World Cup 2026 (1 Viewer)

[AOM]

Just seen on the BBC that Sweden are guaranteed a play off spot, even though they only have 1 point and are bottom of their group.

I don't actually mind the Nations League concept as it makes internationals slightly more interesting, but the whole qualification thing does seem overly complicated.

 

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[Mucca Mad Boys]

Just seen on the BBC that Sweden are guaranteed a play off spot, even though they only have 1 point and are bottom of their group.

I don't actually mind the Nations League concept as it makes internationals slightly more interesting, but the whole qualification thing does seem overly complicated.

For the Euros, the top 16-20 teams should qualify automatically, the rest of teams should ‘earn’ that right. The World Cup is a bit more confusing but to crack, there are some ideas floating around that are interesting.

There is just no rational competition that would pit the likes of Andorra, San Marino, Gibraltar and so on against the likes of England, France, Spain, Germany etc.

 

[Grendel]

For the Euros, the top 16-20 teams should qualify automatically, the rest of teams should ‘earn’ that right. The World Cup is a bit more confusing but to crack, there are some ideas floating around that are interesting.

There is just no rational competition that would pit the likes of Andorra, San Marino, Gibraltar and so on against the likes of England, France, Spain, Germany etc.

To be fair competitions in all sports allow access to every country. It’s always been that small countries play - it’s just that so many European countries are allowed in the World Cup

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

To be fair competitions in all sports allow access to every country. It’s always been that small countries play - it’s just that so many European countries are allowed in the World Cup

They can and other confederations have prelims, AFC pits. If anything, integrating the Nations League into the qualification process enhances the prospects of lower tier nation. As England found out, relegation to Tier 2 in the nations league had 0 consequence so for the Nations League to stand up as a meaningful competition, maintaining that Top 16 rank has got to matter.

One proposed format is:
1-16 ranked teams qualify automatically
17-32 are then in a playoff style league/competition for 4 playoff qualifiers

The overall product of World Cup qualification is dross. Anyone that follows England turn up to get the points or an away day to somewhere new. The gap of opponents is too high and it’s undermining the international game because there’s widespread apathy when international windows come about.

Generally, people like the Nations League so it makes sense to broaden that and frankly, it must have much stronger commercial opportunities.

 

[Evo1883]

Unbelievable

 

[AOM]

For the Euros, the top 16-20 teams should qualify automatically, the rest of teams should ‘earn’ that right. The World Cup is a bit more confusing but to crack, there are some ideas floating around that are interesting.

There is just no rational competition that would pit the likes of Andorra, San Marino, Gibraltar and so on against the likes of England, France, Spain, Germany etc.

Not a bad idea actually, although I do quite like when some of the bigger teams miss out.
There has to be something more interesting though than the current qualifying set up of higher ranked countries coasting through their groups and then only really being tested by a good standard side at the actual tournament

 

[Grendel]

They can and other confederations have prelims, AFC pits. If anything, integrating the Nations League into the qualification process enhances the prospects of lower tier nation. As England found out, relegation to Tier 2 in the nations league had 0 consequence so for the Nations League to stand up as a meaningful competition, maintaining that Top 16 rank has got to matter.

One proposed format is:
1-16 ranked teams qualify automatically
17-32 are then in a playoff style league/competition for 4 playoff qualifiers

The overall product of World Cup qualification is dross. Anyone that follows England turn up to get the points or an away day to somewhere new. The gap of opponents is too high and it’s undermining the international game because there’s widespread apathy when international windows come about.

Generally, people like the Nations League so it makes sense to broaden that and frankly, it must have much stronger commercial opportunities.

Dont FIFA rules dictate all members have a chance of WC qualification?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Dont FIFA rules dictate all members have a chance of WC qualification?

Yes, the suggestion isn’t to exclude any teams because the principle should remain that in theory, anyone can qualify.

That said, there should be common sense applied that should mandate the lowest tier nations enter qualifying at an earlier point.

In principle, it’s not so different to th FA Cup, there’s prelims, 1st round and 3rd round where new teams enter. It would degrade the FA Cup if Cov could draw Nuneaton because all entrants enter the competition at the same time. The magic of the cup is preserved when a team like Maidstone beat 3-4 teams as underdogs to play against Ipswich then ourselves.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Not a bad idea actually, although I do quite like when some of the bigger teams miss out.
There has to be something more interesting though than the current qualifying set up of higher ranked countries coasting through their groups and then only really being tested by a good standard side at the actual tournament

If it’s the Top 16 that automatically qualify, you could have a situation where the Relegated Tier 1 teams have a playoff with promoted T2 teams for automatic spots.

The year we got relegated from League A, it was obvious the players didn’t really care because it was end of the season and the game was a glorified friendly.

I’m not an expert but would fully like to see the Nations League develop a larger role for qualification. As someone who does go to England games, I’ve not been excited about any internationals outside the Euros and World Cup. I go purely for England Caps for the tournament games.

 

[Evo1883]

That mctominay goal is nuts

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

That mctominay goal is nuts

Seemed in slow motion

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

What a goal, no EMC though

 

[SBT]

With Curacao qualifying, are we about to see Gervane Kastaneer play at the actual World Cup?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Most of the pots have been decided for the World Cup, a fun draw would be:

England-Australia-Scotland-NZ / ROI (if they made it).

One to avoid would be Italy if they win their playoff, they’ll be in Pot 4 by the looks of it.

 

[MusicDating]

With Curacao qualifying, are we about to see Gervane Kastaneer play at the actual World Cup?

'Who else?'...

 

[Kneeza]

Unbelievable View attachment 47187

Never seen stats like that in the World Gurning Cup before.
Well deserved though.

 

[SBT]

Most of the pots have been decided for the World Cup, a fun draw would be:

England-Australia-Scotland-NZ / ROI (if they made it).

One to avoid would be Italy if they win their playoff, they’ll be in Pot 4 by the looks of it.

USA-Iran-Saudi Arabia group

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

With Curacao qualifying, are we about to see Gervane Kastaneer play at the actual World Cup?

Unfortunately if he does, it's at the expense of Kasey Palmer who would surely have rallied around to earn a call-up with Jamaica.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

Most of the pots have been decided for the World Cup, a fun draw would be:

England-Australia-Scotland-NZ / ROI (if they made it).

One to avoid would be Italy if they win their playoff, they’ll be in Pot 4 by the looks of it.

I thought they were 3 team groups?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Tell you what, if that Ramirez don't win player of the tournament there's no justice.

 

[robbiekeane]

Is anyone else planning to go to this?

I have been quite excited about this for a while and actually won the ticket ballot lottery. My slot for buying tickets was today, but upon logging in I cannot find a single ticket in any stadium for any match under 300 dollars. Most are around 500 dollars. Was planning to do a handful of games and travel round the USA and maybe Mexico a bit, but not sure I will bother now!

View attachment 46535

i just refuse

$550 a ticket for a round of 32 in LA. Mates grabbed a few and offered me one. I spend money on some daft shit but out of principle I am out.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Is anyone else planning to go to this?

I have been quite excited about this for a while and actually won the ticket ballot lottery. My slot for buying tickets was today, but upon logging in I cannot find a single ticket in any stadium for any match under 300 dollars. Most are around 500 dollars. Was planning to do a handful of games and travel round the USA and maybe Mexico a bit, but not sure I will bother now!

View attachment 46535

I'm planning to go out but need to see the draw before deciding what to do. I'm looking into refundable flights/accommodation for the final in New York/Jersey just in case we make the final because I'll get a ticket through the ETSC.

I did the whole month in Germany 2024, had a great time and everywhere was nearby, the travel costs and accommodation alone is going to be 1.5-2 times what I spent on that trip (minimum).

 

[AOM]

Tell you what, if that Ramirez don't win player of the tournament there's no justice.

"They done it in '74, then done it again in '78 - can they do it this time? Yep. Looks like Scotland are going out in the first round again."

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I'm planning to go out but need to see the draw before deciding what to do. I'm looking into refundable flights/accommodation for the final in New York/Jersey just in case we make the final because I'll get a ticket through the ETSC.

I did the whole month in Germany 2024, had a great time and everywhere was nearby, the travel costs and accommodation alone is going to be 1.5-2 times what I spent on that trip (minimum).

It does beg the question of what sorts of fans they expect/want to turn up in big numbers for these games.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

It does beg the question of what sorts of fans they expect/want to turn up in big numbers for these games.

Definitely not proles like us. FIFA is 100% selling itself to the highest bidder in a more deliberate

Without being too one sided, even if the World Cup was just in the USA, the internal travel would be a lot more expensive in Europe. The rail pass I got for the month last year was €500 and that got me Berlin to Cov on a train for £25 essentially.

There’s also the international travel. My flight to Germany was £50 and looking at £650-850 for a flight to New York for the final weekend. That is a reality of flying to a different continent.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

i just refuse

$550 a ticket for a round of 32 in LA. Mates grabbed a few and offered me one. I spend money on some daft shit but out of principle I am out.

Yeah, same as you on this.

I would have genuinely splashed a few grand on a trip, but at those prices for tickets there is just no way I can bring myself to purchase one at this point in time.

Might still have a 'work trip' as mentioned, and watch from afar.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

That mctominay goal is nuts

It’s not quite emc come on

 

[Sky_Blue_Daz]

Remember the good old days when the top 2 qualified automatically

 

[Robinshio]

I thought they were 3 team groups?

no 12 Groups of 4 with the top 2 and the 8 best 3rd place teams going through - So beat one of the also rans by 3 or 4 goals and you go through

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

no 12 Groups of 4 with the top 2 and the 8 best 3rd place teams going through - So beat one of the also rans by 3 or 4 goals and you go through

International tournaments having 3rd place qualifiers kills the format.

As we see with the Euros, smaller teams know 3 daws will more or less guarantee qualification.

If we have bigger World Cup, have a format that has
16 groups of 3 (2 qualifiers) or 8 groups of 6 (4 qualifiers).

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Definitely not proles like us. FIFA is 100% selling itself to the highest bidder in a more deliberate

Without being too one sided, even if the World Cup was just in the USA, the internal travel would be a lot more expensive in Europe. The rail pass I got for the month last year was €500 and that got me Berlin to Cov on a train for £25 essentially.

There’s also the international travel. My flight to Germany was £50 and looking at £650-850 for a flight to New York for the final weekend. That is a reality of flying to a different continent.

International tournaments having 3rd place qualifiers kills the format.

As we see with the Euros, smaller teams know 3 daws will more or less guarantee qualification.

If we have bigger World Cup, have a format that has
16 groups of 3 (2 qualifiers) or 8 groups of 6 (4 qualifiers).

It comes back to the organisers wanting more games to get more money, even if it devalues the competition.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

It comes back to the organisers wanting more games to get more money, even if it devalues the competition.

It’s remarkable that the World Cup adopted a format that was tried by UEFA for the Euros and took 2 tournaments to change it. It will damage the product.

IIRC, it was Slovakia v Romania last Euros where both teams knew a draw would guarantee qualification. I spoke to a small Slovenian fans before England v Slovenia and they only cared about getting a draw to qualify. In the old format, they needed a win to guarantee qualification.

The World Cup will go the same way and will either expand (again) or shake up the group stage format.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Adidas have released all their World Cup shirts today. Some crackers in there, but not sure they'll all be getting as much use as others...

View attachment 46983

The Japan shirt is class. Wonder have genuinely far off Sakamoto would be from their squad?

Not a fan of any of those, Germany's retro one is about the best of the bunch. I have no idea why adidas doesn't use the trefoil on the shirts.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

It’s remarkable that the World Cup adopted a format that was tried by UEFA for the Euros and took 2 tournaments to change it. It will damage the product.

IIRC, it was Slovakia v Romania last Euros where both teams knew a draw would guarantee qualification. I spoke to a small Slovenian fans before England v Slovenia and they only cared about getting a draw to qualify. In the old format, they needed a win to guarantee qualification.

The World Cup will go the same way and will either expand (again) or shake up the group stage format.

While the new Champions League format has worked well and proven popular, it’s an exception to the rule. There’s something special about a World Cup with just 32 teams who’ve had to really earn their spot, then have to really earn a knockout place.

FIFA have just cheapened the competition while making it more inaccessible to ordinary fans.