The qualifying process will be split into two separate competitions, a hexagonal and a knockout phase. The “Hex” used to represent the final stage of qualifying with six teams playing a double round-robin to determine World Cup berths. Now those six teams won’t have to play their way in. The Hex will be determined instead through the FIFA rankings published after the June 2020 window. So the top six ranked teams from CONCACAF will just qualify automatically. From there, the top three finishers earn World Cup berths, and the fourth is still alive for another.
CONCACAF Format for 2022 FIFA World Cup Confederation Qualifiers - (
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USA
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Panama
Canada
... in that order. Mexico is #18 and USA is #30. Staying in the top six *shouldn't* be a problem but you never know. (T&T is not in the top six - they are #92.)
My bad, you are correct. Honduras and El Sal ahead of Panama and Canada.
The crappy part, from their point of view, is that even if they win the mini tournament, that only gives them the right to play the 4th place team in the Hex and if they win that match, they then get to play a team from another region for the right to go to the World Cup. Kind of crazy that it's not all 35 teams in the group and knockout stages, but I guess they don't want the larger countries eliminating smaller countries early in the group stage.
The Europeans have their big tournament coming up next and many of those national teams will be looking for some competition. You need not try to get Belgium, Germany or France, but target teams from Croatia, Slovakia, Italy, Netherlands, etc. Same for South America let's schedule Chili, Paraguay, Uruguay etc. No gimmes. Challenge the top 30 FIFA teams.
The Europeans have their big tournament coming up next and many of those national teams will be looking for some competition. You need not try to get Belgium, Germany or France, but target teams from Croatia, Slovakia, Italy, Netherlands, etc. Same for South America let's schedule Chili, Paraguay, Uruguay etc. No gimmes. Challenge the top 30 FIFA teams.
It will be hard to schedule UEFA teams for friendlies now because of the stupid nations cups.
I really liked when they went to Europe and played 2 games there. Go there and play Croatia and Poland. Something like that
Let Spain, Netherlands, England and Sweden have a crack at our lesser squad:)
The crappy part, from their point of view, is that even if they win the mini tournament, that only gives them the right to play the 4th place team in the Hex and if they win that match, they then get to play a team from another region for the right to go to the World Cup. Kind of crazy that it's not all 35 teams in the group and knockout stages, but I guess they don't want the larger countries eliminating smaller countries early in the group stage.
This is right on. It's good for the little countries- gives them a real tournament against their peers. They're never going to qualify, but it does actually give them a chance to play in a big game and hope for some miracles.
It's good for the big teams- we don't have to muddle through nonsense formalities against curacao or Barbuda.
Overall I think it's great. I like the idea that federations are setting up opportunities for smaller countries to play meaningful games. Europe is doing something similar. In any sport, it's cool to have a platform to compete against your peers.
Actually the math works out perfectly. CONCACAF has 41 member countries but 6 aren't eligible for FIFA competitions, minus 3 automatic Hex qualifiers gives you a 32 team tournament, top 3 teams advance to The Hex.
The Europeans have their big tournament coming up next and many of those national teams will be looking for some competition. You need not try to get Belgium, Germany or France, but target teams from Croatia, Slovakia, Italy, Netherlands, etc. Same for South America let's schedule Chili, Paraguay, Uruguay etc. No gimmes. Challenge the top 30 FIFA teams.
Actually, in the original Yahoo Sports article I saw, this was pointed out as the principal "advantage" for the US. They will now have the opportunity to do this instead of having to compete in the earlier qualifying stages. Will they manage to turn that into an actual advantage entering the Hex? I'll believe it when I see it ... but I can always hope.
Yes the opportunity is there but Berhalter cannot return to tried and true vets with whom he is familiar. Time to play for the future not the present or the past.
He and Zardes shouldn't be put in the same sentence together.
I'm just tired of people acting like Altidore is some type of albatross or that he's not a very good player.
That type of talk should be reserved for Zardes.
I like Altidore personally but he was done by halftime against Mexico. He should be in the squad, but this is Tim Weah's time.
Yes but during the next 1-2 years what is the real value in giving Altidore much playing time ahead of younger players who are going to absolutely have to step up if the program is ever getting off the ground. It has to be all about development and that only comes on the pitch and not on the bench. We cannot have another coach who is not fully committed to the future. Clearly Altidore gives them a better chance to score today, but given his injury history and his age it would be a mistake to delay developing others and bank on his health and age in 3 years.