NZ might as well be given a bye now the World Cup is so big. It’s good that an extra country gets a shot at the playoffs even if they’ll get absolutely battered by the other teams that end up there. It’s hugely stacked against the four teams who have to play a semi-final to eventually qualify. They’ll have to do something like beat a reasonable African team and then a decent South American team who haven’t had to play a semi.
Ridiculous that South America has it's own qualifier in which 10 teams compete and the top six qualify and the 7th place gets a play-off against probably NZ... https://uk.soccerway.com/internatio...ing-south-america/2026/regular-season/r73237/
Meanwhile, the 54 countries of Africa get nine spots plus a play off berth. Would have thought they would have got more so they would vote for whatever corrupt bastard heads the whole thing up.
NZ qualify automatically, as they will every time now. New Caledonia go into a playoff one-leg semi-final in one of USA/Canada/Mexico. But the geniuses only have six teams in the playoff so the two highest-ranking get a bye.
I think that bit is fair enough. If African teams do better at tournaments they’ll get more spots. South America for the size of the place has few countries and most of them are good and two consistently win or get very far. Unless you merge North and South American qualifying which would be insane I don’t see a way around it. A second-tier World Cup for those who are still reasonably good but don’t qualify would be fun but there’d not be enough money in it. Scotland v Togo, Iran v Israel. High quality sport.
One of Gibraltars goals was clearly offside, not bad though for a population of 500 and no football pitch, two good pubs though and a cracking restaurant
A pre-qualification series amongst the perennial also-rans would be more sensible and spare players having to play excessive matches against shyte opposition. You could have the Andorra's and San Marinos level all playing each other with the last team standing qualifying for the qualifiers. Say all teams outside the Top 40 in Europe who could have their tournament in the summer...
Great to see Eze score. Hope Tuchel uses him more than Southgate. I think his ability to dribble past defenders is just what he needs, especially so against these sides that are first and foremost parking the bus.
I’ll dance on Hughes’ grave one day. Tranmere currently 1-0 up which makes it even less likely he keeps Carlisle up and tarnishes his reputation slightly more. Also Sheff U v Cov on ITV4. Hamer has just smashed in a brilliant free kick unfortunately.
Are you saying, Sparky has lost his spark? The only reputation he had was being a **** manager …… l think he’s enhanced it.
