True. Now that I checked I see that the average night time low is still 17 to 19 degrees for that time of year. Warmer than I thought. Average high is 25 which is very tolerable. The absolute hottest it will ever get (for the afternoon games) is 32, which is what it will be almost every day for the 2026 WC.
Yeah that's true but remember FIFA had to completely change the calendar to accommodate Qatar. If United 2026 had a choice weatherwise I'm sure they'd choose late spring as an ideal time for them to host and in that scenario you'd have ideal weather for the event, not just tolerable. Also many of the 2026 venues have retractable roofs and AC. So even having it in June and July will have some ideal conditions depending where you play.
I just realized that there are going to be 4 matches on Thanksgiving. Between that and NFL Football my family is going to be so angry. After church I will be eating in front of a TV/tablet all day and night.
That's good. Two less vacation days I'll have to burn. And maybe an early release on the previous day so can watch the 2pm Wednesday match live as well. I recall during the 2018 World Cup that July 4th annoyingly fell on an off-day. It feels like a waste of a holiday when that happens.
A couple of (rumored) updates: In South America, they're apparently considering the possibility of playing the first matchdays in Europe - and possibly having to wait until November. (btw: Chimentan? What thing of beauty is this? If it is a portmanteau of comentar and chismear, then **chef's kiss** ) Meanwhile, reports from Honduras are that for Concacaf, 2020 is simply a no-go for WCQ, with that and the Nations League finals to start next year. No word on the format, but apparently teams are demanding a process in which they get to play at least 10 games.
CONCACAF may still be ok with their format. Hex Teams March 2021 - Matchday 1-2 June2021 - Matchday 3-4 September 2021 - Matchday 5-6 October 2021 - Matchday 7-8 November 2021 - Matchday 9-10 Top 3 from Hex Qualify, 4th place from Hex plays Tier II winner in March 2022. Winner of that plays InterCONTINENTAL playoffs June 2022. Tier II may need more than 10 but I did not use the likely to be added January fixture dates that will help with that.
Or Tier II go to estrict KO format March 2021: Round of 32 (in this case, 29 teams...) June 2021: Round of 16 September 2012: Quarter Finals October 2021: Semifinals November 2021: Final March 2022: CONCACAF Play Off June 2022.: Intercontinental Play Off
Remember that Concacaf has four matchdays in June 2021 to work with - so in your proposal, the Tier II Tournament can get the entire group stage done in March and June, with the knockout rounds from September through November. (The Nations League finals could also take place in June 2021, then.) The downside is that Concacaf would have to pull an about-face from its last announcement on WCQ, in which they said that the format would have to change b/c of the integrity of the process being compromised (specifically, Canada and co. no longer being able to friendly their way into the Hex). Oh man, Landon Donovan would hate this In this option, what you could do instead is have a prelim round (bottom 6) in March 2021 to cut the field down to 32, along with the Gold Cup playoffs and the Nations League finals. Then, you'd have the R32 and the R16 in June. Btw, I would foresee the following convo: Infantino: All well, but why play a Final? Both teams would have already qualified for Qatar. Montagliani: Because - money must be made. Infantino: Of course! Go with my blessing.
UEFA WCQ still on track. 55 teams. 10 matchdays needed for groups. 5 groups of 5 and 5 groups of 6. Group winner qualifies, group runners up advance to playoffs, 2 nations league path slots for 3rd place team not already qualified or advanced. Schedule March 2021 Matchdays 1-2 September 2021 Matchdays 3-4 October 2021 Matchdays 5-6 November 2021 Matchdays 7-8 March 2022 Matchdays 9-10 June 2022 UEFA Playoffs (12 teams, 3 mini tournaments of 4 teams for the last 3 spots. One legged semi-finals and finals.
CONMEBOL WCQ as it stands. If the 3 matchdays get added in January which has been requested by CONMEBOL and been floated around plus AFCON has now been moved to January 2022. If nothing gets played in 2021 this is how the schedule could look. January 2021 Matchdays 1-3 March 2021 Matchdays 4-5 June 2021 Matchdays 6-7 June/July 2021 Copa America September 2021 Matchdays 8-9 October 2021 Matchdays 10-11 November 2021 Matchdays 12-13 January 2022 Matchdays 14-16 March 2022 Matchdays 17-18 Top 4 teams qualify for World Cup. 5th place team advances to intercontinental playoffs. June 2022 Intercontinental playoffs
You made the same mistake as me - the additional window, if it happens, would only be in January 2022 (not Jan 2021). I don't see a way to have the normal CONMEBOL qualifying unless things get started in October 2020. Qatar makes sense if no fans can attend anyway. At least for Oct and Nov of this year and then re-evaluate the situation in South America early next year. If fans are allowed back in stadiums, I'd rather see them play in Madrid and/or London. Less issue with time difference and can get some atmosphere in the stadiums.
You're right. They could do 2 matchdays in October 2020 in Europe and re-examine where they are. If they can play in South America in November, great. If not, 2 more matchdays in Europe in November 2020. This would alter my calendar and change January 2022 to just 2 matchdays during that international break.
Among the slew of comments made by #usmnt national team manager Gregg Berhalter on a conference call with reporters, he said he expects World Cup qualifying to start in November while October int'l window be for other matches. (It sounds like friendlies most likely.)— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 21, 2020
I like this idea. South American teams need some friendlies to get their tactics down and see what they have depth wise. The last time they played was last November so it is almost a year since most managers have had time to work with the players. That is way too long! And in Ecuador's case their manager had not even met with all the players yet.
I don't think there is time to wait 'til November in CONMEBOL's case. The twitter quote was talking about CONCACAF.
Yes, CONCACAF can wait until March 2021 and use the planned format and be fine to get all matches in. CONMEBOL must start qualifiers by October otherwise they need to scrap the format and come up with something else.
The twitter quote, yes, but the article out of Uruguay that I shared did suggest that Conmebol was considering having to start WCQ in Europe in November...taking advantage of the 3-match window UEFA will use for the Euro playoffs/Nations League.
Thanks for clarifying. And I will emphasize again I like the idea. These teams need at least a couple of low pressure friendlies to find their bearings. Managers need time to get their tactics and lineups down and prepared.
On Twitter, plenty of smoke is bellowing out of Central America suggesting that Concacaf will announce its new WCQ format on Monday, with the final round involving 8 teams. The most comprehensive speculation I have seen so far is from La Página in El Salvador, suggesting the following: Round 1 - Bottom 30 teams drawn into 6 groups of 5, implication that the groups would be played at neutral site(s). Top 2 in each group advance. Round 2 - 12 survivors from R1 drawn into two-legged playoff semifinals. Round 3 - 6 survivors from R2 drawn into two-legged playoff finals. These first three rounds would take place from October 2020 to March 2021; the three R3 survivors would join the top 5 in Concacaf in an Octagonal, which would start in April 2021(?). If this is accurate, it would leave 2 questions: when would the Gold Cup playoffs take place (unless Concacaf opts to abandon them)? And would Concacaf still have a Tier II tournament concurrent with the Octagonal?
I wonder if FIFA would be adding an international break in April or CONCACAF petitioning them for one.
Some UEFA leagues have already finalized their 2020-21 fixture list. They don't account for any FIFA break in April.