World Cup Qualifying Gropus 2014

[Greenforever]

Blatter has indicated he wants to see an end to play offs so 2014 qualifiers could look like any of the following


13 groups of 4 ( 1 5 team group) Winners Qualify Only - Ireland prob 2nd seeds - downside only 6 matches over the period. Very hard to qualify from.

7 groups - 3 x 7 nations, 4 x 8 nations, winners and 6 best runners up - Ireland prob 3rd seeds (UEFA could push for 14th spot so all 2nd place qualify)

Personally I would prefer 7 or 8 team groups with no play offs.

Match days would be 1 each Aug, 2 each Sep Oct and Nov, 1 in March 2013 and 2 in June 2013 giving 17 international dates over the period for either 12 or 14 qualifiers.

There would be only 3 - 5 dates left for friendlies over the 2 years.

[endabob1]

I'd rather see bigger groups and less friendly's.
With the 2014 being held in Brazil it should mean we have another tweaking in the places available, whether that means Europe gets 14 places though is questionable.
UEFA - 13
CAF - 5
CONCACAF -3.5
CONMEBOL - 4.5
AFC - 4.5
OFC - 0.5
Based on the current set up it would be as above plus Brazil.
If they take the half spot from CONBMEBOL, due to Brazils hosting it's more likely to go to Africa than Europe imho.
That CONCACAF can have 3.5 places is madness (or a clear sign of the influence Jack Warner has within FIFA), with the exception of USA & Mexico no side has got beyond their group stage. The same could be said for Asia who I think have only once progressed beyond the groups except when it was held in Asia.

[magnumpi]

this is FIFA, so the extra place will go to whoever it is most commercially beneficial for it to go to.

[SuperDave]

this is FIFA, so the extra place will go to whoever it is most commercially beneficial for it to go to.

Nah. It will go to whoever is most useful in terms of support for Blatter.

He has bought votes in Africa with his Goal programs, bought votes in Concacaf by looking after Jack Warner and bought votes in Asia by expanding the World Cup. Blatter doesn't give a fuk about football in Europe once the big nations are looked after and the money drawing federations qualify. Beyond that, it is all about votes and influence and as it is, Vanuatu, Bhutan and St Kitts and Nevis are as important as England, Ireland and France. Buying votes off the former is much easier than off the (B)latter.