Figured I'd start a new one, mostly for non-USMNT WC discussion.
First 2 items to go over:
- FIFA scheduled the Oceania Tournament in Qatar OUTSIDE of the International dates. NZ is ticked off because most of their players play in the lower leagues in Europe and teams don't have to release them. It would be funny AF for Fiji or Vanuatu or someone like that to win that tournament and beat Panama to make the WC. Talk about an opportunity. These amateur "beer league" players from these Pacific islands have a semi-realistic chance of making the World Cup.
- FIFA is only making teams release players on November 14 for the WC, which starts November 21. This was something that hasn't really been discussed much but with the Winter World Cup, these players arent going to get to train much together and probably not get to play a Friendly. They usually get a month or so in a regular World Cup. Would it have bankrupted Qatar to put roofs on their stadiums and had it in June?
MLS Cup was moved way up from mid-December to November 5 to accommodate. I would guess the USMNT opens WC Camp around October 21 with the MLS-based players, which might give them a very slight advantage.
First 2 items to go over:
- FIFA scheduled the Oceania Tournament in Qatar OUTSIDE of the International dates. NZ is ticked off because most of their players play in the lower leagues in Europe and teams don't have to release them. It would be funny AF for Fiji or Vanuatu or someone like that to win that tournament and beat Panama to make the WC. Talk about an opportunity. These amateur "beer league" players from these Pacific islands have a semi-realistic chance of making the World Cup.
- FIFA is only making teams release players on November 14 for the WC, which starts November 21. This was something that hasn't really been discussed much but with the Winter World Cup, these players arent going to get to train much together and probably not get to play a Friendly. They usually get a month or so in a regular World Cup. Would it have bankrupted Qatar to put roofs on their stadiums and had it in June?
MLS Cup was moved way up from mid-December to November 5 to accommodate. I would guess the USMNT opens WC Camp around October 21 with the MLS-based players, which might give them a very slight advantage.