World Cup Qualification Changes

[Jetboogieman]

For my fellow Football fans out there.

I think one place in the FIFA World Cup should be put aside for the winners of each continental cup before qualifications for the World Cup begin.

What do you think?

 

[Jredbaron96]

Eh, while they will most likely qualify anyway, I wouldn't go for it. I think the less noticeable teams should get all the same opportunity.

 

[Manc Skipper]

It would be good for Australia, They're a continent by themselves!

 

[PeteEU]

It would be good for Australia, They're a continent by themselves!

Not in FIFA.. they are part of the Asian Confederation.

 

[Peter King]

I think the system is not bad in itself but there are too many weak teams in the qualification. Maybe the weak teams could have a mini competition to get rid of the weakest teams. At this moment it is just ridiculous to have top teams like Spain play countries that they can easily defeat with 10 goals difference. There will always be weaker teams than the top teams but to have them play really miserable teams is useless and does not further the image of soccer.

 

[PeteEU]

I think the system is not bad in itself but there are too many weak teams in the qualification. Maybe the weak teams could have a mini competition to get rid of the weakest teams. At this moment it is just ridiculous to have top teams like Spain play countries that they can easily defeat with 10 goals difference. There will always be weaker teams than the top teams but to have them play really miserable teams is useless and does not further the image of soccer.

What teams does Spain play that they can beat by 10 goals? I admit there are weak teams in Europe.. San Marino, Luxembourg and Lichtenstein but it has been a hell of a long time since they were beaten by 10+ goals.... 5 or 6 yes, but 10.. nope.

As for OP question. There is a problem with that idea. Take Europe... the European Champions are crowed 2 years before the World Cup. The South American champions is a problem since they cant figure out a regular scheduled. The last Copa America was in 2011, then next in 2015.. and 2016 and then in 2019... at least for now. And then there is the Asian Champions... also a problem, as they hold their championship a year after the World Cup, so if the idea was implemented, then Japan who won in 2011 would be automatically qualified to the 2014 World Cup... 3 years in advance. Finally the African Cup of Nations.. happens every 2 years and could be "fit in" since they hold it one year before the World Cup.. provided there is no civil war in the host nation of course (like in Libya the official host nation this time around).

 

[Peter King]

What teams does Spain play that they can beat by 10 goals? I admit there are weak teams in Europe.. San Marino, Luxembourg and Lichtenstein but it has been a hell of a long time since they were beaten by 10+ goals.... 5 or 6 yes, but 10.. nope.

As for OP question. There is a problem with that idea. Take Europe... the European Champions are crowed 2 years before the World Cup. The South American champions is a problem since they cant figure out a regular scheduled. The last Copa America was in 2011, then next in 2015.. and 2016 and then in 2019... at least for now. And then there is the Asian Champions... also a problem, as they hold their championship a year after the World Cup, so if the idea was implemented, then Japan who won in 2011 would be automatically qualified to the 2014 World Cup... 3 years in advance. Finally the African Cup of Nations.. happens every 2 years and could be "fit in" since they hold it one year before the World Cup.. provided there is no civil war in the host nation of course (like in Libya the official host nation this time around).

The Netherlands defeated San Marino 11-0 September 2011 for example, even Finland beat San Marino 8-0 which was also the score after Hungary beat them. Last European Championship San Marino scored zero goals and had 53 goals scored against them.

I think the worst teams should play themselves in a mini competition before being allowed to play with the big boys. A team that cannot stand toe to toe with even the weakest teams should not bother teams like Spain, France, Italy, England, the Netherlands or Germany.

 

[PeteEU]

The Netherlands defeated San Marino 11-0 September 2011 for example, even Finland beat San Marino 8-0 which was also the score after Hungary beat them. Last European Championship San Marino scored zero goals and had 53 goals scored against them.

Yes yes, San Marino has lost with 10+ goals about 3 times the last 12 years. It is still rare that 10+ happens.

I think the worst teams should play themselves in a mini competition before being allowed to play with the big boys. A team that cannot stand toe to toe with even the weakest teams should not bother teams like Spain, France, Italy, England, the Netherlands or Germany.

I agree. But what are the "worst teams".. is it only Andorra, San Marino and Lichtenstein? Does Luxembourg come in under that header.. how about Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia? How about Finland? Or Northern Ireland? It is always tricky to define "worst teams"... Belgium for example would have been part of the worst teams not long ago, and Denmark would surely have been in the 1970s, but things changed in the 1980s and certainly in 1992.

 

[Ben K.]

Yeah, you do a "worst" team prelim they'll never get out of that situation (they won't get the funding since they'll never have top teams visiting to boost attendance.) perhaps the micro states will never have a successful run, but there are numerous examples of small nations challenging from time to time.

As for auto qualification for regional champs, I don't see the point. Surely the final four of a Euro deserve berths more than any of the other continental champs, aside from comnebol maybe. A Euro victory is as hard as a WC.

 

[Higgins86]

Nah im not a fan of this idea, I think you need to earn your world cup berth through the group stages. Its already unfair on a lot of European teams who have to play much better teams to get to the world cup vs Mexico/USA who play nobody. So if you start handing out places in the world cup for teams that win the Gold cup etc vs lets say Italy who lost in the final on the European after beating some of the best in the world, hardly seems fair

 

[Gipper]

Someone contact a mod to move this. Someone accidentally posted a soccer thread in the sports forum.

 

[Higgins86]

Someone contact a mod to move this. Someone accidentally posted a soccer thread in the sports forum.

you mean the sport that took over the world?

 

[austrianecon]

Nah im not a fan of this idea, I think you need to earn your world cup berth through the group stages. Its already unfair on a lot of European teams who have to play much better teams to get to the world cup vs Mexico/USA who play nobody. So if you start handing out places in the world cup for teams that win the Gold cup etc vs lets say Italy who lost in the final on the European after beating some of the best in the world, hardly seems fair

And that's why Mexico and USA bomb out early every time. But I wouldn't mind if the Confederation Cup winner got a spot since the will be playing and beating the best national teams. And the winner goes anyway because they are qualify through group 99% of the time. It's a much better solution then given the host country a free spot.

 

[Ben K.]

And that's why Mexico and USA bomb out early every time. But I wouldn't mind if the Confederation Cup winner got a spot since the will be playing and beating the best national teams. And the winner goes anyway because they are qualify through group 99% of the time. It's a much better solution then given the host country a free spot.

Join the South American association then, and leave concacaf to go the way of Oceania like when Australia joined Asia.

 

[Medusa]

Someone contact a mod to move this. Someone accidentally posted a soccer thread in the sports forum.

l am always voluntary to watch david beckham and iker casillas

 

[austrianecon]

Join the South American association then, and leave concacaf to go the way of Oceania like when Australia joined Asia.

Would US and Mexico leave CONCACAF? It's basically an automatic bid. Both teams play international friendlies with UEFA and CONMEBOL. And that's increasing to more often. Last year was filled with matches (for the US) against Italy, Russia, Scotland and Brazil. This year has Germany.

 

[Ben K.]

Would US and Mexico leave CONCACAF? It's basically an automatic bid. Both teams play international friendlies with UEFA and CONMEBOL. And that's increasing to more often. Last year was filled with matches (for the US) against Italy, Russia, Scotland and Brazil. This year has Germany.

I reckon extra slots would be allotted to CONMEBOL in such a scenario. CONCACAF would probably only be allotted one slot (and not necessarily automatic) without the US and Mexico, the newly freed up others would go to CONMEBOL. Then America and Mexico would have the advantage of playing regular competitive matches as opposed to exhibitions against top teams. Hosting Copa America's would also be potentially lucrative financially for the associations and come more frequently than WC's.

Alternatively a fusion of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL would provide similar benefits with a regional competition to rival the Euro's.

 

[austrianecon]

I reckon extra slots would be allotted to CONMEBOL in such a scenario. CONCACAF would probably only be allotted one slot (and not necessarily automatic) without the US and Mexico, the newly freed up others would go to CONMEBOL. Then America and Mexico would have the advantage of playing regular competitive matches as opposed to exhibitions against top teams. Hosting Copa America's would also be potentially lucrative financially for the associations and come more frequently than WC's.

Alternatively a fusion of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL would provide similar benefits with a regional competition to rival the Euro's.

US and Mexico wouldn't go to CONMEBOL despite the "extra" slots. Because as you increase the size of CONMEBOL competition becomes more even. US and Mexico would struggle to qualify. It also screws over the other World Cup qualifying. Since 4th spot in CONCACAF plays 1st spot OFC and 5th spot CONMEBOL plays 3rd place AFC. For the last two spots for the World Cup.

Copa America has been held at least every 4 years since 1963. US and Mexico are typically invited but US usually turns it down due to MLS season. The plan is to be regulars after 2015 since invites were turned down for 2015 and given to Japan who couldn't go in 2011. Copa America will be hosted in the US in 2016 with 6 teams from CONCACAF involved. But it's not popular in North America yet. Since CONCACAF runs the Gold Cup every 2 years.

Money isn't big in the US so it's not gonna be as lucrative as people think. Americans will pay to watch UEFA, Champions League and World Cup on TV but won't pay to watch MLS or even go to MLS games. MLS has been on 3 different networks since its inception and has it's own sports package you can buy yet it barely raises $27 million. More people watch Poker then the MLS Cup Final. USMNT away game tv rights were sold to BeIN by CONCACAF last year. They were the highest bid. ESPN (shows all home games) didn't want the rights. So that has to tell you something..

US is only a cash cow for European, Mexico and some South American clubs. So I find it really hard for it to be lucrative financially for CONCACAF who's been around as long as UEFA and CONMEBOL.