Changes to qualification?

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15/10/2025, 12:56 PM
pineapple stu

Changes to qualification?

An interesting read.

Main suggestions -

> Change international windows from 5 per year to 4 or even as few as 1. Sept/Oct to be merged into one three-week window anyway, and Wenger wants one October window for the entire of qualifying. If your star player is injured - well tough.
> A possible complete overhaul in qualifying campaigns to get rid of groups, as in the Champions League. I hate to say adopting the Swiss system as the CL isn't a Swiss system despite what UEFA claim - but that seems to be the suggestion. And it does seem a good format in fairness.

There isn't enough jeopardy in qualifying to make it interesting - who'd have thought that would happen when the World Cup expanded to 48 teams?
15/10/2025, 2:22 PM
Kingdom

I read a few weeks ago that the October International window was gone from 2026. This is particularly sad for me, as the OCtober Window always coincided with my birthday. I can remember being in Lansdowne for the first time on my birthday vs the North to essentially qualify for Italia 90 as an 8 year old. There was always a match either on or a day either side of my birthday.

The point Stu makes about the consequences of condensing windows down is exactly what a group of us thought when we heard the proposal re a star player missing out.

I have to be honest, and it's nothing to do with Ireland being ****, but FIFA/UEFA are truly making football less and less enjoyable and thank heavens for the LOI.
15/10/2025, 3:15 PM
John83

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingdom

I have to be honest, and it's nothing to do with Ireland being ****, but FIFA/UEFA are truly making football less and less enjoyable and thank heavens for the LOI.

The club game will eventually choke the life out of internationals because they can't profit from it.
15/10/2025, 4:47 PM
rebelmusic

Following the champions league model could be really interesting...reducing the windows sucks from a fan perspective but the increased squad time could really help teams at our level. For the bigger teams that's a lot of ego to put together for 3 weeks so. I don't know... I think I need a pint and a barstool to debate this one 😀
15/10/2025, 5:29 PM
SkStu

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingdom

This is particularly sad for me, as the OCtober Window always coincided with my birthday.

Tough sh*t snowflake. Unless the October home crowd always sang you a happy birthday or something.

I would be all over the change to the new CL format.