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Squiggle tips Demons at 77% chance -- What's your tip? -- Team line-ups »
Canada lose all 3
Panama win all 3
USA win the 2 not involving Panama
Mexico win the 2 not involving USA
1/2 USA and Mexico on 27pts
3 Panama on 26pts
4 Canada on 25pts
In the biggest news of the international break Solomon Islands defeat Papua New Guinea in a thrilling 3-2 victory and now face New Zealand for the right to play 5th placed CONCACAF for a place at Qatar 2022.
This will be the second WC qualification section in a row where NZ and Solomon Islands have faced off to play against a Concacaf (2022) or Conmebol nation (NZ vs Peru in 2018). I wonder if NZ would consider applying to come to Asia, they did beat Bahrain in 2010 to qualify for the WC.
This will be the second WC qualification section in a row where NZ and Solomon Islands have faced off to play against a Concacaf (2022) or Conmebol nation (NZ vs Peru in 2018). I wonder if NZ would consider applying to come to Asia, they did beat Bahrain in 2010 to qualify for the WC.
I don’t think Oceania nations outside of NZ have very good prospects of making the World Cup so at least going through their own region will give them an opportunity to play against a Concacaf or Conmebol nation. You bright them all to Asia and they will get demolished every match.Oceania should really just become part of Asian confederation.
At the rate things are going for Russia don't be surprised if they leave UEFA and join the AFC with over half the country located within Asia!!
I don’t think Oceania nations outside of NZ have very good prospects of making the World Cup so at least going through their own region will give them an opportunity to play against a Concacaf or Cinmebol nation. You bright them all to Asia and they will get demolished every match.
Yeah, just checked and Oceania do get a full spot from 2026.
Yep, 8 qualify from Asia, up from 4. It would take a monumental implosion not to qualify moving forward.
48 teams in the WC …fmd
Takes a bit of interest away from latter qualifying matches. Just look at Asia..top four from each group..we would’ve clinched a spot a few games ago if it applied this time around. We’d go around thinking gee aren’t we good and hide all the problems we do haveNot to sound elitist but it’s going to feel watered down. It’s still a World Cup and they are always fun but in order for FIFA to get all the top European nations in the tournament (all the top South American nations are always in the WC), the tournament is now 48 nations.
I don’t think we will get many “oops, Italy or [insert big European nation] didn’t qualify” moments in the future.
correct me if im wrong but it looks like 1 full world cup spot, plus a play offOceania get a full spot after this one though don't they with the new world cup format?
THe problem is I cant for honestly say that the 2nd best Oceania side is any worse than the 9th best Asian side.
Im all for expanding the World Cup, to give these countries and FIFA acknowledge that they have to grow the game. As much as I hate to say, you can pinpoint the top 3-4 nations in : Asia, South America and North America before qualification starts.
Im thinking of South American now basically have 6.5 spots, Africa has 9.5 spots.(if they happen to be seeded for a draw)
48 teams in the WC …fmd
Takes a bit of interest away from latter qualifying matches. Just look at Asia..top four from each group..we would’ve clinched a spot a few games ago if it applied this time around. We’d go around thinking gee aren’t we good and hide all the problems we do have
The format outlined when 48 teams were approved was groups of 3 but with the top 2 in each advancing. So you'd have a knock out round of 32 before the round of 16. The idea is that the winning team would still play the same amount of matches as they did before to win the thing.It wouldn't make a difference if 32 teams 48 or 100 teams in the World Cup the winner will always come out of Europe or South America. Everything else is just a participation award.
Having said that does anyone know what the format for 48 teams will look like? Depending on the format it could still work and be fun to watch say if its groups of three with only the top team of the group advancing for etc.. we might get some fast paced matches. Some with qualifying it could still be interesting if they are all condensed into short groups and play-offs. But knowing FIFA they'll wanna please everyone so I doubt the formats will change much and the confederations will make sure their big nations always qualify with a few minnow thrown in every once in a while.
Well.. I don’t like two teams advancing from groups of 3 that’s a snooze fest but more knockout matches is always a good thing. Looks like all the fun will start from the round of 32!The format outlined when 48 teams were approved was groups of 3 but with the top 2 in each advancing. So you'd have a knock out round of 32 before the round of 16. The idea is that the winning team would still play the same amount of matches as they did before to win the thing.
More dull WC finals games but my point was also around boring qualifiers. Look at South America..10 teams and play 18 games which is a lot. But it’s competitive…but it’ll change to the top 7(8?) going through so what’s the point for many of the games.It wouldn't make a difference if 32 teams 48 or 100 teams in the World Cup the winner will always come out of Europe or South America. Everything else is just a participation award.
Having said that does anyone know what the format for 48 teams will look like? Depending on the format it could still work and be fun to watch say if its groups of three with only the top team of the group advancing for etc.. we might get some fast paced matches. Some with qualifying it could still be interesting if they are all condensed into short groups and play-offs. But knowing FIFA they'll wanna please everyone so I doubt the formats will change much and the confederations will make sure their big nations always qualify with a few minnow thrown in every once in a while.
More dull WC finals games but my point was also around boring qualifiers. Look at South America..10 teams and play 18 games which is a lot. But it’s competitive…but it’ll change to the top 7(8?) going through so what’s the point for many of the games.
Jesus, I was already rolling my eyes at Cruyff being a smart arse.How'd that pan out?