This thread may seem a little premature, but AFC have announced how the Asian qualifiers for World Cup 2026 will work:
1) Preliminary joint qualification round 1: the teams ranked 26 to 47 are paired and play each other on a home and away basis.
In many ways this is cruelest qualifying round of all. 11 teams will have their World Cup dream ended after only two matches and whilst the timetable hasn't been decided, usually some three years before the World Cup. :(
2) Preliminary joint qualification round 2: The 11 winners from the previous round join the teams ranked 1 to 25. The teams will be divided into nine groups of four. Teams play each other home and away. The top two teams from each group advance to theAFC Asian qualifiers.
3) AFC Asian qualifiers: The 18 teams who advanced from the previous round will be divided into three groups of six. Teams play each other home and away and the top two teams from each group qualify for the 2026 World Cup!
4) Asian Playoff: The third and fourth placed teams from the previous round will be drawn into two groups of three. Teams will play each other once. The two first placed teams will qualify for the World Cup! The second placed teams will compete in aplayoff to determine who will represent AFC in the Intercontinental playoff!
AFC will have 8 guaranteed places at World Cup 2026 plus the possibility of a further spot via the Intercontinental playoff.
I know we haven't got Qatar 2022 out of the way yet, but I'm kind of excited that World Cup 2026 is (sort of) getting ready to get under way!
Please use this thread to discuss any World Cup 2026 qualifying news and match reports. Let's honour the biggest World Cup ever with an equally big qualifying thread!
RM
This thread may seem a little premature, but AFC have announced how the Asian qualifiers for World Cup 2026 will work:
1) Preliminary joint qualification round 1: the teams ranked 26 to 47 are paired and play each other on a home and away basis.
In many ways this is cruelest qualifying round of all. 11 teams will have their World Cup dream ended after only two matches and whilst the timetable hasn't been decided, usually some three years before the World Cup. :(
2) Preliminary joint qualification round 2: The 11 winners from the previous round join the teams ranked 1 to 25. The teams will be divided into nine groups of four. Teams play each other home and away. The top two teams from each group advance to theAFC Asian qualifiers.
3) AFC Asian qualifiers: The 18 teams who advanced from the previous round will be divided into three groups of six. Teams play each other home and away and the top two teams from each group qualify for the 2026 World Cup!
4) Asian Playoff: The third and fourth placed teams from the previous round will be drawn into two groups of three. Teams will play each other once. The two first placed teams will qualify for the World Cup! The second placed teams will compete in aplayoff to determine who will represent AFC in the Intercontinental playoff!
1) Preliminary joint qualification round 1: the teams ranked 26 to
47 are paired and play each other on a home and away basis.
On 2022-08-04 15:11, Real Mardin wrote:
This thread may seem a little premature, but AFC have announced how the Asian qualifiers for World Cup 2026 will work:
1) Preliminary joint qualification round 1: the teams ranked 26 to 47 are paired and play each other on a home and away basis.
In many ways this is cruelest qualifying round of all. 11 teams will have their World Cup dream ended after only two matches and whilst the timetable hasn't been decided, usually some three years before the World Cup. :(
the AFC Asian qualifiers.2) Preliminary joint qualification round 2: The 11 winners from the previous round join the teams ranked 1 to 25. The teams will be divided into nine groups of four. Teams play each other home and away. The top two teams from each group advance to
3) AFC Asian qualifiers: The 18 teams who advanced from the previous round will be divided into three groups of six. Teams play each other home and away and the top two teams from each group qualify for the 2026 World Cup!
playoff to determine who will represent AFC in the Intercontinental playoff!4) Asian Playoff: The third and fourth placed teams from the previous round will be drawn into two groups of three. Teams will play each other once. The two first placed teams will qualify for the World Cup! The second placed teams will compete in a
AFC will have 8 guaranteed places at World Cup 2026 plus the possibility of a further spot via the Intercontinental playoff.48 teams seems like too many to me, even if it does enhance the chances
of both Canada and Scotland qualifying for the first time since 1986.
And I hate the fact that it involves groups of 3 teams, which can't be
a good thing (think second round of WC 1982 - except maybe worse with 2 teams going forward - which makes the prospect of biscotti quite real.
But the different amount of rest teams will have had is an issue).
Il giorno Thu 04 Aug 2022 11:11:34p, *Real Mardin* ha inviato su rec.sport.soccer il messaggio
news:041ff2de-ab71-47b7...@googlegroups.com. Vediamo
cosa ha scritto:
1) Preliminary joint qualification round 1: the teams ranked 26 to
47 are paired and play each other on a home and away basis.
why only 47?
according to http://www.eloratings.net/Asia there are at least 58 teams
in Asia: maybe not all of them are considered WC teams, i.e. Tibet or
Chagos Islands
Who is missing?
Il giorno Thu 04 Aug 2022 11:11:34p, *Real Mardin* ha inviato su rec.sport.soccer il messaggio
news:041ff2de-ab71-47b7...@googlegroups.com. Vediamo
cosa ha scritto:
1) Preliminary joint qualification round 1: the teams ranked 26 to
47 are paired and play each other on a home and away basis.
why only 47?
according to http://www.eloratings.net/Asia there are at least 58 teams
in Asia: maybe not all of them are considered WC teams, i.e. Tibet or
Chagos Islands
Who is missing?
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........... [ al lavoro ] ...........
This thread may seem a little premature, but AFC have announced how the Asian qualifiers for World Cup 2026 will work:
1) Preliminary joint qualification round 1: the teams ranked 26 to 47 are paired and play each other on a home and away basis.
In many ways this is cruelest qualifying round of all. 11 teams will have their World Cup dream ended after only two matches and whilst the timetable hasn't been decided, usually some three years before the World Cup. :(
2) Preliminary joint qualification round 2: The 11 winners from the previous round join the teams ranked 1 to 25. The teams will be divided into nine groups of four. Teams play each other home and away. The top two teams from each group advance to theAFC Asian qualifiers.
3) AFC Asian qualifiers: The 18 teams who advanced from the previous round will be divided into three groups of six. Teams play each other home and away and the top two teams from each group qualify for the 2026 World Cup!
4) Asian Playoff: The third and fourth placed teams from the previous round will be drawn into two groups of three. Teams will play each other once. The two first placed teams will qualify for the World Cup! The second placed teams will compete in aplayoff to determine who will represent AFC in the Intercontinental playoff!
AFC will have 8 guaranteed places at World Cup 2026 plus the possibility of a further spot via the Intercontinental playoff.
I know we haven't got Qatar 2022 out of the way yet, but I'm kind of excited that World Cup 2026 is (sort of) getting ready to get under way!
Please use this thread to discuss any World Cup 2026 qualifying news and match reports. Let's honour the biggest World Cup ever with an equally big qualifying thread!
RM
CONMEBOL previously confirmed that it will keep the 10 team league format
for the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, with each team playing each other home
and away. Ecuador will start with a 3 point penalty as a punishment for falsifying birth documents for Byron Castillo in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The top 6 teams qualify for World Cup 2026, with the 7th placed team getting a second chance to qualify via the inter confederation play offs.
The CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign (apparently) starts in March 2023, which seems quite soon given the 2022 World Cup only finished yesterday!
If they stick with three-team groups at WC 2026, they will obviously have
to introduce penalty shoot-outs in the group phase to reduce the chance of three-way ties.
Em segunda-feira, 19 de dezembro de 2022 às 23:29:42 UTC-3, Sheridan Elliot escreveu:
If they stick with three-team groups at WC 2026, they will obviously have to introduce penalty shoot-outs in the group phase to reduce the chance of three-way ties.Yet another reason why three team groups are a bad idea. I was thinking of the possibility of collusions, but this too is an issue.
Btw, this could have happened in 1982 too. Does anyone know how would they have handled it, had it happened? At least back then they could also consider
first round records too
(though, however improbable, it could happen that even these wouldn't be enough to break a tie).
Em segunda-feira, 19 de dezembro de 2022 às 23:29:42 UTC-3, Sheridan Elliot escreveu:
If they stick with three-team groups at WC 2026, they will obviously have to introduce penalty shoot-outs in the group phase to reduce the chance of three-way ties.Yet another reason why three team groups are a bad idea. I was thinking of the possibility of collusions, but this too is an issue.
Btw, this could have happened in 1982 too. Does anyone know how would they have handled it, had it happened? At least back then they could also consider
first round records too (though, however improbable, it could happen that even
these wouldn't be enough to break a tie).
Best regards,
Lléo
Didn't know about this, but England obviously complained about
drawing of the lots (calling it 'stupid') even before their match
against Spain, arguing that in case of a perfect tie (which would
have been the case if they had beaten Spain 2-1; in reality, the
match ended 0-0) they should be ahead of West Germany due to their
better first round group stage record (not to speak of how W. Germany qualified), and FIFA said no, you've known about the regulations for
four years, you should have said something earlier.
If they stick with three-team groups at WC 2026,
On Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 5:17:59 AM UTC+1, Lléo wrote:
Em segunda-feira, 19 de dezembro de 2022 às 23:29:42 UTC-3, Sheridan Elliot escreveu:
If they stick with three-team groups at WC 2026, they will obviously
have to introduce penalty shoot-outs in the group phase to reduce the chance of three-way ties.
Yet another reason why three team groups are a bad idea. I was thinking of the possibility of collusions, but this too is an issue.
Btw, this could have happened in 1982 too. Does anyone know how would they have handled it, had it happened? At least back then they could also consider
first round records too
I must have mentally skipped this part of your message. Sorry that I just repeated what you already wrote.
(though, however improbable, it could happen that even these wouldn't be enough to break a tie).
Not so improbable though, as the England example shows.
Em terça-feira, 20 de dezembro de 2022 às 05:19:53 UTC-3, Werner Pichler escreveu:
On Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 5:17:59 AM UTC+1, Lléo wrote:
Em segunda-feira, 19 de dezembro de 2022 às 23:29:42 UTC-3, Sheridan Elliot escreveu:
If they stick with three-team groups at WC 2026, they will obviously have to introduce penalty shoot-outs in the group phase to reduce the chance of three-way ties.
Yet another reason why three team groups are a bad idea. I was thinking of
the possibility of collusions, but this too is an issue.
Btw, this could have happened in 1982 too. Does anyone know how would they
have handled it, had it happened? At least back then they could also consider
first round records too
I must have mentally skipped this part of your message. Sorry that I just repeated what you already wrote.I was actually just wondering about that possibility, I didn't know that for a fact. So I indeed learned something from your information.
(though, however improbable, it could happen that even these wouldn't be enough to break a tie).
Not so improbable though, as the England example shows.Yes, it was close enough. And about the English complaints, while I agree with
their gist, they should indeed have raised them a lot earlier. I mean, FIFA was never going to change the rules that deep into the tournament.
Best regards,
Lléo
On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 4:53:51 AM UTC, Lléo wrote:
Em terça-feira, 20 de dezembro de 2022 às 05:19:53 UTC-3, Werner Pichler escreveu:
On Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 5:17:59 AM UTC+1, Lléo wrote:
Em segunda-feira, 19 de dezembro de 2022 às 23:29:42 UTC-3, Sheridan Elliot escreveu:
If they stick with three-team groups at WC 2026, they will obviously have to introduce penalty shoot-outs in the group phase to reduce the
chance of three-way ties.
Yet another reason why three team groups are a bad idea. I was thinking of
the possibility of collusions, but this too is an issue.
Btw, this could have happened in 1982 too. Does anyone know how would they
have handled it, had it happened? At least back then they could also consider
first round records too
I must have mentally skipped this part of your message. Sorry that I justI was actually just wondering about that possibility, I didn't know that for
repeated what you already wrote.
a fact. So I indeed learned something from your information.
(though, however improbable, it could happen that even these wouldn't be
enough to break a tie).
Not so improbable though, as the England example shows.Yes, it was close enough. And about the English complaints, while I agree with
their gist, they should indeed have raised them a lot earlier. I mean, FIFA
was never going to change the rules that deep into the tournament.
Best regards,
LléoSTOP PRESS
UEFA announce change to qualifying format to be implemented as of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
The qualifying process will now be 12 groups, some of four teams, some of five.
The first placed teams in each group qualify for the World Cup, with the runners up going into a qualification playoff.
Further details and commentary to follow.
RM
On Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 4:56:18 PM UTC, Real Mardin wrote:
On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 4:53:51 AM UTC, Lléo wrote:
Em terça-feira, 20 de dezembro de 2022 às 05:19:53 UTC-3, Werner Pichler escreveu:
On Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 5:17:59 AM UTC+1, Lléo wrote:
Em segunda-feira, 19 de dezembro de 2022 às 23:29:42 UTC-3, Sheridan Elliot escreveu:
If they stick with three-team groups at WC 2026, they will obviously
have to introduce penalty shoot-outs in the group phase to reduce the
chance of three-way ties.
Yet another reason why three team groups are a bad idea. I was thinking of
the possibility of collusions, but this too is an issue.
Btw, this could have happened in 1982 too. Does anyone know how would they
have handled it, had it happened? At least back then they could also consider
first round records too
I must have mentally skipped this part of your message. Sorry that I justI was actually just wondering about that possibility, I didn't know that for
repeated what you already wrote.
a fact. So I indeed learned something from your information.
(though, however improbable, it could happen that even these wouldn't be
enough to break a tie).
Not so improbable though, as the England example shows.Yes, it was close enough. And about the English complaints, while I agree with
their gist, they should indeed have raised them a lot earlier. I mean, FIFA
was never going to change the rules that deep into the tournament.
Best regards,
LléoSTOP PRESS
UEFA announce change to qualifying format to be implemented as of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
The qualifying process will now be 12 groups, some of four teams, some of five.
The first placed teams in each group qualify for the World Cup, with the runners up going into a qualification playoff.
Further details and commentary to follow.
qualifying process, perhaps by having the top four ranked teams in the Euros qualify for the World Cup.RMIt had been announced in advance that UEFA would be changing it's qualifying format post Euro 2024. Thoughts turned to possibilities such as turning the system into a league or of integrating the European Championship or Nations League into the
Instead, what was announced was quite underwhelming. Not a change of format at all really, more of a tinkering. Still a system that has the European Championship and the World Cup qualifiers existing in isolation. Still a group based qualificationsystem, only there will be more, smaller groups.
The media release which announced the change claims that smaller groups are more dynamic and less predictable than larger groups. I looked back at some qualifying group results when UEFA used to have four team groups in the 80's and early 90's, and yes,there were some groups where the top two or even three spots were close. But then you get the same with 6 team groups. Plus even the most competitive four team groups don't solve the problem of the minnow who finishes so far behind the rest that matches
It feels like this was a missed opportunity to reform the UEFA qualifiers.
RM
On Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 10:55:20 PM UTC, Real Mardin wrote:
On Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 4:56:18 PM UTC, Real Mardin wrote:
On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 4:53:51 AM UTC, Lléo wrote:
Em terça-feira, 20 de dezembro de 2022 às 05:19:53 UTC-3, Werner Pichler escreveu:
On Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 5:17:59 AM UTC+1, Lléo wrote:
Em segunda-feira, 19 de dezembro de 2022 às 23:29:42 UTC-3, Sheridan Elliot escreveu:
If they stick with three-team groups at WC 2026, they will obviously
have to introduce penalty shoot-outs in the group phase to reduce the
chance of three-way ties.
Yet another reason why three team groups are a bad idea. I was thinking of
the possibility of collusions, but this too is an issue.
Btw, this could have happened in 1982 too. Does anyone know how would they
have handled it, had it happened? At least back then they could also consider
first round records too
I must have mentally skipped this part of your message. Sorry that I justI was actually just wondering about that possibility, I didn't know that for
repeated what you already wrote.
a fact. So I indeed learned something from your information.
(though, however improbable, it could happen that even these wouldn't be
enough to break a tie).
Not so improbable though, as the England example shows.Yes, it was close enough. And about the English complaints, while I agree with
their gist, they should indeed have raised them a lot earlier. I mean, FIFA
was never going to change the rules that deep into the tournament.
Best regards,
LléoSTOP PRESS
UEFA announce change to qualifying format to be implemented as of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
The qualifying process will now be 12 groups, some of four teams, some of five.
The first placed teams in each group qualify for the World Cup, with the runners up going into a qualification playoff.
Further details and commentary to follow.
qualifying process, perhaps by having the top four ranked teams in the Euros qualify for the World Cup.RMIt had been announced in advance that UEFA would be changing it's qualifying format post Euro 2024. Thoughts turned to possibilities such as turning the system into a league or of integrating the European Championship or Nations League into the
system, only there will be more, smaller groups.Instead, what was announced was quite underwhelming. Not a change of format at all really, more of a tinkering. Still a system that has the European Championship and the World Cup qualifiers existing in isolation. Still a group based qualification
yes, there were some groups where the top two or even three spots were close. But then you get the same with 6 team groups. Plus even the most competitive four team groups don't solve the problem of the minnow who finishes so far behind the rest thatThe media release which announced the change claims that smaller groups are more dynamic and less predictable than larger groups. I looked back at some qualifying group results when UEFA used to have four team groups in the 80's and early 90's, and
It feels like this was a missed opportunity to reform the UEFA qualifiers.
RMCONCACAF have announced their qualifying format:
Round 1: Teams ranked 32 to 29 are drawn into pairs and play over two legs home and away.
Round 2: The two winners from round 1 and the teams ranked 1 to 28 are drawn into six groups of five and play the other teams in their group once. Group winners and runners up qualify for the third round.
Round 3: The 12 qualifying teams are drawn into three groups of four and play the other teams in their group home and away. Group winners qualify for World Cup 2026, the two best runners up go to the Intercontinental playoffs.
Canada, Mexico and the USA qualify automatically as hosts. Matches start in March 2024.
On Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 12:16:10 AM UTC, Real Mardin wrote:
On Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 10:55:20 PM UTC, Real Mardin wrote:
On Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 4:56:18 PM UTC, Real Mardin wrote:
On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 4:53:51 AM UTC, Lléo wrote:
Em terça-feira, 20 de dezembro de 2022 às 05:19:53 UTC-3, Werner Pichler escreveu:
On Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 5:17:59 AM UTC+1, Lléo wrote:
Em segunda-feira, 19 de dezembro de 2022 às 23:29:42 UTC-3, Sheridan Elliot escreveu:
If they stick with three-team groups at WC 2026, they will obviously
have to introduce penalty shoot-outs in the group phase to reduce the
chance of three-way ties.
Yet another reason why three team groups are a bad idea. I was thinking of
the possibility of collusions, but this too is an issue.
Btw, this could have happened in 1982 too. Does anyone know how would they
have handled it, had it happened? At least back then they could also consider
first round records too
I must have mentally skipped this part of your message. Sorry that I justI was actually just wondering about that possibility, I didn't know that for
repeated what you already wrote.
a fact. So I indeed learned something from your information.
(though, however improbable, it could happen that even these wouldn't be
enough to break a tie).
Not so improbable though, as the England example shows.Yes, it was close enough. And about the English complaints, while I agree with
their gist, they should indeed have raised them a lot earlier. I mean, FIFA
was never going to change the rules that deep into the tournament.
Best regards,
LléoSTOP PRESS
UEFA announce change to qualifying format to be implemented as of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
The qualifying process will now be 12 groups, some of four teams, some of five.
The first placed teams in each group qualify for the World Cup, with the runners up going into a qualification playoff.
Further details and commentary to follow.
qualifying process, perhaps by having the top four ranked teams in the Euros qualify for the World Cup.RMIt had been announced in advance that UEFA would be changing it's qualifying format post Euro 2024. Thoughts turned to possibilities such as turning the system into a league or of integrating the European Championship or Nations League into the
system, only there will be more, smaller groups.Instead, what was announced was quite underwhelming. Not a change of format at all really, more of a tinkering. Still a system that has the European Championship and the World Cup qualifiers existing in isolation. Still a group based qualification
yes, there were some groups where the top two or even three spots were close. But then you get the same with 6 team groups. Plus even the most competitive four team groups don't solve the problem of the minnow who finishes so far behind the rest thatThe media release which announced the change claims that smaller groups are more dynamic and less predictable than larger groups. I looked back at some qualifying group results when UEFA used to have four team groups in the 80's and early 90's, and
It feels like this was a missed opportunity to reform the UEFA qualifiers.
RMCONCACAF have announced their qualifying format:
Round 1: Teams ranked 32 to 29 are drawn into pairs and play over two legs home and away.So the World Cup is over for 2 teams after just 2 matches!
Round 2: The two winners from round 1 and the teams ranked 1 to 28 are drawn into six groups of five and play the other teams in their group once. Group winners and runners up qualify for the third round.Why do they only play each other once? Doesn't home advantage have an effect here?
Round 3: The 12 qualifying teams are drawn into three groups of four and play the other teams in their group home and away. Group winners qualify for World Cup 2026, the two best runners up go to the Intercontinental playoffs.The 2 "best" runners-up!
Canada, Mexico and the USA qualify automatically as hosts. Matches start in March 2024.
So is it 3 that qualify and 2 that go to the Intercontinental play-offs? Surely there's a better way than this? 8 groups of 4 or 4 groups of 8 in the 1st round would be the best way wouldn't it?
Today CAF announced it's qualifying format for World Cup 2026.off to determine one winner who will then proceed to the intercontinental playoff.
There had been speculation that CAF would change to a system that integrated the Africa Cup of Nations into the qualifying process. Whilst the format has changed, it hasn't changed in as innovative way as that.
Instead, the 54 CAF sides will be drawn into 9 groups of 6. Teams in each group will play each other on a round robin basis. The top team in each group qualifies for the World Cup. The best four second placed teams will enter into a Continental play-
Schedule:
Draw: July 12 2023
Match Day 1 and 2: 13-21 November 2023
Match Day 3 and 4: June 2024
Match Day 5: 6-14 October 2024
Continental Playoff: 10-18 November 2025
RM
On Friday, May 19, 2023 at 10:36:42 PM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:off to determine one winner who will then proceed to the intercontinental playoff.
Today CAF announced it's qualifying format for World Cup 2026.
There had been speculation that CAF would change to a system that integrated the Africa Cup of Nations into the qualifying process. Whilst the format has changed, it hasn't changed in as innovative way as that.
Instead, the 54 CAF sides will be drawn into 9 groups of 6. Teams in each group will play each other on a round robin basis. The top team in each group qualifies for the World Cup. The best four second placed teams will enter into a Continental play-
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 1:23:59 AM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:play-off to determine one winner who will then proceed to the intercontinental playoff.
On Friday, May 19, 2023 at 10:36:42 PM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:
Today CAF announced it's qualifying format for World Cup 2026.
There had been speculation that CAF would change to a system that integrated the Africa Cup of Nations into the qualifying process. Whilst the format has changed, it hasn't changed in as innovative way as that.
Instead, the 54 CAF sides will be drawn into 9 groups of 6. Teams in each group will play each other on a round robin basis. The top team in each group qualifies for the World Cup. The best four second placed teams will enter into a Continental
Why the best 4 2nd place teams? If they're not going to include the 5th to 9th "best" 2nd place teams, they might as well just have the "best" one going straight into the intercontinental play-off mightn't they?
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 10:42:09 AM UTC+1, Mark wrote:play-off to determine one winner who will then proceed to the intercontinental playoff.
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 1:23:59 AM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:
On Friday, May 19, 2023 at 10:36:42 PM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:
Today CAF announced it's qualifying format for World Cup 2026.
There had been speculation that CAF would change to a system that integrated the Africa Cup of Nations into the qualifying process. Whilst the format has changed, it hasn't changed in as innovative way as that.
Instead, the 54 CAF sides will be drawn into 9 groups of 6. Teams in each group will play each other on a round robin basis. The top team in each group qualifies for the World Cup. The best four second placed teams will enter into a Continental
Why the best 4 2nd place teams? If they're not going to include the 5th to 9th "best" 2nd place teams, they might as well just have the "best" one going straight into the intercontinental play-off mightn't they?You, Sir, should be running a football confederation!
RM
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 2:39:19 PM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:play-off to determine one winner who will then proceed to the intercontinental playoff.
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 10:42:09 AM UTC+1, Mark wrote:
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 1:23:59 AM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:
On Friday, May 19, 2023 at 10:36:42 PM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:
Today CAF announced it's qualifying format for World Cup 2026.
There had been speculation that CAF would change to a system that integrated the Africa Cup of Nations into the qualifying process. Whilst the format has changed, it hasn't changed in as innovative way as that.
Instead, the 54 CAF sides will be drawn into 9 groups of 6. Teams in each group will play each other on a round robin basis. The top team in each group qualifies for the World Cup. The best four second placed teams will enter into a Continental
Why the best 4 2nd place teams? If they're not going to include the 5th to 9th "best" 2nd place teams, they might as well just have the "best" one going straight into the intercontinental play-off mightn't they?You, Sir, should be running a football confederation!
RMIf there's any jobs going, I'm interested. How would I get a job working for CAF or CONMEBOL or UEFA or whoever?
On Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 9:33:34 AM UTC+1, Mark wrote:Continental play-off to determine one winner who will then proceed to the intercontinental playoff.
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 2:39:19 PM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 10:42:09 AM UTC+1, Mark wrote:
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 1:23:59 AM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:
On Friday, May 19, 2023 at 10:36:42 PM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:
Today CAF announced it's qualifying format for World Cup 2026.
There had been speculation that CAF would change to a system that integrated the Africa Cup of Nations into the qualifying process. Whilst the format has changed, it hasn't changed in as innovative way as that.
Instead, the 54 CAF sides will be drawn into 9 groups of 6. Teams in each group will play each other on a round robin basis. The top team in each group qualifies for the World Cup. The best four second placed teams will enter into a
Why the best 4 2nd place teams? If they're not going to include the 5th to 9th "best" 2nd place teams, they might as well just have the "best" one going straight into the intercontinental play-off mightn't they?You, Sir, should be running a football confederation!
https://www.concacaf.com/inside-concacaf/careers/RMIf there's any jobs going, I'm interested. How would I get a job working for CAF or CONMEBOL or UEFA or whoever?
RM
On Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 5:40:35 PM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:Continental play-off to determine one winner who will then proceed to the intercontinental playoff.
On Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 9:33:34 AM UTC+1, Mark wrote:
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 2:39:19 PM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 10:42:09 AM UTC+1, Mark wrote:
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 1:23:59 AM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:
On Friday, May 19, 2023 at 10:36:42 PM UTC+1, Real Mardin wrote:
Today CAF announced it's qualifying format for World Cup 2026.
There had been speculation that CAF would change to a system that integrated the Africa Cup of Nations into the qualifying process. Whilst the format has changed, it hasn't changed in as innovative way as that.
Instead, the 54 CAF sides will be drawn into 9 groups of 6. Teams in each group will play each other on a round robin basis. The top team in each group qualifies for the World Cup. The best four second placed teams will enter into a
Why the best 4 2nd place teams? If they're not going to include the 5th to 9th "best" 2nd place teams, they might as well just have the "best" one going straight into the intercontinental play-off mightn't they?You, Sir, should be running a football confederation!
https://www.concacaf.com/inside-concacaf/careers/RMIf there's any jobs going, I'm interested. How would I get a job working for CAF or CONMEBOL or UEFA or whoever?
RMWould it be Event coordinator that I'd want to go for?
On Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 4:56:18 PM UTC, Real Mardin wrote:
On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 4:53:51 AM UTC, Lléo wrote:
Em terça-feira, 20 de dezembro de 2022 às 05:19:53 UTC-3, Werner Pichler escreveu:
On Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 5:17:59 AM UTC+1, Lléo wrote:
Em segunda-feira, 19 de dezembro de 2022 às 23:29:42 UTC-3, Sheridan Elliot escreveu:
If they stick with three-team groups at WC 2026, they will obviously
have to introduce penalty shoot-outs in the group phase to reduce the
chance of three-way ties.
Yet another reason why three team groups are a bad idea. I was thinking of
the possibility of collusions, but this too is an issue.
Btw, this could have happened in 1982 too. Does anyone know how would they
have handled it, had it happened? At least back then they could also consider
first round records too
I must have mentally skipped this part of your message. Sorry that I justI was actually just wondering about that possibility, I didn't know that for
repeated what you already wrote.
a fact. So I indeed learned something from your information.
(though, however improbable, it could happen that even these wouldn't be
enough to break a tie).
Not so improbable though, as the England example shows.Yes, it was close enough. And about the English complaints, while I agree with
their gist, they should indeed have raised them a lot earlier. I mean, FIFA
was never going to change the rules that deep into the tournament.
Best regards,
LléoSTOP PRESS
UEFA announce change to qualifying format to be implemented as of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
The qualifying process will now be 12 groups, some of four teams, some of five.
The first placed teams in each group qualify for the World Cup, with the runners up going into a qualification playoff.
Further details and commentary to follow.
qualifying process, perhaps by having the top four ranked teams in the Euros qualify for the World Cup.RMIt had been announced in advance that UEFA would be changing it's qualifying format post Euro 2024. Thoughts turned to possibilities such as turning the system into a league or of integrating the European Championship or Nations League into the
Instead, what was announced was quite underwhelming. Not a change of format at all really, more of a tinkering. Still a system that has the European Championship and the World Cup qualifiers existing in isolation. Still a group based qualificationsystem, only there will be more, smaller groups.
The media release which announced the change claims that smaller groups are more dynamic and less predictable than larger groups. I looked back at some qualifying group results when UEFA used to have four team groups in the 80's and early 90's, and yes,there were some groups where the top two or even three spots were close. But then you get the same with 6 team groups. Plus even the most competitive four team groups don't solve the problem of the minnow who finishes so far behind the rest that matches
It feels like this was a missed opportunity to reform the UEFA qualifiers.
RM
UEFA has since confirmed that the four best group winners from the 2024/25 Nations League based on the Nations League
overall ranking will join the 12 group runners up from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to form 16 team playoff round.
The 16 teams will be drawn into four paths of four with two rounds of single leg knockout matches determining the winners
of each path. Path winners qualify for World Cup 2026!
On one hand I applaud the link between the Nations League and World Cup qualifying as it keeps an otherwise fairly
pointless tournament relevant.
However, I really don't understand why they stuck with single leg playoffs (the did the same for WC 2022) when it clearly
unfairly advantages one team and is completely at odds with the rest of the qualifying process as both the World Cup
qualifying groups and Nations League are played on a home and away leg basis.
I think the single leg system impacted which teams went through, not necessarily for the good of the tournament. Would Wales (who were awful at Qatar 2022) have survived away legs with Austria and Ukraine, I wonder? For all their giant killing exploitsin Palermo would North Macedonia have bested Italy over two legs?
RM
On Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 11:55:21 PM UTC+2, Real Mardin wrote:exploits in Palermo would North Macedonia have bested Italy over two legs?
UEFA has since confirmed that the four best group winners from the 2024/25 Nations League based on the Nations League
overall ranking will join the 12 group runners up from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to form 16 team playoff round.
The 16 teams will be drawn into four paths of four with two rounds of single leg knockout matches determining the winners
of each path. Path winners qualify for World Cup 2026!
On one hand I applaud the link between the Nations League and World Cup qualifying as it keeps an otherwise fairly
pointless tournament relevant.
However, I really don't understand why they stuck with single leg playoffs (the did the same for WC 2022) when it clearlySingle-leg play-offs are one thing, but another problem is the disparity between Nations League cycles.
unfairly advantages one team and is completely at odds with the rest of the qualifying process as both the World Cup
qualifying groups and Nations League are played on a home and away leg basis.
Everybody and their neighbour qualify for the Euros, but World Cup berths are much harder to come by, so
winning your Nations League group is more valuable every other time.
The clever thing for sub-top teams would be to deliberately get relegated from Nations League A/B
in 'Euro' cycles, and win your Nations League B/C group in 'World Cup' cycles.
Ciao,
Werner
I think the single leg system impacted which teams went through, not necessarily for the good of the tournament. Would Wales (who were awful at Qatar 2022) have survived away legs with Austria and Ukraine, I wonder? For all their giant killing
The draw for the CAF World Cup 2026 qualifiers took place today:
Group A
Egypt
Burkina Faso
Guinea-Bissau
Sierra Leone
Ethiopia
Djibouti
Group B
Senegal
DR Congo
Mauritania
Togo
Sudan
South Sudan
(Sudan and South Sudan in the same group??)
Group C
Nigeria
South Africa
Benin
Zimbabwe
Rwanda
Lesotho
Group D
Cameroon
Cape-Verde
Angola
Libya
Eswatini
Mauritius
(What do the Indomitable Lions fans of rss think of this? Could be worse
I reckon, although Cape-Verde looked handy at the last AFCON)
Group E
Morocco
Zambia
Congo
Tanzania
Niger
Eritrea
Group F
Cote d’Ivoire
Gabon
Kenya
Gambia
Burundi
Seychelles
Group G
Algeria
Guinea
Uganda
Mozambique
Botswana
Somalia
Group H
Tunisia
Equatorial Guinea
Namibia
Malawi
Liberia
Sao Tome and Principe
Group I
Mali
Ghana
Madagascar
Central African Republic
Comoros
Chad
Ghana were billed as the strongest pot 2 team and certainly the team
even more established pot 1 teams were hoping to avoid, so this will be
a blow to Mali. Still, when I tried to forecast who might qualify when
they first announced WC2026 would be in CONCACAF'land I think I picked
Mali because they'd had some good youth teams at the time who's players >should have come good in time for the qualifiers. I might have just made
that up, though.
The 9 group winners qualify for World Cup 2026, the four highest ranking >runners up qualify for the CAF playoffs, the winners of which will
qualify for the FIFA Playoff tournament.
The CAF qualifiers start on 13th November 2023.
RM
Group D
Cameroon
Cape-Verde
Angola
Libya
Eswatini
Mauritius
(What do the Indomitable Lions fans of rss think of this? Could be worse I reckon, although Cape-Verde looked handy at the last AFCON)
CONMEBOL Matchday 1
Paraguay 0 - Peru 0
This result might not sound very exciting or significant, but it was the first qualifying match for World Cup 2026! We're underway!
Colombia 1 - Venezuela 0
Argentina 1 - Ecuador 0
Some guy called Messi (?) scored the winner.
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