not sure about this 2022 world cup. there's a chance that this event could be postponed.
yesterday I read that FIFA canceled 2021 U-20, U-17 World Cups due to pandemic situation.
both of them would be held in 2023.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/12/24/fifa-cancels-2021-u-20-u-17-world-cups-due-covid-19-pandemic
I feel sad to know about it because the U-20 world cup should be held in my country next year.
Topic: 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar - UEFA Qualifiers - page 275. (Read 35015 times)
Of course, keeping a minimum number according to the size of the continent and/or the number of countries, so that it isn't too unfair and break this diversity that FIFA... because, if select only the best in the world, the world cup will be a tournament between Europeans and Brazil 
I don't have an issue if the FIFA decides to include weaker teams from Asia and Africa. But what I don't want is good teams from Europe and the Americans to get excluded. The UEFA qualifiers are very tough, and every time at least 2-3 good teams misses out on the qualification. The same can be said about the CONMEBOL qualifiers as well. Teams such as Ecuador and Bolivia have very low chance of qualifying to the world cup, because they are paying against some of the strongest teams in the world.
and it has almost become a tradition that in the qualifying games for the world cup and european championschip, poland and england find themselves in one group. 
up to now there have been 17 matches between the two nations (12 wc-qualifiers, 1 wc game, 4 ec-qualifiers)
a second victory for poland against england is definitely to be considered next year
up to now there have been 17 matches between the two nations (12 wc-qualifiers, 1 wc game, 4 ec-qualifiers)
a second victory for poland against england is definitely to be considered next year
I don't think it will be possible, not with Jerzy Brzęczek as a polish coach.
And England has many talented young players and becoming better and better from year to year.
I think Poland want get more than 2 points from games with England
I agree with you.
It's very good that FIFA tries to diversify its tournament in order to give a chance to more teams around the world, but we are talking about a tournament among the best in the world.
I believe that there should be a kind of score for each continent (I don't know how it could be calculated) and the higher it is, the more teams should be qualified for the world cup.
Of course, keeping a minimum number according to the size of the continent and/or the number of countries, so that it isn't too unfair and break this diversity that FIFA... because, if select only the best in the world, the world cup will be a tournament between Europeans and Brazil
It's very good that FIFA tries to diversify its tournament in order to give a chance to more teams around the world, but we are talking about a tournament among the best in the world.
I believe that there should be a kind of score for each continent (I don't know how it could be calculated) and the higher it is, the more teams should be qualified for the world cup.
Of course, keeping a minimum number according to the size of the continent and/or the number of countries, so that it isn't too unfair and break this diversity that FIFA... because, if select only the best in the world, the world cup will be a tournament between Europeans and Brazil
They have more than doubled the slots from Asia and Africa, which obviously would mean that some of the weaker teams may qualify. On the other hand, there is not much increase regarding the number of slots available for UEFA and CONMEBOL, where we have the strongest teams. There is still a chance that some of the stronger teams from these confederations may fail to qualify.
I like how they have set things for the 2022 World Cup.Uefa is always trying to promote more and more new teams to a major event like the World Cup and that is why they have added new elements like winners of the Nations League to give them a better chance if they manage to qualify up enough in these qualifiers group.
Yes.. for the 2022 tournament, 13 of the teams from UEFA are going to qualify. For the 2026 edition, it is going to be 16. But still I have to say that the European teams got a rough deal for 2026. Currently they are having 13 qualification slots out of 32 (40.6%). And this will be reduced to 33.3%. In understand that FIFA want more Asian and African teams in the tournament, to make it diverse. But they need to ensure the quality as well. For example, during the 2018 edition the worst performance came from teams such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
I agree with you.
It's very good that FIFA tries to diversify its tournament in order to give a chance to more teams around the world, but we are talking about a tournament among the best in the world.
I believe that there should be a kind of score for each continent (I don't know how it could be calculated) and the higher it is, the more teams should be qualified for the world cup.
Of course, keeping a minimum number according to the size of the continent and/or the number of countries, so that it isn't too unfair and break this diversity that FIFA... because, if select only the best in the world, the world cup will be a tournament between Europeans and Brazil
These qualifiers are almost a world cup .... 55 teams competing for only 13 places, is that great event that the whole world (in fact, only those who like football) stops to watch, because from here we will already have an idea of what to expect for the great championship.
In my opinion, that almost all groups were very well distributed, now for France it is easy to guarantee your place... Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia and Kazakhstan in your group.
In my opinion, that almost all groups were very well distributed, now for France it is easy to guarantee your place... Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia and Kazakhstan in your group.
Yes.. for the 2022 tournament, 13 of the teams from UEFA are going to qualify. For the 2026 edition, it is going to be 16. But still I have to say that the European teams got a rough deal for 2026. Currently they are having 13 qualification slots out of 32 (40.6%). And this will be reduced to 33.3%. In understand that FIFA want more Asian and African teams in the tournament, to make it diverse. But they need to ensure the quality as well. For example, during the 2018 edition the worst performance came from teams such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
France will always be the favorite with this team. Should qualify without any difficulties. I just don't think they are really much better now as teams like Brazil and Belgium.
England, Germany and Spain are also all close by. Argentina has a very strong team on an individual basis but as a collective they always fail.
Germany now has some difficulties in the team, the conflict between the head coach and the top players is still ongoing and this significantly affects the results. In Spain, there is a new generation joining the team and this makes the national team's play a little unstable, but I think everything will change for the better soon. England is a phenomenon for me, because at the group stage it can go through without a single defeat, but at the playoffs it crashes at early stages.
I wonder how many times they will mix flags. Some sport casino should set that bet up. Also how many points will Cyprus and Malta have?
I really like the National Team of Ukraine, but I think that France will take first place in Group D. I don't like long-term bets, but here the outcome is so obvious that you can place a bet if someone makes long-term predictions. For France, the group is very simple, I even think that it has a chance to win all the matches in the group.
France will always be the favorite with this team. Should qualify without any difficulties. I just don't think they are really much better now as teams like Brazil and Belgium.
England, Germany and Spain are also all close by. Argentina has a very strong team on an individual basis but as a collective they always fail.
I really like the National Team of Ukraine, but I think that France will take first place in Group D. I don't like long-term bets, but here the outcome is so obvious that you can place a bet if someone makes long-term forecasts. For France, the group is very simple, I even think that it has a chance to win all the matches in the group.
and it has almost become a tradition that in the qualifying games for the world cup and european championschip, poland and england find themselves in one group.
up to now there have been 17 matches between the two nations (12 wc-qualifiers, 1 wc game, 4 ec-qualifiers)
a second victory for poland against england is definitely to be considered next year
up to now there have been 17 matches between the two nations (12 wc-qualifiers, 1 wc game, 4 ec-qualifiers)
a second victory for poland against england is definitely to be considered next year
But it is little difference comparing to previous qualifiers, when it was less groups with 6 or even 7 teams, among which 2 worldclass teams in almost every group. Now we have one top team a group, but it could change because many teams have big potential and maybe they start to unleash it in this qualifiers!
These qualifiers are almost a world cup .... 55 teams competing for only 13 places, is that great event that the whole world (in fact, only those who like football) stops to watch, because from here we will already have an idea of what to expect for the great championship.
In my opinion, that almost all groups were very well distributed, now for France it is easy to guarantee your place... Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia and Kazakhstan in your group.
In my opinion, that almost all groups were very well distributed, now for France it is easy to guarantee your place... Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia and Kazakhstan in your group.
Russia aren't such good as few seassons earlier, they have many problems, including Artiom's Dzyuba- their capitan - issue, they performed very bad in last UEFA Nations League etc.. I think their appearance in 2018 World Cup was their best in next 10years.
Much of it are balanced group with further chances left for 2nd team. Group B is going to be one of the largest disappointment as one of Spain (not likely), Sweden or Greece would surely miss the world cup. Other groups are easy to guess unless we have some unfortunate results just like what we're seeing in some popular leagues.
Greece is one of my favorite teams and it will be sad if they fail to qualify. Things are also looking tough for Iceland, unless they manage to beat either Romania or Germany. Also, Russia may struggle to qualify from the Group H, where Croatia and Slovakia are the favorites. And this is one of the reasons why I think the format for the 2026 World Cup is better. 48 teams will be participating during the 2026 edition, including 16 from UEFA.
Much of it are balanced group with further chances left for 2nd team. Group B is going to be one of the largest disappointment as one of Spain (not likely), Sweden or Greece would surely miss the world cup. Other groups are easy to guess unless we have some unfortunate results just like what we're seeing in some popular leagues.
Some interesting groups, many interesting matches are coming, but it is hard to pick one "group of death".
It will be rather battle for second place in many groups to qualify to play-offs . For now teams from 1st seed are imho favorites in every group
It will be rather battle for second place in many groups to qualify to play-offs . For now teams from 1st seed are imho favorites in every group
As mentioned by the OP, group E is perhaps the toughest (Belgium, Wales, Czechia).
I didn't say it's the toughest - that is probably Group F, if you judge by how contested the top two spots will be - but Group E could lead to an interesting scenario, since you have two high-ranked UNL group winners in there. Lets say FRA/BEL/ITA/ESP/AUT are a safe Top2 in their groups by matchday 7, then Wales and Czech Republic will have secured their PO spot already at least and might not be super interested/motivated in the remaining games no more (if they can't reach 1st place anyway no more, which can be assumed with BEL probably winning all games). Then you could see Belarus/Estonia pulling some upsets against Wales/Czech Republic
Another tough group is Group J, which have Germany, Romania and Iceland.
Group J is the poorest group actually for me. Iceland has lost a bit of its magic, Romania is struggling since a long time and North Macedonia did qualify for Euro 2020 which is a very nice accomplishment for them, but they are still a small football nation. And Armenia and Liechtenstein, well.....
Group H is also very strong, with Croatia, Slovakia and Russia being included in that group. Another tough group is Group J, which have Germany, Romania and Iceland.
I also find Group F very balanced and exciting. Denmark is in my opinion the worst team from pot 1, from the top 4 teams in group F (Denmark, Austria, Scotland, Isreal) each team can beat any other team:
Austria is currently playing very good soccer and has now qualified for a rank up in the Nations League. So I definitely think they can win the group.
So these will be very balanced and exciting games. I'm already looking forward to the qualification games.
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