World Soccer XXVII: The REAL Football

[Jimjamesak]

I remember this being discussed back in 2014-15 for the qualifying for Russia, so its not like this is a new idea. It's hard not to see the CONCACAF qualifying as a bit archaic when you consider that 29 of the 35 teams are only guaranteed 2 games. I hate the idea of losing WC qualifiers between USA and Mexico, but the bottom teams deserve more games don't they?

You could also do hexes twice...all 35 teams get placed in to 6-team groups (1 group of 5), top 2 in each group play advance to be split in to 2 groups of 6.

I believe it was discussed around 2010 but that was all predicated on CONCACAF going to 4 full spots and abandoned when that didn't happen. What happened was an additional group stage was added prior to the semifinal round so teams could get more games and then abandoned for this round. Bringing that group stage back is honestly the best idea.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXVII: The REAL Football

I believe it was discussed around 2010 but that was all predicated on CONCACAF going to 4 full spots and abandoned when that didn't happen. What happened was an additional group stage was added prior to the semifinal round so teams could get more games and then abandoned for this round. Bringing that group stage back is honestly the best idea.

The way they did it for the 2014 WC does make alot more sense than what they did this round. Only eliminating 5 teams on a home/home round. Then having 24 teams participate in 6 groups of 4 with each group winner advancing to semifinal.

*But that also requires 2 additional international dates compared to the 2018 setup, and doesnt address the fact that WC qualifying would still have eliminated all but 6 teams at this point.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: World Soccer XXVII: The REAL Football

You could also do hexes twice...all 35 teams get placed in to 6-team groups (1 group of 5), top 2 in each group play advance to be split in to 2 groups of 6.

This isn't terrible. Guarantees 10-12 games for each country compared to the current 2. Might be some issues in how you allocate berths to the two "final" hexes, though.

[Jimjamesak]

The way they did it for the 2014 WC does make alot more sense than what they did this round. Only eliminating 5 teams on a home/home round. Then having 24 teams participate in 6 groups of 4 with each group winner advancing to semifinal.

*But that also requires 2 additional international dates compared to the 2018 setup, and doesnt address the fact that WC qualifying would still have eliminated all but 6 teams at this point.

It's a better compromise to be honest.

It's just very difficult to expand anything on the back end of the Qualifying process. You can't expand the Hex because there's not enough dates to accommodate two more teams. You can't split the final stage because the US, Mexico, and Costa Rica won't be happy not playing each other.

The system isn't archaic like he described, it's actually a system that should be emulated by other Confederations (I'm looking at you Africa).

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXVII: The REAL Football

I completely agree with the change needed for Africa. But I think that is a product limited budgets and the expanse of Africa.

[RaceBoarder]

Re: World Soccer XXVII: The REAL Football

Would the small Caribbean teams be able to afford the extra travel? Also what happens when a US/Mexico player blows out a knee because they're playing on a field that most US high schools would consider subpar?

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXVII: The REAL Football

12 pools of 4 teams. Top team in each pool get an automatic spot into the Round of 16. The second best teams in each pool have a playoff to get the final four slots into the Round of 16. Maybe have it be double elimination as some teams there would have to play at least 2 games while 4 teams would only get one game in a single elimination tournament.

I agree with the majority opinion that 32 teams is perfect for the World Cup and should not be changed. However, there is too much money dangled in front of greedy eyes to leave perfection alone.

One thing that works well is that only 2 teams advance from each pool of 4 teams. Can we keep that layout, at least?

12 pools of 4 teams.
- top 8 first-place finishers get first-round bye in knockout round.
- remaining 4 first-place finishers plus 12 2nd-place finishers: first knockout round, 16 teams in 8 games.
- next knockout round, those 8 winners play the top 8 first-place finishers in another round of 8 games
- we then proceed as we normally would.

[Jimjamesak]

Would the small Caribbean teams be able to afford the extra travel? Also what happens when a US/Mexico player blows out a knee because they're playing on a field that most US high schools would consider subpar?

Those are going to be the two obstacles. Imagine Pulisic blowing a knee (Emrakul forbid) on some crab grass field in the Caribbean and how Dortmund would react?

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXVII: The REAL Football

Those are going to be the two obstacles. Imagine Pulisic blowing a knee (Emrakul forbid) on some crab grass field in the Caribbean and how Dortmund would react?

Going back to the 2014 qualifying style seems like the answer, top six get introduced the round before the hex, avoiding too many games on horrible fields throughout the confederation. It also allows all but 5 of the 10 worst teams teams to participate in a group, although it does eliminate all but the group winner.

Those 10 teams would have been:
Barbados (169)
Bermuda (173)
Nicaragua (175)
Turks and Caicos Islands (181)
Curaçao (182)
U.S. Virgin Islands (191)
Bahamas (193)
Cayman Islands (197)
British Virgin Islands (201)
Anguilla (207)

[Stauber1]

Re: World Soccer XXVII: The REAL Football

It would address the current problem by allowing countries like Suriname to participate in some kind of group stage which results in at least 3 home games. I know the reason they didn't do it was because of the lack of quality opponents to help with things. Maybe the answer is a bigger gold cup?

That's a good point. In that case, why not just add a group stage on the front end and leave the back end alone with 1 final group. If it elongates or condenses the schedule for the smaller nations, so be it.

But they have to keep that final single group to insure significant opportunities for the WC qualifying teams to play meaningful games against quality competition. That has to be paramount.

[The Sicatoka]

Re: World Soccer XXVII: The REAL Football

Going back to the 2014 qualifying style seems like the answer, top six get introduced the round before the hex, avoiding too many games on horrible fields throughout the confederation. It also allows all but 5 of the 10 worst teams teams to participate in a group, although it does eliminate all but the group winner.

Those 10 teams would have been:
Barbados (169)
Bermuda (173)
Nicaragua (175)
Turks and Caicos Islands (181)
Curaçao (182)
U.S. Virgin Islands (191)
Bahamas (193)
Cayman Islands (197)
British Virgin Islands (201)
Anguilla (207)

Why not pull the World Cup of Hockey and create "Team Caribbean". Maybe they'll have a "C" logo with a soccer ball inside the "C" as homage to this.

[Jimjamesak]

Why not pull the World Cup of Hockey and create "Team Caribbean". Maybe they'll have a "C" logo with a soccer ball inside the "C" as homage to this.

Like the West Indies in cricket? An absolute nightmare politically and very much against FIFA policy.

[joecct]

Like the West Indies in cricket? An absolute nightmare politically and very much against FIFA policy.

WI used to be the most feared cricket side in the world. However the Cricket Board is a mess and screwed the pooch.

But there is hope. The WI won the World T20 titles (M&W). Their test and ODI teams continue to be in disarray.

[Jimjamesak]

WI used to be the most feared cricket side in the world. However the Cricket Board is a mess and screwed the pooch.

But there is hope. The WI won the World T20 titles (M&W). Their test and ODI teams continue to be in disarray.

The state of a West Indies FA wouldn't be any different than the Cricket Board to be honest. I doubt T&T and Jamaica would want to participate anyway, they are competitive enough on their own and without them the whole thing is rather worthless.

[joecct]

Re: World Soccer XXVII: The REAL Football

2026 in North America?

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/north...026-world-cup/