Change in WCQ - No US v Mexico?

[TexasTerror]

Are they stupid or what? If they keep USA v Mexico out of CONCACAF qualifying, it really hurts the chances of the CONCACAF's top two teams to get really meaningful games against top competition in the qualifying lead-up to the World Cup...

It was suggested that this would be how this may look... are you kidding me? I'm all for more qualifying matches for the lesser Carribean countries, but let the US, Mexico bypass into stage two instead of horrible home-and-home with countries that do not even have FIFA-qualified stadiums.

And still finish with the Hexagonal. I'm sure it can be done!

Stage 1: United States, Antigua & Barbuda, Nicaragua, St. Lucia
Stage 2: United States, Jamaica, Guatemala, Grenada
Stage 3: United States, Honduras, Trinidad & Tobago, Canada


Here's how it would work: The six lowest-ranked teams in the region would have a home-and-home playoff to trim the field to 32. Then eight groups of four teams would play a six-game quarterfinal stage, with the top two in each group advancing. Then four groups of four would play a six-game semifinal stage, with the top two again advancing. Then two groups of four would play a six-game final stage. The two teams that win those groups would earn bids to World Cup '14. If CONCACAF successfully lobbies FIFA for four spots in Brazil (instead of the previous 3.5), then the two second-place teams would also receive World Cup bids. If it stays at 3.5, then the two second-place teams would have a playoff, with the winner going to Brazil and the loser then playing against a team from another confederation for a World Cup spot (last time it was the fifth-place team from South America's CONMEBOL).

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/grant_wahl/09/29/concacaf.kills.rivalry/1.html#ixzz11RXUKomO

[MSUDuo]

I'm not sure what I think of it. I do like the fact that it gives more of the lower countries a chance to advance farther but it really puts Mexico and USA in tough situations. Now the margin for error just got smaller for both teams as any slip up on the road can and will be costly because you are only playing 6 games in each stage. A lot easier to handle a road loss or two when you have 10 games coming your way compared to 6.

[TheValleyRaider]

I know their larger goal is to get more games in for the lesser teams than just a quick group stage, but if this does stick, USA and Mexico will have to be more proactive about scheduling tougher teams, and it puts greater emphasis on the Gold Cup with the resulting Confederations Cup birth

I'd say though, I'm skeptical about CONCACAF getting a guaranteed 4th spot for 2014. Not given we haven't seen a team out of the Round of 16 since 2002 (and that was guaranteed since the match was USA-Mexico), and we haven't had a team (other than the Big 2) get more than a point in Group games since 2002 as well. And that doesn't even count our embarrassing showing in 2006. So...yeah, I'm not seeing our case there

[TexasTerror]

I'm not sure what I think of it. I do like the fact that it gives more of the lower countries a chance to advance farther but it really puts Mexico and USA in tough situations. Now the margin for error just got smaller for both teams as any slip up on the road can and will be costly because you are only playing 6 games in each stage. A lot easier to handle a road loss or two when you have 10 games coming your way compared to 6.

If this comes to be - do you think Bob Bradley brings a 'B' team to some of the lesser countries? I guess you have to bring your 'A' team to help avoid the slip up, but you are going to be bringing guys halfway across the world from Europe to play matches that have lots of meaning, but do not do much of anything for the improvement of the squad - can't think club teams will be too thrilled.

Also - am I mistaken in that this means more matches for the USMNT? They'll start qualifying earlier and saw in the article there'd be potential conflicts with the MLS, which is never a good thing. Diminishes the postseason if the league's top stars are unavailable.

[MSUDuo]

If this comes to be - do you think Bob Bradley brings a 'B' team to some of the lesser countries? I guess you have to bring your 'A' team to help avoid the slip up, but you are going to be bringing guys halfway across the world from Europe to play matches that have lots of meaning, but do not do much of anything for the improvement of the squad - can't think club teams will be too thrilled.

Also - am I mistaken in that this means more matches for the USMNT? They'll start qualifying earlier and saw in the article there'd be potential conflicts with the MLS, which is never a good thing. Diminishes the postseason if the league's top stars are unavailable.

Nope, won't be able to afford that luxury. Will need your best players each and every time to try and earn that win.

And it doesn't look like it. For 2010, the USA played 18 games in qualifying. If we are to have 3 rounds with 6 games each that would be 18 as well. It would just depend when the qualifying starts to account for more teams playing more games.