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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

Hmm... I don't really have a problem with the overall footprint of confederation split qualifying for the new format (except for maybe CONMEBOL).

If I had my way (Without changing too much, so nothing radical):
* CONMEBOL to only have 5 direct spots - I don't think a confederation should be having more than half of it's confederation qualify directly, no matter how 'strong' they are
* I think 18 is a good number for UEFA. They'd get the extra spot from CONMEBOL. Where would the second extra spot come to them from? Maybe Africa. Maybe even just have the one intercontinental playoff spot (instead of two), and give the second to UEFA. This way, they can go back to their 9 groups format, and have the top two qualify. This is where I get into what my real issue is - not the confederation split, but how some confederations qualify: eg, New Zealand only had to play 5 games to qualify, compared to Saudi Arabia's 18 games. Or UEFA incorporating the Who Cares Cup and playoffs, rather than a proper group/league system
 
It's wild San Marino can still technically make it..
Despite past tweaks Nations League still skews the playoff spots too much, as well as the 12 second place WCQ teams being in the playoffs the 4 Nations League spots should be for the best 4 from the third place teams only.

It means Sweden, San Marino and others don't get a free pass based soley on results in other WCQ groups working in their favour.
 
Despite past tweaks Nations League still skews the playoff spots too much, as well as the 12 second place WCQ teams being in the playoffs the 4 Nations League spots should be for the best 4 from the third place teams only.

It means Sweden, San Marino and others don't get a free pass based soley on results in other WCQ groups working in their favour.
100% agree. Totally ridiculous if Sweden go through to play-offs based off their Nations League results only despite their qualifier results being an abject failure.
 
The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has officially terminated the contract of Head Coach Patrick Kluivert.

The decision also includes the dismissal of the entire Dutch coaching team, including U23 Indonesia Head Coach Gerard Vandenberg.
 
The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has officially terminated the contract of Head Coach Patrick Kluivert.

The decision also includes the dismissal of the entire Dutch coaching team, including U23 Indonesia Head Coach Gerard Vandenberg.
Not the first country to have a war over dutch coaching
 
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