It's been eight months and a half since the last cycle's crowning moment of glory, and it starts all over again. The Road To North America 2026 opens this week, with two rounds of Conmebol's World Cup Qualifying tournament, to be played on September 7th, 8th and 12th.
For this cycle Conmebol yet again kept the 18-round long double round robin. With 6.5 spots to be played for by 10 teams, that means we'll have 90 games to eliminate just three sides. I figure the rockingness factor won't be too high this time around. If last time was a walk in the park for Brasil and Argentina, this time things should be even easier. The days of a cutthroat qualifying cycle for them are over, I'm afraid. And that should go for most big teams too, which I guess is only natural for a 48-team field.
But anyway, that's what we have and that's what we'll work with. All 10 teams
have already called up their squads for Rounds 1 and 2, so I thought it could
be interesting to have a look at the players and how they're currently valued,
in order to attempt a Round 1 preview.
That's 305 players who ply their trade in 30 different countries spread over 4 continents. The 10 managers are less spread around, though: 7 are from Argentina and 1 from each of Brasil, Peru and Spain.
My source for squads data was Wikipedia and the values come from what I saw on Transfermarkt on September 5th.
In brackets below, the results of these games in the WCQ cycles of 2022/2018/2014/2010/2006/2002/1998 (all the round robin ones so far):
Paraguay - Peru (2-2, 1-4, 1-0, 1-0, 1-1, 5-1, 2-1)
Paraguay
Last WCs (2022 to 1998): DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-QF-R1-R2-R2
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 8th-7th-9th-3rd-4th-4th-2nd
Squad size: 27 (6 domestic, 21 foreign-based, 474 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 118,800,000 (average EUR 4,400,000 per player)
Squad average age: 27.3
Manager: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (ARG)
Peru
Last WCs (2022 to 1998): DNQ-R1-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 5th-5th-7th-10th-9th-8th-5th
Squad size: 26 (11 domestic, 15 foreign-based, 1093 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 38,775,000 (average EUR 1,491,346 per player)
Squad average age: 28.5
Manager: Juan Reynoso (PER)
After the golden generation whose last hurrah was the quarterfinal exit in World Cup 2010, Paraguay never really got close to qualifying again. Apart from one faint shot at the playoffs for the 2018 Cup, which they promptly blew
by losing to Venezuela at home in the last round, they never really stood much of a chance in the last 10 years or so. In Copa America they have been equally underwhelming, though admittedly it's impressive how much they could milk out of 3 wins in 24 games, plus half a dozen penalty shootouts since 2011:
one final and one semifinal, both times eliminating Brasil.
I don't think they are any better than that nowadays, but with such a lower qualifying threshold I can definitely can see them putting up a challenge this time around. Their main players are defender Gustavo Gomez (also their captain) and Newcastle's Miguel Almiron.
Peru has been doing what their rivals Chile did in the last few years. They are milking as much as they can from the generation that brought them back to the World Cup in 2018, after a 36-year long abscence, and then to a Copa America final after 44 years. Not a single member of that squad was alive when they had last qualified to the WC, in 1982, but 14 of them are still in the present one, which has the highest average age, the highest overall total
of caps of the field and the oldest of the 305 players called up for these two rounds, 39-year old Paolo Guerrero.
I think they too should be happy that there are so many spots available now. For this game, to be held in Estadio Antonio Aranda (Ciudad del Este), I have
no idea really. Two unimpressive teams overall, I can smell a 1-1 draw here. In soph terms: Paraguay 0.35, draw 0.35, Peru 0.30.
Colombia - Venezuela (3-0, 2-0, 1-1, 1-0, 0-1, 3-0, 1-0)
Colombia
Last WCs (2022 to 1998): DNQ-R2-QF-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-R1
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 6th-4th-2nd-7th-6th-6th-3rd
Squad size: 26 (1 domestic, 25 foreign-based, 696 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 274,750,000 (average EUR 10,567,308 per player)
Squad average age: 27.8
Manager: Nestor Lorenzo (ARG)
Venezuela
Last WCs (2022 to 1998): DNQ's all the way
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 10th-10th-6th-8th-8th-9th-9th
Squad size: 29 (2 domestic, 27 foreign-based players, 918 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 46,200,000 (average EUR 1,593,103 per player)
Squad average age: 28.0
Manager: Fernando Batista (ARG)
Last time around, Colombia just missed out on a playoff spot due to having embarked on a long winless slump, which they got out of too late. They still have a core of players from WC'2018, 11 from that squad are present for these
two rounds, plus a few other good players around, out of which stands out Liverpool's Luis Diaz. With 6.5 spots, they seem well-posed to clinch one of the automatic places. Though it would be wise if they took in the lessons of last cycle's failure and avoid turning off their form for such a long period.
I don't expect much out of Venezuela, though. Their core is still the same one
that could do no better than 10th and last in the 2018 and 2022 cycles. In these cycles they were 12 and 9 points off 7th place. If they can put on some
drastic improvement, things could get interesting in the playoff whereabouts.
And I hope they do, it would be nice to see them finally making it, but so far
I can't see where it'd come from.
This game will be played at Estadio Metropolitano de Barranquilla, where you'd
think the hosts should be able to do the job. But fwiw it is a derby, so it may
turn out to be closer than expected. I say Colombia wins 2-1. In soph-terms: Colombia 0.75, draw 0.15, Venezuela 0.10.
Argentina - Ecuador (1-0, 0-2, 4-0, 1-1, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1)
Argentina
Last WCS (2022 to 1998): Champions-R1-Vice Champions-QF-QF-R1-QF
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 2nd-3rd-1st-4th-2nd-1st-1st
Squad size: 33 (1 domestic, 32 foreign-based, 977 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 877,200,000 (average EUR 26,581,818 per player)
Squad average age: 26.5
Manager: Lionel Scaloni (ARG)
Ecuador
Last WCs (2022 to 1998): R1-DNQ-R1-DNQ-R2-R1-DNQ
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 4th-8th-4th-6th-3rd-2nd-6th
Squad size: 23 (8 domestic, 15 foreign-based, 495 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 171,900,000 (average EUR 7,473,913 per player)
Squad average age: 25.3
Manager: Félix Sánchez Bas (ESP)
Argentina called 33 players for their games against Ecuador and Bolivia.
22 of these were in their last World Cup squad, ie, everyone except Marcos Acuña, Geronimo Rulli, Papu Gomez and Paulo Dybala. They come with morale up in the sky and are the team to beat, no doubt. I think they'll cruise through qualification without too much trouble. Scaloni will have plenty
of opportunities to fine tune the team, test new players and phase out old ones as he sees fit. If they keep overconfidence in check, I think they should come in strong for both their title defenses in 2024 and 2026.
Ecuador kept 15 players from their WC'2022 squad, in which they fell in the first round, though hardly disgraced themselves. They do have some decent players and I think they can be a tough nut to crack. Plus, they have the altitude of Quito as well. I can see them putting a solid challenge for one of the automatic qualifying places.
For this match at El Monumental, Argentina are the heavy favorites. Ecuador won't roll over, and them getting points in Buenos Aires is not unheard of, but that would an upset. I'd say Argentina 2-0. In soph-terms: Argentina 0.80,
draw 0.10, Ecuador 0.10.
Uruguay - Chile (2-1, 3-0, 4-0, 2-2, 2-1, 2-1, 1-0)
Uruguay
Last WCs (2022 to 1998): R1-QF-R2-SF-DNQ-R1-DNQ
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 3rd-2nd-5th-5th-5th-5th-7th
Squad size: 25 (all foreign-based, 310 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 352,800,000 (average EUR 14,112,000 per player)
Squad average age: 24.6
Manager: Marcelo Bielsa (ARG)
Chile
Last WCs (2022 to 1998): DNQ-DNQ-R2-R2-DNQ-DNQ-R2
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 7th-6th-3rd-2nd-7th-10th-4th
Squad size: 45 (22 domestic, 23 foreign-based, 876 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 102,675,000 (average EUR 2,281,667 per player)
Squad average age: 25.1
Manager: Eduardo Berizzo (ARG)
Uruguay could be a rather interesting team to follow over this qualifying cycle.
For his first World Cup qualifying match with La Celeste, Marcelo Bielsa picked a
rejuvenated squad, the oldest player being goalkeeper Sebastian Roche (age 30).
Old stalwarts such as Suarez, Cavani, Gimenez, Caceres and Muslera, almost all
of which on 100+ caps, were left out. But 13 of the 25 squad members have been
in the World Cup squads of 2018 and/or 2022, so it's not a complete overhaul.
Plus, there's the matter of how well will Bielsa's be able to implement his style
and philosophy effectively in the Uruguayan team.
And of course Bielsa's first WCQ game has to be against his old friends Chile.
Though Bielsa never actually won anything with them in his tenure, from 2007 to
2011, there is no doubt he did sow the seeds, and his ideas and influence were
clear in their two very long overdue Copa America winning runs of 2015 and 2016
(Chile has the second oldest FA of South America, from 1895, and is a founder
member of Conmebol among with the top three). Plus the decent WC showing in 2014,
where they were a shot in the bar away from eliminating the hosts in the second
round.
But today's Chile is not Bielsa's Chile. Although they still count with the likes
of Medel, Alexis, Vidal and Aranguiz (548 caps amongst them), they also brought
in a lot of young players from the local championship. Indeed, they called up
45 players for these two rounds, no idea what for. At the moment I don't expect
much from La Roja. I can see them struggling for the last available spots with
Paraguay and Peru.
I don't think Chile ever beat Uruguay at Estadio Centenário, plus the hosts seem
to have the better team, so I'll call a 2-0 win for La Celeste. In soph-terms,
Uruguay 0.85, draw 0.10, Chile 0.05.
Brasil - Bolivia (5-0, 5-0, n/a, 0-0, 3-1, 5-0, n/a)
Brasil
Last WCs (2022 to 1998): QF-QF-SF-QF-QF-Champions-Vice Champions
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 1st-1st-DNP (host)-1st-1st-3rd-DNP (defending champion)
Squad size: 23 (4 domestic, 19 foreign-based, 547 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 928,000,000 (average EUR 40,347,826 per player)
Squad average age: 26.1
Manager: Fernando Diniz (BRA)
Bolivia
Last WCs (2022 to 1998): DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 9th-9th-8th-9th-10th-7th-8th
Squad size: 48 (38 domestic, 10 foreign-based, 486 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 21,225,000 (average EUR 442,188 per player)
Squad average age: 23.6
Manager: Gustavo Costas (ARG)
The other continental juggernaut, Brasil is also expected to cruise through this qualifying cycle. The most immediate challenge is coaching: even though CBF knew that Tite wasn't going to stay on regardless of what happened in Qatar,
it seems like their only Plan B was to try to lure Carlo Ancelotti as his replacement. They act as if it's all but certain, even if Ancelotti himself has
only ever been, at best, diplomatic about it. As far as I know he never gave an
unambiguous yes, but rather said things like, "it'd certainly be an honor, but
I'm currently under contract with Real Madrid", etc.
So, while they await for Ancelotti, they had to bring on a placeholder. At first it was Ramon Menezes, who was in charge in the friendly losses to Morocco
and Senegal. Now it is Fluminense manager Fernando Diniz, whose style of play
is usually commended, but still has to win a big honour. His first trophy as a
coach was this year, as he led Fluminense to win the Rio State League. We'll soon learn how Diniz copes with national team coaching, which is quite a different
thing than doing it at club level. And if Ancelotti indeed doesn't come (and I
think he probably won't), Copa America 2024 will be his first great test.
(btw, although Neymar is injured, he was called up so I considered his numbers
when calculating the above ones)
Bolivia is the polar opposite of the big sides, which they'll face in the opening
rounds. I couldn't figure out why they called up a staggering 48 players for their matches against Brasil and Argentina. At first I thought they were going
to keep a team in La Paz and another would travel, but somewhere I saw a mention
that this does include an U-23 friendly in there somewhere, which helps to explain
the squad's low average age, but didn't even find out the opponent. Oh well.
It's a little hard to write off anyone when the playoff line is as low as 7th,
but I still don't know if it's wise to expect Bolivia to put up a challenge. Last
time they finished 4 points from 7th, which was good for their standards. They're
still the weakest team around, I think we'll have a repeat of their old pattern of
getting all their points at home and being useless away.
All due respect to La Verde, Brasil opens with the easiest fixture possible at
Estadio Mangueirão, in Belém. I'll make it a 3-0 (in soph-terms: Brasil 1, draw 0,
Bolivia 0).
So, there it is. Overall, at the moment I see the teams being split roughly in four
tiers:
Tier 1 -> should qualify on autopilot. Brasil and Argentina surely, maybe Uruguay
too;
Tier 2 -> without the three above, there are 3.5 spots for seven teams. I think
Colombia and Ecuador look a little better than the rest and should ensure two of
the automatic spots for themselves. Maybe Uruguay actually belongs here?;
Tier 3 -> that leaves 1.5 spots for the remaining five teams. I can see Chile, Peru
and Paraguay as frontrunning candidates for these; and
Tier 4 -> Bolivia and Venezuela, really. They don't inspire any confidence. But if
they raise their game, the qualifying threshold is right there, so who knows...
Best regards,
Lléo
On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 4:05:00 p.m. UTC-4, Lléo wrote:
It's been eight months and a half since the last cycle's crowning moment of
glory, and it starts all over again. The Road To North America 2026 opens this week, with two rounds of Conmebol's World Cup Qualifying tournament, to
be played on September 7th, 8th and 12th.
It seems so early to be starting WC qualifying, we just had a WC what seems just a few months ago. As an aside, if ever the was a time to bring up an argument for Winter WC's now would be a good time, even here on the Iceberg it is a miserable 40C today!!!!
For this cycle Conmebol yet again kept the 18-round long double round robin.
With 6.5 spots to be played for by 10 teams, that means we'll have 90 games
to eliminate just three sides. I figure the rockingness factor won't be too
high this time around. If last time was a walk in the park for Brasil and Argentina, this time things should be even easier. The days of a cutthroat qualifying cycle for them are over, I'm afraid. And that should go for most
big teams too, which I guess is only natural for a 48-team field.
Yeah, I like new teams and the diversity of the 48 team WC, but yeah, it seems a lot, also means only countries with dozens of stadiums or multiple countries will be hosting from now on.
Unless they decide 48 is too much, but they wont.
Anyhow this means Venezuela may actually make a WC in my
lifetime.
That's 305 players who ply their trade in 30 different countries spread over
4 continents. The 10 managers are less spread around, though: 7 are from Argentina and 1 from each of Brasil, Peru and Spain.
Wow! Seven Argie managers, that is kinda impressive.
[Argentina vs Ecuador]
But wait, will Miami let Messi play in qualifiers???
They need him so badly to get out of last place and make the play offs!
I dont even know if it is mathematically possible for Inter Miami to make the playoffs?
[SNIP]
But today's Chile is not Bielsa's Chile. Although they still count with the likes
of Medel, Alexis, Vidal and Aranguiz (548 caps amongst them), they also brought
in a lot of young players from the local championship. Indeed, they called up
45 players for these two rounds, no idea what for. At the moment I don't expect
much from La Roja. I can see them struggling for the last available spots with
Paraguay and Peru.
I don't think Chile ever beat Uruguay at Estadio Centenário, plus the hosts seem
to have the better team, so I'll call a 2-0 win for La Celeste. In soph-terms,
Uruguay 0.85, draw 0.10, Chile 0.05.
Yeah Chile are still relying on the old guys, lots of young players coming up, who play in Chile, just not sure if they are good enough? As terrible as it sounds, I could see Chile missing out on qualifying this time, but who knows, maybe these domestic based kids will be alright?
Brasil - Bolivia (5-0, 5-0, n/a, 0-0, 3-1, 5-0, n/a)
Brasil
Last WCs (2022 to 1998): QF-QF-SF-QF-QF-Champions-Vice Champions
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 1st-1st-DNP (host)-1st-1st-3rd-DNP (defending champion)
Squad size: 23 (4 domestic, 19 foreign-based, 547 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 928,000,000 (average EUR 40,347,826 per player)
Squad average age: 26.1
Manager: Fernando Diniz (BRA)
Bolivia
Last WCs (2022 to 1998): DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ
Last WCQs (2022 to 1998): 9th-9th-8th-9th-10th-7th-8th
Squad size: 48 (38 domestic, 10 foreign-based, 486 caps total)
Squad value: EUR 21,225,000 (average EUR 442,188 per player)
Squad average age: 23.6
Manager: Gustavo Costas (ARG)
The other continental juggernaut, Brasil is also expected to cruise through
this qualifying cycle. The most immediate challenge is coaching: even though
CBF knew that Tite wasn't going to stay on regardless of what happened in Qatar,
it seems like their only Plan B was to try to lure Carlo Ancelotti as his replacement. They act as if it's all but certain, even if Ancelotti himself has
only ever been, at best, diplomatic about it. As far as I know he never gave an
unambiguous yes, but rather said things like, "it'd certainly be an honor, but
I'm currently under contract with Real Madrid", etc.
So, while they await for Ancelotti, they had to bring on a placeholder. At first it was Ramon Menezes, who was in charge in the friendly losses to Morocco
and Senegal. Now it is Fluminense manager Fernando Diniz, whose style of play
is usually commended, but still has to win a big honour. His first trophy as a
coach was this year, as he led Fluminense to win the Rio State League. We'll
soon learn how Diniz copes with national team coaching, which is quite a different
thing than doing it at club level. And if Ancelotti indeed doesn't come (and I
think he probably won't), Copa America 2024 will be his first great test.
[SNIP Bolivian preview and my predictions]
I dont know how you feel about Brazil having a foreign manager and in todays Global world, it should not be a shock, but if Germany went with a foreign manager, regardless how bad they are ( and they are terrible, they wont get out of the first round of the Euros they are hosting next summer) I just would not feel right about it.
On Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 3:43:58 PM UTC-4, Lléo wrote:Canada's home field advantage. Not so sure that FIFA honchos and neutral fans would love that, though...
Em quarta-feira, 6 de setembro de 2023 às 15:36:57 UTC-3, Binder Dundat escreveu:Great commentary as usual.
On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 4:05:00 p.m. UTC-4, Lléo wrote:
It's been eight months and a half since the last cycle's crowning moment of
glory, and it starts all over again. The Road To North America 2026 opens
this week, with two rounds of Conmebol's World Cup Qualifying tournament, to
be played on September 7th, 8th and 12th.
Canada and the US made a deliberate effort in the last qualifying cycle to have their home winter matches in the coldest possible venues (both Canada-Mexico and Canada-USA had sub-zero celsius temperatures at kickoff). That was good for enhancingIt seems so early to be starting WC qualifying, we just had a WC what seemsBut would it be feasible to do it in Canada (and even nothern US cities) in
just a few months ago. As an aside, if ever the was a time to bring up an
argument for Winter WC's now would be a good time, even here on the Iceberg
it is a miserable 40C today!!!!
November/December?
One of the nice things in a 48-team WC is that it gives marginal teams hope of making it to the big stage.Anyhow this means Venezuela may actually make a WC in myI hope they make it, though I think they're as weak as in the last few years.
lifetime.
Anyway, with 6.5 spots, it's hard to write them off. They only need to hit a reasonable patch of good form.
[Argentina vs Ecuador]
He played and scored the winner with a perfectly placed free kick in the 78th minute. Just Messi being Messi.But wait, will Miami let Messi play in qualifiers???Well, they have to, don't they? It's a FIFA matchday, they have to release him. Plus, in any case, I think Miami's voice is the one that won't weight much on this issue. I think that for as long as Messi wants to play for Argentina, and for as long as they'll have him, he'll play.
It's really remarkable though how Messi (+ Busquests and Jordi Alba) has apparently made everyone else on the Miami roster better.They need him so badly to get out of last place and make the play offs! I dont even know if it is mathematically possible for Inter Miami to makeThey have to cover 8 points in 9 matchdays to make the wild card round, if I'm reading this table correctly. Though possible, it's difficult. A direct
the playoffs?
spot in the actual Round One of the MLS Cup is 15 points away atm, so that might indeed be beyond their reach, for all practical purposes.
Ancelotti would have been heads and shoulders better than our domestic options,
if he were/is to come, and it shouldn't be hard to think of a few other possible
candidates. Then again, I think he also never managed a national team before
either, so who knows what would actually happen.
The fact that he has never managed an NT should be a big question mark. I guess he may have been expected to take the Italy job, but Mancini's sudden resignation (or rather, the poaching of Mancini by the Saudi FA) messed up those plans.
Em quarta-feira, 6 de setembro de 2023 às 15:36:57 UTC-3, Binder Dundat escreveu:
On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 4:05:00 p.m. UTC-4, Lléo wrote:
It's been eight months and a half since the last cycle's crowning moment of
glory, and it starts all over again. The Road To North America 2026 opens
this week, with two rounds of Conmebol's World Cup Qualifying tournament, to
be played on September 7th, 8th and 12th.
It seems so early to be starting WC qualifying, we just had a WC what seemsBut would it be feasible to do it in Canada (and even nothern US cities) in November/December?
just a few months ago. As an aside, if ever the was a time to bring up an argument for Winter WC's now would be a good time, even here on the Iceberg
it is a miserable 40C today!!!!
Anyhow this means Venezuela may actually make a WC in myI hope they make it, though I think they're as weak as in the last few years.
lifetime.
Anyway, with 6.5 spots, it's hard to write them off. They only need to hit
a reasonable patch of good form.
[Argentina vs Ecuador]
But wait, will Miami let Messi play in qualifiers???Well, they have to, don't they? It's a FIFA matchday, they have to release him. Plus, in any case, I think Miami's voice is the one that won't weight much on this issue. I think that for as long as Messi wants to play for Argentina, and for as long as they'll have him, he'll play.
They need him so badly to get out of last place and make the play offs!They have to cover 8 points in 9 matchdays to make the wild card round, if I'm reading this table correctly. Though possible, it's difficult. A direct spot in the actual Round One of the MLS Cup is 15 points away atm, so that might indeed be beyond their reach, for all practical purposes.
I dont even know if it is mathematically possible for Inter Miami to make the playoffs?
Ancelotti would have been heads and shoulders better than our domestic options,
if he were/is to come, and it shouldn't be hard to think of a few other possible
candidates. Then again, I think he also never managed a national team before either, so who knows what would actually happen.
Em quarta-feira, 6 de setembro de 2023 às 15:36:57 UTC-3, Binder Dundat escreveu:
On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 4:05:00 p.m. UTC-4, Lléo wrote:
It's been eight months and a half since the last cycle's crowning moment of >>> glory, and it starts all over again. The Road To North America 2026 opens >>> this week, with two rounds of Conmebol's World Cup Qualifying tournament, to
be played on September 7th, 8th and 12th.
It seems so early to be starting WC qualifying, we just had a WC what seems >> just a few months ago. As an aside, if ever the was a time to bring up an
argument for Winter WC's now would be a good time, even here on the Iceberg >> it is a miserable 40C today!!!!
But would it be feasible to do it in Canada (and even nothern US cities) in November/December?
For this cycle Conmebol yet again kept the 18-round long double round robin.
With 6.5 spots to be played for by 10 teams, that means we'll have 90 games >>> to eliminate just three sides. I figure the rockingness factor won't be too >>> high this time around. If last time was a walk in the park for Brasil and >>> Argentina, this time things should be even easier. The days of a cutthroat >>> qualifying cycle for them are over, I'm afraid. And that should go for most >>> big teams too, which I guess is only natural for a 48-team field.
Yeah, I like new teams and the diversity of the 48 team WC, but yeah, it
seems a lot, also means only countries with dozens of stadiums or multiple >> countries will be hosting from now on.
On 2023-09-07 13:43, Lléo wrote:
Em quarta-feira, 6 de setembro de 2023 às 15:36:57 UTC-3, Binder Dundat escreveu:
On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 4:05:00 p.m. UTC-4, Lléo wrote:
It's been eight months and a half since the last cycle's crowning moment of
glory, and it starts all over again. The Road To North America 2026 opens
this week, with two rounds of Conmebol's World Cup Qualifying tournament, to
be played on September 7th, 8th and 12th.
It seems so early to be starting WC qualifying, we just had a WC what seems
just a few months ago. As an aside, if ever the was a time to bring up an >> argument for Winter WC's now would be a good time, even here on the Iceberg
it is a miserable 40C today!!!!
But would it be feasible to do it in Canada (and even nothern US cities) innope. Vancouver or Victoria maybe but Victoria does not have an adequate facility. One could argue that Vancouver does not either, but I suppose
November/December?
they could put in a decent grass field by then
Toronto/Montreal would be very risky, and Edmonton foolhardy.
How many facilities are needed and what is the minimum capacity ?For this cycle Conmebol yet again kept the 18-round long double round robin.
With 6.5 spots to be played for by 10 teams, that means we'll have 90 games
to eliminate just three sides. I figure the rockingness factor won't be too
high this time around. If last time was a walk in the park for Brasil and
Argentina, this time things should be even easier. The days of a cutthroat
qualifying cycle for them are over, I'm afraid. And that should go for most
big teams too, which I guess is only natural for a 48-team field.
Yeah, I like new teams and the diversity of the 48 team WC, but yeah, it >> seems a lot, also means only countries with dozens of stadiums or multiple
countries will be hosting from now on.
Spain should be able to host, I would imagine.
England and Germany for
sure.
Turkey perhaps though maybe that places far too many games in
the Istanbul area (4 Stadiums over 40,000 in one city !)
Why is the internet so unreliable? My predictions didn't show up. If I remember correctly, they were:Lleo 90 points
Paraguay 2 Peru 2
Colombia 2 Venezuela 0Lleo 90
Argentina 2 Ecuador 0Lleo 85
Uruguay 1 Chile 0Lleo 90
Brazil 5 Bolivia 0Lleo 60
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