World Cup 2026

[Sanguine]

It's even more ridiculous in 2030, where, 'to commemorate 100 years of the FIFA World Cup', Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay qualify automatically all for the sake of the first three games of the tournament, which will involves those teams, played in their home stadiums, before the event moves to its hosts, Spain, Portgual and Morocco.

FIFA will surely have to do something with the CONMEBOL qualifying competition.

[Stranded]

It's even more ridiculous in 2030, where, 'to commemorate 100 years of the FIFA World Cup', Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay qualify automatically all for the sake of the first three games of the tournament, which will involves those teams, played in their home stadiums, before the event moves to its hosts, Spain, Portgual and Morocco.

FIFA will surely have to do something with the CONMEBOL qualifying competition.

They should, but they won't.

If they are sensible they simply switch the number of qualifiers with CONCACAF for the next WC - CONCACAF has 3 automatic qualifiers this time in US, Canada and Mexico - they have 3 qualifying spots and 2 play-off spots.

If swapped would mean the remaining 7 South American sides only 2 would be eliminated after the league stage.

[Sanguine]

It's even more ridiculous in 2030, where, 'to commemorate 100 years of the FIFA World Cup', Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay qualify automatically all for the sake of the first three games of the tournament, which will involves those teams, played in their home stadiums, before the event moves to its hosts, Spain, Portgual and Morocco.

FIFA will surely have to do something with the CONMEBOL qualifying competition.

They should, but they won't.

If they are sensible they simply switch the number of qualifiers with CONCACAF for the next WC - CONCACAF has 3 automatic qualifiers this time in US, Canada and Mexico - they have 3 qualifying spots and 2 play-off spots.

If swapped would mean the remaining 7 South American sides only 2 would be eliminated after the league stage.

Given that a 7-team tournament would be a bit silly - and leave the other three teams without games, I can see them running the usual 10-team qualification event, with those three exempt, and if they have any sense, doing as you suggest and swapping out additional qualifying places with CONACAF. And then we might see the likes of Honduras at the World Cup again.

[Sutekh]

It's even more ridiculous in 2030, where, 'to commemorate 100 years of the FIFA World Cup', Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay qualify automatically all for the sake of the first three games of the tournament, which will involves those teams, played in their home stadiums, before the event moves to its hosts, Spain, Portgual and Morocco.

FIFA will surely have to do something with the CONMEBOL qualifying competition.

They should, but they won't.

If they are sensible they simply switch the number of qualifiers with CONCACAF for the next WC - CONCACAF has 3 automatic qualifiers this time in US, Canada and Mexico - they have 3 qualifying spots and 2 play-off spots.

If swapped would mean the remaining 7 South American sides only 2 would be eliminated after the league stage.

Given that a 7-team tournament would be a bit silly - and leave the other three teams without games, I can see them running the usual 10-team qualification event, with those three exempt, and if they have any sense, doing as you suggest and swapping out additional qualifying places with CONACAF. And then we might see the likes of Honduras at the World Cup again.

The number of qualification places that CONMEBOL receive quite is ludicrous really, no other federation gets any where near the percentage of qualifying places that the South Americans do. IMO they should have their places cut and those places given to other federations.

[Sanguine]

It's a juggling act. Only Bolivia (83) and Venezuela (57) are ranked outside the top 50 by FIFA, so it is a 'high quality' confederation. And the flip side of fewer places, given that broadly Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay will always get there, is that CONMEBOL qualification just becomes the other sides going for one or two spots.

But agree that seven feels one or two too many.

Will be good to see more African teams involved in 2026 - number of qualifiers up to nine in the new format. Hopefully one or two 'new' ones in there. Sudan currently going very well, albeit it is early stages. They were ranked 131 at the start of qualifying but top their group at the halfway stage. And Rwanda (139) beat South Africa to top their group after four games. Comoros going well too, they have beaten Ghana.

Tough to qualify still though, only group winners go to the finals.

[Stranded]

They should, but they won't.

If they are sensible they simply switch the number of qualifiers with CONCACAF for the next WC - CONCACAF has 3 automatic qualifiers this time in US, Canada and Mexico - they have 3 qualifying spots and 2 play-off spots.

If swapped would mean the remaining 7 South American sides only 2 would be eliminated after the league stage.

Given that a 7-team tournament would be a bit silly - and leave the other three teams without games, I can see them running the usual 10-team qualification event, with those three exempt, and if they have any sense, doing as you suggest and swapping out additional qualifying places with CONACAF. And then we might see the likes of Honduras at the World Cup again.

The number of qualification places that CONMEBOL receive quite is ludicrous really, no other federation gets any where near the percentage of qualifying places that the South Americans do. IMO they should have their places cut and those places given to other federations.

Still makes more sense then the Rugby World Cup qualifying.

Example for you - next years Pacific Nations Cup doubles up as a World Cup Qualifying tournament - however, Japan, Fiji and Samoa have already qualified - there are 2 spots up for grab - so to qualify, you just have to not finish last.

Even if you finish last - i.e. lose all your games, you go into a play-off round. Lose that and you go in to a repecharge.

[Sutekh]

Given that a 7-team tournament would be a bit silly - and leave the other three teams without games, I can see them running the usual 10-team qualification event, with those three exempt, and if they have any sense, doing as you suggest and swapping out additional qualifying places with CONACAF. And then we might see the likes of Honduras at the World Cup again.

The number of qualification places that CONMEBOL receive quite is ludicrous really, no other federation gets any where near the percentage of qualifying places that the South Americans do. IMO they should have their places cut and those places given to other federations.

Still makes more sense then the Rugby World Cup qualifying.

Example for you - next years Pacific Nations Cup doubles up as a World Cup Qualifying tournament - however, Japan, Fiji and Samoa have already qualified - there are 2 spots up for grab - so to qualify, you just have to not finish last.

Even if you finish last - i.e. lose all your games, you go into a play-off round. Lose that and you go in to a repecharge.

[Stranded]

The number of qualification places that CONMEBOL receive quite is ludicrous really, no other federation gets any where near the percentage of qualifying places that the South Americans do. IMO they should have their places cut and those places given to other federations.

Still makes more sense then the Rugby World Cup qualifying.

Example for you - next years Pacific Nations Cup doubles up as a World Cup Qualifying tournament - however, Japan, Fiji and Samoa have already qualified - there are 2 spots up for grab - so to qualify, you just have to not finish last.

Even if you finish last - i.e. lose all your games, you go into a play-off round. Lose that and you go in to a repecharge.

Exactly its a farce because they are determined that the US and Canada will qualify. Because. Money.

[Winston Biscuit]

Argentina 6-0 Bolivia

Argentina fans giving it a big rendition of their favourite 'he who does not jump is an Englishman' chant
https://x.com/tomikaragozian/status/1846393486343299346?s=19

[Sanguine]

Sudan is suffering a brutal civil war - but its footballers are scaling new heights.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... -civil-war

Sudan need a point against Niger to qualify for AFCON for just the fourth time, and even more impressively, they are top of their World Cup qualifying group after four games, having never made the tournament proper in their history.

Rwanda and Comoros also currently top of their groups, albeit on goal difference.

Nigeria, who are in Rwanda's group, really struggling with just three points from their first four games. A fight just to reach the playoffs in a group that also includes South Africa. Nigeria have reached six of the last eight World Cups.

In Asia, Uzbekistan have made a strong start and have a six point cushion in the qualifying spots ahead of UAE in AFC Group A. The Uzbeks made the QFs at last years Asian Cup and didn't lose a game, a tournament where they achieved a very decent draw with Australia.

[Harrison Delbridge]

Uzbekistan are actually a very good team and have an insane youth setup nowdays

[Sanguine]

Uzbekistan are actually a very good team and have an insane youth setup nowdays

Give us some detail about Uzbekistan's youth sides.

[Harrison Delbridge]

Uzbekistan are actually a very good team and have an insane youth setup nowdays

Give us some detail about Uzbekistan's youth sides.

they constantly do well in youth asian cups and youth world cups for a small non football country

hth

stfu

[Sanguine]

Uzbekistan are actually a very good team and have an insane youth setup nowdays

Give us some detail about Uzbekistan's youth sides.

they constantly do well in youth asian cups and youth world cups for a small non football country

hth

stfu

Football is the most popular sport in Uzbekistan.

[Harrison Delbridge]

Give us some detail about Uzbekistan's youth sides.

they constantly do well in youth asian cups and youth world cups for a small non football country

hth

stfu

Football is the most popular sport in Uzbekistan.

doesnt mean they are a footballing powerhouse

which is what i meant

[Sanguine]

they constantly do well in youth asian cups and youth world cups for a small non football country

hth

stfu

Football is the most popular sport in Uzbekistan.

doesnt mean they are a footballing powerhouse

which is what i meant

If that's what you meant, you should have written it. Instead, you called them a 'non-football country'. If you want people to understand what you mean, you should write what you mean.

[Harrison Delbridge]

Football is the most popular sport in Uzbekistan.

doesnt mean they are a footballing powerhouse

which is what i meant

If that's what you meant, you should have written it. Instead, you called them a 'non-football country'. If you want people to understand what you mean, you should write what you mean.

that isnt how my brain works

[Winston Biscuit]

Was just looking at who the first teams are that might qualify.

Asia qualifiers tomorrow, and if the results go well for Japan, Korea and Iran then those 3 teams have the chance to qualify for the world cup on March 20th.

New Zealand will very likely qualify on March 24th

Asia qualifying matches again on March 25th so if any of those 3 nations above stumble beforehand then that is their chance to make sure.

Doing this brief research also made me notice just how sh*t Australia have done in their qualifying. 1 win in 5. Strewth.

[Harrison Delbridge]

Sam marino not only win but get promoted

[Sutekh]

Sam marino not only win but get promoted

Yes, they proved themselves better than both Liechtenstein and Gibraltar in the group of non-entities.