Tweet
FIFA LOCKS CONCACAF AT 3.5 SPOTS
CONCACAF - Article | Posted on June 27/10 by Max Bell
CONCACAF and CONMEBOL prospered during the group stages in South Africa but FIFA has decided to maintain the status quo for its 2014 World Cup continental allotments
Every four years FIFA throws the most prestigious party in world sport and they have the star-studded guest-list to prove it.
Because he who hosts the World Cup has to book the entertainment, bake the hors-d’oeuvres and make sure everybody has a good time: it only seems fair that they should be guaranteed a place on the dance-floor. At least for the first three songs.
Brazil, hosts of the 2014 tournament, are thus the only team we are guaranteed to see again in four years time.
This leaves FIFA’s other 206 member nations falling over each other for a ticket to the ball. The stark reality is that 175 of these countries won’t get to enjoy the World Cup revelry.
Competition during World Cup Qualifying is fierce, even for the top nations, and because spots at the tournament are allotted in different quantities to different continents – there is perpetual debate over which regions deserve more or less respect in world football.
Yesterday, FIFA put any speculation over a redistribution of the continental World Cup spots to bed. CONCACAF nations will continue to have to fight it out for one of the three-and-a-half spots up for grabs.
But what if FIFA was serious about coming up with a new, more egalitarian, formula for the regional distribution of its tournament places? We took a look at the results from the group stages in South Africa to provide some insight:
The hard facts
South America have proven to be far and away the most capable continent during the group stages of the current tournament. All five of CONMEBOL’s entrants have progressed to the round of 16 boasting an impressive cumulative record of ten wins, four losses and only one defeat. The South Americans are also 16 goals to the good.
Next best are the American neighbours to the north. Mexico, the United States and Honduras comprised the three representatives from North and Central America at the 2010 World Cup. With the Mexicans and Americans qualifying for the round of 16, CONCACAF boasts an impressive qualification percentage of 66.7% for the tournament’s knockout stages, surging ahead of the traditionally favoured European contingent.
The four Asian sides at this year’s tournament also put in a very respectable performance with the exception of North Korea, who were one of only two teams to finish without a point. Because Australia now qualify for the World Cup via the Asian confederation, their failure to advance counts against the achievements of Japan and South Korea who both made it to the next round. Even so, the AFC saw a respectable 50% of its entrants make it through to the round of 16.
The unbridled under-achievers of this edition of the tournament have been the Europeans. Traditionally a powerhouse at World Cups, only six of Europe’s 13 sides advanced to the second round – a qualification ratio of merely 46.2%. Disastrous performances by 2006 tournament finalists Italy and France severely damaged the overall European performance, and some of UEFA’s second tier powers were unable to pick up the slack.
Africa’s performance during the group stages was equally disappointing. For all of the support and anticipation stemming from the promise of a first World Cup on African soil, only Ghana managed to squeeze through to the second round of goal difference. With only one of six sides advancing, the CAF nations boasted a poor qualification ratio of just 16.7%. While the host South Africans were never favoured to advance, their failure to make it out of their group makes them the first host nation to be eliminated in the first round in World Cup history.
While few were surprised to see New Zealand eliminated after the group stages, their performance as the lone representative from Oceania was far from embarrassing. The All-Whites were undefeated at the tournament, but because of their inability to generate any consistent threat in the attack – they were sent packing after three straight draws.
Looking forward to 2014
With Brazil set to host the next World Cup, some Canadian supporters set about suggesting that South America might be asked by FIFA to give up one, or at a least half, of its traditional four-and-a-half spots.
Well, FIFA squashed any such debate with its announcement yesterday that there would be no discussion about rearranging the allotment of continental spots for the next edition of the World Cup.
It would have seemed positively bizarre for Sepp Blatter and co. to ask CONMEBOL to sacrifice even a half-spot at the 2014 tournament after the five South American teams performed so dominantly during the group stages of this year’s tournament.
For those die-hard Canadian fans out there holding out for a future increase to the three-and-a-half spots currently allotted to CONCACAF – don’t hold your breath.
True, the performances by the United States and Mexico have been admirable, and relatively consistent at the last three tournaments. And, yes, Honduras could have maybe mustered a better showing had it not been for pre-tournament injuries to such vital players as Carlos Costly and Wilson Palacios. But the reality remains that the US and Mexico are still miles ahead of the rest of the region.
And CONCACAF’s twin powers couldn’t even make it past the second round this time around.
Whether it’s been Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica or Jamaica: none of the third-ranked CONCACAF entrants have been able to make a significant impact at the World Cup in recent years. Nor did anybody expect them to.
It would also seem unlikely that FIFA might take away spots from Europe, Asia or Africa.
Europe continues to offer the most widely competitive qualification process, with established footballing nation such as Russia, Croatia and the Czech Republic unable to qualify for this year’s tournament.
As mentioned, Asia mustered a respectable showing at this year’s World Cup, and with so much potential for growth in the world’s most populous markets of China, India and elsewhere: FIFA will surely see the opportunity for development in the region.
The same commitment to development should ring true in Africa. African football continues to provide a steady supply of world class club footballers, and while their showing in South Africa was poor – there is no reason to suspect any impending reduction to their World Cup allotment.
This brings us to the one genuine anomaly of the continental qualification process: Oceania. With Australia committed to continuing its practice of qualifying as part of the Asian confederation, New Zealand are virtually guaranteed to finish in top spot every cycle.
While under the current format, the All-Whites do have to overcome the fifth place Asian qualifiers in a home-and-away series: it seems unfair that any nation should be guaranteed to come within a two-legged play-off of the World Cup every time around.
It could have been argued that if FIFA was serious about creating an additional half spot for a region such as CONCACAF that has proven its development to a higher standard: perhaps they should look at integrating Oceania’s entire qualifying process together with Asia’s. That seems to be the only fair proposal for granting CONCACAF an extra half spot at his juncture.
CONCACAF - Article | Posted on June 27/10 by Max Bell
CONCACAF and CONMEBOL prospered during the group stages in South Africa but FIFA has decided to maintain the status quo for its 2014 World Cup continental allotments
Every four years FIFA throws the most prestigious party in world sport and they have the star-studded guest-list to prove it.
Because he who hosts the World Cup has to book the entertainment, bake the hors-d’oeuvres and make sure everybody has a good time: it only seems fair that they should be guaranteed a place on the dance-floor. At least for the first three songs.
Brazil, hosts of the 2014 tournament, are thus the only team we are guaranteed to see again in four years time.
This leaves FIFA’s other 206 member nations falling over each other for a ticket to the ball. The stark reality is that 175 of these countries won’t get to enjoy the World Cup revelry.
Competition during World Cup Qualifying is fierce, even for the top nations, and because spots at the tournament are allotted in different quantities to different continents – there is perpetual debate over which regions deserve more or less respect in world football.
Yesterday, FIFA put any speculation over a redistribution of the continental World Cup spots to bed. CONCACAF nations will continue to have to fight it out for one of the three-and-a-half spots up for grabs.
But what if FIFA was serious about coming up with a new, more egalitarian, formula for the regional distribution of its tournament places? We took a look at the results from the group stages in South Africa to provide some insight:
The hard facts
South America have proven to be far and away the most capable continent during the group stages of the current tournament. All five of CONMEBOL’s entrants have progressed to the round of 16 boasting an impressive cumulative record of ten wins, four losses and only one defeat. The South Americans are also 16 goals to the good.
Next best are the American neighbours to the north. Mexico, the United States and Honduras comprised the three representatives from North and Central America at the 2010 World Cup. With the Mexicans and Americans qualifying for the round of 16, CONCACAF boasts an impressive qualification percentage of 66.7% for the tournament’s knockout stages, surging ahead of the traditionally favoured European contingent.
The four Asian sides at this year’s tournament also put in a very respectable performance with the exception of North Korea, who were one of only two teams to finish without a point. Because Australia now qualify for the World Cup via the Asian confederation, their failure to advance counts against the achievements of Japan and South Korea who both made it to the next round. Even so, the AFC saw a respectable 50% of its entrants make it through to the round of 16.
The unbridled under-achievers of this edition of the tournament have been the Europeans. Traditionally a powerhouse at World Cups, only six of Europe’s 13 sides advanced to the second round – a qualification ratio of merely 46.2%. Disastrous performances by 2006 tournament finalists Italy and France severely damaged the overall European performance, and some of UEFA’s second tier powers were unable to pick up the slack.
Africa’s performance during the group stages was equally disappointing. For all of the support and anticipation stemming from the promise of a first World Cup on African soil, only Ghana managed to squeeze through to the second round of goal difference. With only one of six sides advancing, the CAF nations boasted a poor qualification ratio of just 16.7%. While the host South Africans were never favoured to advance, their failure to make it out of their group makes them the first host nation to be eliminated in the first round in World Cup history.
While few were surprised to see New Zealand eliminated after the group stages, their performance as the lone representative from Oceania was far from embarrassing. The All-Whites were undefeated at the tournament, but because of their inability to generate any consistent threat in the attack – they were sent packing after three straight draws.
Looking forward to 2014
With Brazil set to host the next World Cup, some Canadian supporters set about suggesting that South America might be asked by FIFA to give up one, or at a least half, of its traditional four-and-a-half spots.
Well, FIFA squashed any such debate with its announcement yesterday that there would be no discussion about rearranging the allotment of continental spots for the next edition of the World Cup.
It would have seemed positively bizarre for Sepp Blatter and co. to ask CONMEBOL to sacrifice even a half-spot at the 2014 tournament after the five South American teams performed so dominantly during the group stages of this year’s tournament.
For those die-hard Canadian fans out there holding out for a future increase to the three-and-a-half spots currently allotted to CONCACAF – don’t hold your breath.
True, the performances by the United States and Mexico have been admirable, and relatively consistent at the last three tournaments. And, yes, Honduras could have maybe mustered a better showing had it not been for pre-tournament injuries to such vital players as Carlos Costly and Wilson Palacios. But the reality remains that the US and Mexico are still miles ahead of the rest of the region.
And CONCACAF’s twin powers couldn’t even make it past the second round this time around.
Whether it’s been Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica or Jamaica: none of the third-ranked CONCACAF entrants have been able to make a significant impact at the World Cup in recent years. Nor did anybody expect them to.
It would also seem unlikely that FIFA might take away spots from Europe, Asia or Africa.
Europe continues to offer the most widely competitive qualification process, with established footballing nation such as Russia, Croatia and the Czech Republic unable to qualify for this year’s tournament.
As mentioned, Asia mustered a respectable showing at this year’s World Cup, and with so much potential for growth in the world’s most populous markets of China, India and elsewhere: FIFA will surely see the opportunity for development in the region.
The same commitment to development should ring true in Africa. African football continues to provide a steady supply of world class club footballers, and while their showing in South Africa was poor – there is no reason to suspect any impending reduction to their World Cup allotment.
This brings us to the one genuine anomaly of the continental qualification process: Oceania. With Australia committed to continuing its practice of qualifying as part of the Asian confederation, New Zealand are virtually guaranteed to finish in top spot every cycle.
While under the current format, the All-Whites do have to overcome the fifth place Asian qualifiers in a home-and-away series: it seems unfair that any nation should be guaranteed to come within a two-legged play-off of the World Cup every time around.
It could have been argued that if FIFA was serious about creating an additional half spot for a region such as CONCACAF that has proven its development to a higher standard: perhaps they should look at integrating Oceania’s entire qualifying process together with Asia’s. That seems to be the only fair proposal for granting CONCACAF an extra half spot at his juncture.
Comment