World Cup 2026 (1 Viewer)

AOM said:

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 said:

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.

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Grendel said:

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

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Mucca Mad Boys said:

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.

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Mucca Mad Boys said:

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.

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Grendel said:

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

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AOM said:

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

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