World Cup 2022 Qualifiers

[purpleronnie]

Amazing draw for both Wales and Scotland, the only downside is one of them will ultimately miss out.  The atmosphere would be unreal.

[Guest ttfn]

The new play off structure is brilliant. You can’t beat a bit of jeopardy in a qualifying campaign.

 

[Nalis]

19 hours ago, ttfn said:

The new play off structure is brilliant. You can’t beat a bit of jeopardy in a qualifying campaign.

 

I agree. No bounceback chance after losing or drawing a first leg.

 

The bigger nations will also need to go for it a bit more as they wont want to risk penalties.

[Detroit Blues]

Bit of an update on WCQ:

 

AFC

 

AFC Group A:

Iran has now qualified for the World Cup.

South Korea is almost essentially in, with a 8 point lead on UAE with 3 matches remaining. A win on Tuesday against Syria, or a loss by UAE against Iran will secure their spot at the 2022 World Cup.

AFC Group B:

Saudi Arabia is one win away from Qualification. They play Japan, China and Australia. 

More than likely, Japan and Australia are fighting it out for the second automatic qualifying spot. They play each other in Sydney in March, in what might be the deciding game.

 

The team that finishes in third place will go on to play against the third place team from group A in a one game playoff in May/June 2022. The Group B third place team will be the strong favorite, but in a single game playoff anything can happen. The winner of the playoff then plays in the intercontinental playoff against the 5th place team from CONMEBOL. If you missed the news, the intercontinental playoff, which normally was a two legged home/away tie is also going to be a single game playoff in Qatar. 

 

CONCACAF

 

Some separation last night as the North American teams all won, and Panama lost @ Costa Rica. 

 

 

Now it is looking a lot like the most likely scenario is that the North America teams will qualify automatically, and Panama/Costa Rica will fight it out for the 4th place intercontinental playoff spot. The 4th place in CONCACAF will have a one game playoff in Qatar against the winner of the Oceania tournament (basically NZ ).

 

Two more games left in this window:

The US plays on the road in Canada, and then comes home to face the bottom place Honduran team.

Canada hosts the US and then will go away to El Salvador (also essentially eliminated).

Mexico hosts both teams fighting for their lives in Costa Rica and Panama.

Both Costa Rica and Panama face Jamaica (Costa Rica @ Jamaica, Jamaica @ Panama). 

 

There will be another three game window in March.

 

[hackenbacker]

1 hour ago, Detroit Blues said:

Bit of an update on WCQ:

 

AFC

 

AFC Group A:

Iran has now qualified for the World Cup.

South Korea is almost essentially in, with a 8 point lead on UAE with 3 matches remaining. A win on Tuesday against Syria, or a loss by UAE against Iran will secure their spot at the 2022 World Cup.

AFC Group B:

Saudi Arabia is one win away from Qualification. They play Japan, China and Australia. 

More than likely, Japan and Australia are fighting it out for the second automatic qualifying spot. They play each other in Sydney in March, in what might be the deciding game.

 

The team that finishes in third place will go on to play against the third place team from group A in a one game playoff in May/June 2022. The Group B third place team will be the strong favorite, but in a single game playoff anything can happen. The winner of the playoff then plays in the intercontinental playoff against the 5th place team from CONMEBOL. If you missed the news, the intercontinental playoff, which normally was a two legged home/away tie is also going to be a single game playoff in Qatar. 

 

CONCACAF

 

Some separation last night as the North American teams all won, and Panama lost @ Costa Rica. 

 

 

Now it is looking a lot like the most likely scenario is that the North America teams will qualify automatically, and Panama/Costa Rica will fight it out for the 4th place intercontinental playoff spot. The 4th place in CONCACAF will have a one game playoff in Qatar against the winner of the Oceania tournament (basically NZ ).

 

Two more games left in this window:

The US plays on the road in Canada, and then comes home to face the bottom place Honduran team.

Canada hosts the US and then will go away to El Salvador (also essentially eliminated).

Mexico hosts both teams fighting for their lives in Costa Rica and Panama.

Both Costa Rica and Panama face Jamaica (Costa Rica @ Jamaica, Jamaica @ Panama). 

 

There will be another three game window in March.

 

I think if Japan beat Saudi on Tuesday it will make it very difficult for Australia to automatically qualify regardless of the result of the Japan v Australia game in March. Australia blew their chance with 3 poor performances (Japan, Saudi and especially China) before wining against Vietnam. If this is the case we could end up playing Uruguay (again - hopefully for the same result) for a place in Qatar as we did in 2005.

[Detroit Blues]

6 minutes ago, hackenbacker said:

I think if Japan beat Saudi on Tuesday it will make it very difficult for Australia to automatically qualify regardless of the result of the Japan v Australia game in March. Australia blew their chance with 3 poor performances (Japan, Saudi and especially China) before wining against Vietnam. If this is the case we could end up playing Uruguay (again - hopefully for the same result) for a place in Qatar as we did in 2005.

Yeah, I agree. It's going to be tough for Australia to make up the ground they lost. I'm still holding out hope the Saudi's choke and end up in 3rd

 

 

 

[Nalis]

I dont want to be too harsh on the quality of North America and especially Asia qualification but European qualifying is very tough to get out of in comparison.

 

Even the African qualifying system is tough albeit self inflicted with group winners off to a play off.

[spacemunky]

Big one today here in Hamilton with our match vs the US.

 

Half capacity for the match, although it has sold out when it was originally for a full stadium.

 

Sucks that we'll be without Phonzie, but I still think we can get the win.

[Super_horns]

5 hours ago, spacemunky said:

Big one today here in Hamilton with our match vs the US.

 

Half capacity for the match, although it has sold out when it was originally for a full stadium.

 

Sucks that we'll be without Phonzie, but I still think we can get the win.

A great victory.

Must be almost job compete ?

[CosbehFox]

I see you the US. Then expectations hanging heavy. 

[spacemunky]

3 minutes ago, Super_horns said:

A great victory.

Must be almost job compete ?

Yes it was!

 

Getting close now.

 

How is Tajon Buchanan not playing for a bigger team? With no disrespect to Club Brugge.

[Jattdogg]

For those who watched, got a slight glimpse of my Canadian hometown from a little kid till i was 31. By glimpse, i mean the top of the houses and crappy artifical pitch

 

I played on that "pitch" back in my footballing days for my highschool. Except it was astro turf and not good for football boots at all

 

Super excited for those 3 points though, excellent win today! I was in hamilton last night but  tickets were never an option unfortunately 

[Detroit Blues]

On 30/01/2022 at 17:07, spacemunky said:

Yes it was!

 

Getting close now.

 

How is Tajon Buchanan not playing for a bigger team? With no disrespect to Club Brugge.

I've been barking up the "Tajon Buchanan to Leicester" tree for awhile

 

[Detroit Blues]

AFC WCQ Update - Sorry Aussie bros

 

All that is left in group A is to decide 3rd place. Two games to go, UAE with a one game lead.

UAE - @ Iraq, home vs Korea

Lebanon - home vs Syria, @ Iran

Iraq - home vs UAE, @ Syria

 

If there is really going to be anyone other than UAE in third place, it would require a win by Iraq. That would even up Iraq and UAE at 9 points and leave it up to the final match. Lebanon could possibly sneak in with two wins, but that would require them to get as many points in the last 2 games as they got in the first 8. The only other thing of interest, is how hard Iran/South Korea will try with their WCQ place secured.

 

 

Desperation time for Australia, after conceding in the 89th to Oman, and walking away with a draw. Australia hosts Japan in an absolute must win game. With a win, they would draw level on points and have the advantage in GD. Japan's final match is against Vietnam, whereas Australia has to face group B leaders Saudi Arabia. That said, how hard will Saudi Arabia try to win that game assuming they'll beat China in the prior match and secure qualification. 

 

The Socceroos still hold their own destiny, and can guarantee qualification with two wins in the final two matches. Japan likewise can secure qualification with a win @ Australia, or a draw against Australia and any result against Vietnam.  

[spacemunky]

What a bizarre goal 

[spacemunky]

Hate these matches in Central America. Doesn't even resemble football.

 

Good win lads!

 

 

[Jattdogg]

Massive 3 points, surely we are there now. Go 🇨🇦!

[CosbehFox]

O Canada!

[Hollism]

Canada on the brink of a WC and guaranteed qualification for 2026. It’s quite exciting to think where they could be in 15 years time. Would love them to be indisputably better than The US.

[Jattdogg]

24 minutes ago, Hollism said:

Canada on the brink of a WC and guaranteed qualification for 2026. It’s quite exciting to think where they could be in 15 years time. Would love them to be indisputably better than The US.

We have a much smaller population to choose from but large racialized communities packed in around major urban areas. This has helped football grow and be very competitive locally. 1st gen, 2nd gen and even 3 gen canadians come from countries where football is a religion so its something they pick up more on then the longer term canuckers.

 

Access to football is also much cheaper for families than playing your standard ice hockey or american football. Part and parcel of the rise of our international team as we also have better coaches etc. Still got to get better if we ever want to win a world cup but fantastic for Canada

 

 

[Detroit Blues]

CONCACAF WCQ Update - 

 

 

We are officially one FIFA window away from wrapping up qualification in the world's strangest region, CONCACAF.

 

Canada, the biggest surprise of qualification, has officially locked up at least 4th place. which would guarantee a playoff against the Oceania tournament winner. It is so impressive because Canada literally would not have qualified (by CONCACAF's backwards rules) to be in the hexagonal without COVID expanding the tournament to 8.    

       

What's left for Canada? They still need to get 1-2 points to guarantee automatic qualification. There are scenarios where they could miss the world cup. IF Canada were to lose all 3 of their remaining games, Panama would need to win out to get to 26 pts, and US and Mexico would need to win 2 games to get to 27 points, which would relegate Canada to 4th place and a one game playoff vs New Zealand in Qatar. Yes that sounds outlandish, but that's a very good way to setup what Canada needs in order to qualify - 

1) Any win would secure qualification

2) A draw away to Panama would secure qualification

3) Any Panama loss would secure qualification
4) One of US or Mexico losing two games

 

TL/DR - GG Canada, rooting for you guys to make some noise in the world cup... hopefully alongside the US

 

Speaking of which, the US managed 6 points in the last window to keep their hold of 2nd place in the CONCACAF table. What remains for them?

 

US away to Mexico (should be a massive, massive match for both teams)

US at home to Panama (which is actually the more important game to their qualification chances)

US away to Costa Rica (they better not need a point from this game to secure qualification, because the US has basically lost ever game played away to Costa Rica).

 

What will secure the US a qualification spot? 

1) A win against Panama, assuming Costa Rica does not win all 3 of their matches

2) A win against Panama and Mexico

3) A draw to Panama and Costa Rica and both teams failing to win their other two games.

4) The US could qualify without another point, if Panama/Costa Rica both beat the US but lose their other two matches.

The US could actually lock up qualification before the Panama game by winning for the first time (in qualifying) at Azteca vs Mexico AND Panama/Costa Rica losing their first match.

 

What should we say about Mexico?

They've been the biggest disappointment of qualification, limping their way to third in the table. Most of their wins have been uninspired, particularly at home. They have been very fortunate to be awarded penalties (as they always seem to) in order to compensate for their inability to create in open play. Tata Martinez should probably be fired.

 

Yet all those things said, they are level with the US on points and could still top the table with a good final window. What do they have in their last window?

Home vs the USA

Away to the worst team in CONCACAF - Honduras

Home to the second worst team in CONCACAF - El Salvador.

 

7 points should be the minimum expectation from these three games. Luckily for them, 5 would all but guarantee qualification. Even 4 with some help might do it. For Mexico, they should be rooting for the same things as their rivals, the US. They want Panama and Costa Rica to drop points. The difference is they do not play these teams, so really the only thing they can effect is putting distance between themselves and Panama/Costa Rica by beating the worst teams in CONCACAF. Qualify for the World Cup and thing figure out in the summer what to do about their poor form.

 

Panama has legitimately been very good in qualifying, and if they keep it up could very well find themselves in the world cup.

 

What is ahead of them is simple - beat Honduras at home in the first match and earn the right to play away to the US in a game that could send them to the world cup. They would be underdogs before, but they've already beaten the US once (albeit at home), so they will believe they could do it again. If they can win or even draw against the US, they give themselves a good chance to automatically qualify because the US has two road games in places they rarely win (Mexico and Costa Rica). 

 

Ideally, Panama should attempt to win 9 points in their three games. They will finish at home vs an already qualified Canada, but as Panamanians will tell you, nothing is guaranteed. They've been in the same situation before where they needed to win vs an already qualified team (The US in the 2014 WCQ cycle) and blew a lead in the last ten minutes of the game which eliminated them from the world cup.

 

Lastly, if they can't qualify automatically, they can at the very least look forward to locking up the 4th place intercontinental playoff spot vs Oceania in Qatar if they can stay ahead of Costa Rica. The way Panama has been playing, nobody would be surprised if they beat the Kiwis in a one game playoff.

 

It feels like the end of an era for Costa Rica. Their empire was vast, and at their height in 2014 they stunned the world by going to the Quarterfinals of the World Cup and being one shootout away from a Semi-Final. Many of those same players are on this team, but they are much, much older.

 

They have two paths to qualification. 

1) Win out home vs Canada, away to El Salvador and home to the US. 25 pts probably gets them an automatic qualifying place because it would force the US AND Mexico to both get at least 4 points. 

2) Get 7 points including a win against the US and hope for some very favorable results.

 

But the more realistic path is likely edging out Panama for 4th place and taking on New Zealand in a one game playoff vs Qatar. Even though they would not be likely to go far in the world cup, they could send off their golden generation with a bit more pomp and circumstance.

 

 TL/DR: Go USA, Go Canada, F$&# Mexico, and I hope Panama and Costa slip on a banana peel (you brits call them skins though, which is weird).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lionator]

Canada will be really difficult to play against at the World Cup, they’ve got 2/3 really top class stars and a strong bunch of youngsters propping them up. I wouldn’t want to draw them in the group stage. 
 

Their coach is an interesting chap too. From Durham, took the New Zealand womens job, then Canada women before getting the Canada mens job. Seems like an excellent coach. 

Edited 3 February 2022 by Lionator

[purpleronnie]

Bit of a joke qualifying group, but genuinely interested to see how the Canadians do in the WC, and especially on home turf for the following one.

[Detroit Blues]

28 minutes ago, purpleronnie said:

Bit of a joke qualifying group, but genuinely interested to see how the Canadians do in the WC, and especially on home turf for the following one.

 

They honestly remind me of 90s era USMNT teams. Defensively solid, well organized, greater than the sum of their parts, built to sit back and counter but can also play some decent football when they do possess the ball.

 

That said, they're likely to be pot 3, so it will end up in a "Group of Death" with 1 powerhouse team from Pot 1, a very good (likely UEFA or CONMEBOL) pot 2 team, and a possibly a quality 4th pot team from CAF/AFC. Canada will have to upset the applecart and send one of those Pot1/2 teams home. 

 

The other thing to note is, CONCACAF Qualify form rarely translates to the world cup. The referees will actually give out cards and award penalties at the world cup, so you can't get away with as much tomfoolery as you can in CONCCAF world cup qualifying. 

 

Of the best (recent) World Cup appearances for CONCACAF - 

2014 Costa Rica nearly made it to the semi-final, but in qualifying they finished 2nd and did not appear to be world beaters.

2002 USMNT beat Mexico in the knockout round, and came close to defeating Germany in the quarterfinal. But they finished third in qualifying and nearly missed the world cup altogether.

 

2018 Mexico ran away with qualifying, and then was pretty mediocre in the tournament, needing South Korea to do their dirty work to make it out of the group. 

 

So we'll see. The larger picture is that Canada is a soccer nation on the rise, and who knows what can happen if they string multiple World Cup appearances in a row. They are joint hosts with the US and Mexico in 2026 (it remains to be seen if they will automatically qualify as hosts), and with the expansion of the world cup to 48 teams, CONCACAF will get an additional automatic qualification slots (from 3 to 6). \

 

With 6 qualification slots, it is truly the end to competitive qualifiers in the region, as USA/Mexico/Canada/Costa Rica/Honduras/Panama will make the WCQ every 4 years (or 2 years if FIFA has their way). Making the World Cup every 4 years was a big factor in developing the US's publics awareness to the game. Canada can definitely bottle up some of this magic and turn it into good players 20 years from now that decided to play soccer instead of hockey because they watched Alfonso Davis carry Canada to World Cup glory. 

 

 

 

[Super_horns]

Wow this seems so crazy and dangerous to play in.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/usa-honduras-world-cup-qualifier-26128367.amp

Edited 3 February 2022 by Super_horns