the messaging they are getting is to plan for an extended World Cup qualifying period in December. Not necessarily a tournament but games squeezed into an extra international window. This would be in all confederations.— Duane Rollins (@24thminute) June 20, 2020
If they go the Octagonal route, then how would it work? Would it work just like the Hex and the top 3 qualify directly for Qatar and the 4th place team goes into the Intercontinental playoff? Then it is really no different than the Hex at all
Playing games in December makes sense. Here is how confederations would have qualifying without games added in December: AFC: If periods that are supposed to have one game increase to two, they are one period (two matchdays short) CAF: Not any matchdays short unless the Africa Cup of Nations and/or its qualifying makes a conflict Concacaf: One period (two matchdays short). Wikipedia removed the original schedule that had WCQs start in September. In addition to the format being confirmed, I'm waiting for an announcement about the draw. The October matchdays start in under three months, and Concacaf has to confirm the format, schedule the draw, and give teams time to plan where to play. CONMEBOL: Two periods (four matchdays) short and Wikipedia says they may have a Copa America in June 2021 and not be able to play WCQs to make them three periods (six matchdays) short. CONMEBOL could be problematic because the only alternatives to the group of ten that needs 18 matchdays are two groups of five or eliminating teams before a final group of six. UEFA and OFC never announced a schedule.
This looks good and makes sense for the most part but then it could come into conflict too with some competitions
I believe an Octagon was just confirmed with the Top 5 ranked qualifying directly. 3 spots are left for Canada, Curaçao, Panama, etc.
My browser translated https://unanimodeportes.com/deporte...f-hara-un-octagonal-final-adios-al-hexagonal/ and there will only be one path. I don't know how there are enough matchdays for the Octagonal to start as late as April 2021, but the format and schedule is: Round 1 in October 2020 through January 2021: The bottom 30 go in six pentagonals. Each team will play two opponents at home, two opponents away, and have one matchday off. Round 2 in March 2021: The six pentagonal winners play each other to advance three to the Octagonal. Round 3: The Octagonal starts in April 2021. Even if the period that normally has two matchdays in late March is expanded to have two in late March and two in early April (or the two could be in late April), there are ten matchdays available from April through the rest of 2021 and two in March 2022, for a total of twelve, with fourteen are necessary. I hope the Octagonal will be double round-robin. If it is single round-robin, teams would play 7 games, so they would need to play an unequal amount of home games, or each team could have 3 home, 3 away, and 1 at a neutral site. For a single round-robin group, an odd amount of teams is good because teams can play an equal amount of home and away goals, and having one matchday off isn't a big deal. For double round-robin groups, groups of 5 require ten matchdays which is four more than groups of 4 require. If USA doesn't start until April 2021, hopefully they will be able to have fans.
I have no idea how they think many countries will be able to play internationals in 10 weeks time in October The Covid rates in the USA, Mexico, Honduras, and many Central American countries remains horrific. While other countries doing better aren't going to let people in without quarantining. Just go with the top 6 or 8 in Concacaf. They'll be luck to play in April at this rate.
Or they could throw in single round-robin + game vs rival to get to eight matches (meaning two USA-MEX matches ).
With 28 months to go, I don't see the World Cup being cancelled anytime soon. There's an easy solution to qualifications, if things are very dire ... just use FIFA rankings. Though I don't see why simply doing a tournament 2 years from now to do qualifying wouldn't work ... or the 2021 Gold Cup ... send the four semi-finalists, and do a third-place game with the loser getting the ½-sppot. Lots of ways to do it. It a tournament 28 months from now isn't doable, then there's going to be a lot of events to cancel first.
Then it is perfect as far as settling qualifying in terms of doing tournaments for each confederation to determine who qualifies for Qatar
Concacaf Qualifiers announced for regional qualification to @FifaWorldCup Qatar 2022 More Info 👉 https://t.co/0HHaeyrVNi#LoveForOurGame pic.twitter.com/aI1RbGtj6y— Concacaf (@Concacaf) July 27, 2020 New details have emerged from @CONCACAF regarding 2022 World Cup Qualifying ⚽️- 1st round: 30 teams, allocated from FIFA rankings 6-35- 2nd round: 6 group winners face off- Final round: Octagon (ranks 1-5 + 2nd-round winners)READ 👉 https://t.co/JPTc9TkwQO#CanMNT | #WCQ— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 27, 2020
CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani will be live on Onesoccer YouTube channel to discuss the WCQ in 30 minutes 1287862828133519360 is not a valid tweet id