World Cup qualifying to change away from groups.

[Des Parrot]

Title should read Euros but it will apply to WC as well

Wales will face a completely new route to qualifying for major tournaments from 2028 onwards under UEFA’s revamped European Qualifiers system.

The new format will split teams into two tiers. League 1 will feature the 36 nations from Nations League Leagues A and B, while the remaining 18 or 19 sides will compete in League 2.

Instead of traditional qualifying groups, League 1 teams will play six matches against six different opponents, facing two nations from each of three pots of 12 teams, with games played home or away.

The highest-ranked teams will qualify automatically for major tournaments, while nations in League 2 will still have a pathway through the play-offs.

The shake-up is designed to reduce mismatches between Europe’s biggest nations and lower-ranked sides, creating more competitive and attractive qualifying fixtures.

UEFA’s new system is similar to the format now used in its club competitions, where teams face a range of opponents rather than playing in one fixed group.

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Re: World Cup qualifying to change away from groups.

Title should read Euros but it will apply to WC as well

Wales will face a completely new route to qualifying for major tournaments from 2028 onwards under UEFA’s revamped European Qualifiers system.

The new format will split teams into two tiers. League 1 will feature the 36 nations from Nations League Leagues A and B, while the remaining 18 or 19 sides will compete in League 2.

Instead of traditional qualifying groups, League 1 teams will play six matches against six different opponents, facing two nations from each of three pots of 12 teams, with games played home or away.

The highest-ranked teams will qualify automatically for major tournaments, while nations in League 2 will still have a pathway through the play-offs.

The shake-up is designed to reduce mismatches between Europe’s biggest nations and lower-ranked sides, creating more competitive and attractive qualifying fixtures.

UEFA’s new system is similar to the format now used in its club competitions, where teams face a range of opponents rather than playing in one fixed group.

That's very different.

We'll still get Belgium though.

[Coyote]

Re: World Cup qualifying to change away from groups.

That seems like it will be a detriment to Wales rather than a positive.

[JamesWales]

Re: World Cup qualifying to change away from groups.

Not sure I really understand the benefit and I think the number of mismatches in European football has significantly reduced.

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Re: World Cup qualifying to change away from groups.

Hard to judge it without seeing how the qualifying spots are allocated I guess.

The nations league is going down this route as well:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cjdpjxgklyeo

[Grangenders]

Re: World Cup qualifying to change away from groups.

Sounds like quite a shake up but in reality the principle will be as it is currently, ie you have to be a very poor team not to qualify for a tournament.

[bobh]

Re: World Cup qualifying to change away from groups.

Infanto has already awarded all future WC comps to America's life president Trump, and over two hundred countries will take part.

[The Bloop]

Re: World Cup qualifying to change away from groups.

Infanto has already awarded all future WC comps to America's life president Trump, and over two hundred countries will take part.

50 of them will be American states

[Des Parrot]

Re: World Cup qualifying to change away from groups.

50 of them will be American states

Franchise Football baby! Someone might even get to play at Tottingham Hotspur Stadium!

[FormerlyJohnnyBreadhead]

Re: World Cup qualifying to change away from groups.

I was sceptical when they introduced this system to the European club competitions but I think it's been a huge improvement, and I think it'll have a similar impact on internationals.

Wether or not it will benefit Wales is debatable, but as they're keeping the playoffs we can assume that it will be the top 4 in each of the three 12-team groups that will qualify automatically. So, essentially, a 1 in 3 chance of qualifying. Which, when you take out the lower ranked teams, is essentially the same as it is now.

What I do think may benefit us is that, if a big team is going through a bad patch, it opens the door to more teams to exploit it, rather than just the 2-3 teams in their qualifying group.

If nothing else, it also makes the whole thing more watchable (I'd much rather play 6 different teams once than 3 twice), and will likely result in some interesting final matchdays where multiple teams are in with a shout.

My only criticism is that it may be a little demotivating for the smaller nations in League 2 (where we ourselves would be in years gone by), although I understand they still have a chance to qualify through the playoffs?