World Cup 2026 (7 Viewers)

[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.