Because European-based players need to train together before a qualifiers match, visit the venue before the match, etc. That is why FIFA forces clubs to free such players on the Sunday before each FIFA date. Cannot forget staff which travels before the team, to arrange transportation/hotel/food. If Argentina blocks flights until September 1st, then that Conmebol qualifiers match date is toast.
No they cannot. South American federations are not ready yet to give up host revenue from qualifiers.
Well, FIFA frees the players on the Monday, not Sunday. So that is already August 31. I still see many ways around it w/o having to cancel the whole matchdate . i.e. Paraguay trains in Paraguay (I'm thinking this is what always happens anyway) & Argentina flies into Uruguay and takes the ferry over to Argentina. OR Flip the fixture so that Paraguay hosts Argentina in matchday 1, and Argentina hosts Paraguay later. OR Simply request an exemption. We are literally talking about 1 day here (flying-in Monday instead of Tuesday).
Yes I too will miss the Hex but since they insist on changing the format to 3 groups of 4...group winners go directly to Qatar and the 2nd best placed team goes into an intercontinental playoff with Asia or Oceania most likely, then it is not so bad
No national team flies twice its European-based players within a 4-day window. European-based players must go directly to their final foreign destination to avoid travel fatigue. Paraguay cannot switch to host Argentina on September 3 because then Paraguay would end up playing twice at home on September. That will result into an Argentina double-header at home down the road, and an Paraguay double-header away too. The Conmebol match calendar was devised to avoid such double-headers. If Argentina is unable to properly host qualifiers, then Conmebol cannot force other national teams to accommodate Argentina.
If they absolutely can't do double-headers, they can move the fixture to September 4. I know they can do that because they did it a few times in the 2018 qualifying.
Some actual 2022 news: https://www.goal.com/en/news/fifa-w...es-third-stadium-on/i9e9zwwv5kmu1dghe7jsgmkv7
Apparently the plan for CONCACAF now: The top 12 teams in CONCACAF region according to the FIFA World Rankings would be split into 3 groups of 4 for a double round robin, home-and-away round of qualifying matches. The winner of each group would earn direct qualification to the 2022 World Cup. The 2nd place team from each group would join the winner of the lower tier qualification tournament (which consists of teams 13-35 in the region) in a mini tournament. The winner of that 4-team bracket would advance to represent Concacaf in the inter-confederation playoff, where they could earn a spot in the World Cup with a win.
Much better than the last suggestion, with the final 4 team mini tournament, I'm assuming it's just a 4 team knockout stage, probably only even 1 leg. This would only be one extra game.
Where have you heard that this is now part of the proposal? So far, I've only seen it suggested on Twitter (and conceded that it's a good idea)... They should have the top 3 2nd place teams advance to a 4 team knockout with the winner of the non top 12 teams. Stupid to have the top 2nd place team come down to goal differential in uneven groups.— mc (@marcelcerminara) June 8, 2020
I’m confused. So all 3 2nd place teams move on to play the winner of the lower tournament in a now 4 team mini tournament? why can’t the best places do 2nd team just meet the winner of the lower tournament for that inter continental playoff spot? what’s the point of winning the lower tournament if you now have to beat 3 other teams? make it the best 2nd place team vs the winner of lower tournament and call it a day. Damn
1) I would only be 2 other teams, i.e. the 3 runners-up from regular WCQ + the Tier II champ would get drawn into semifinals and a Final.
Because that way you eliminate 2 runners up based on points in completely uneven groups. The suggested way only adds 2 extra games in total and only 1 extra game for lower competition winner and will make sure the best team goes through as opposed to something completely random.
But either way if I had to do a Mock Draw for the 3 groups of 4 Group A- Mexico, Honduras, Curacao, Antigua Group B- USA, Canada, El Salvador, Haiti Group C- Costa Rica, Jamaica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago (Group of Death)
it’s not fair to the lower tournament team. Let’s say I’m Guatemala and I won the lower tournament. Instead of playing 1 more match to go to inter continental playoff, I need need to win 2 more instead? no man, that’s just too much. The pathway for the lower tournament is Grueling enough.