The exciting USA-Mexico games in World Cup qualifying -- which have helped make USA-Mexico one of the world's great rivalries -- could be no more under the new qualifying format proposed by Concacaf that is awaiting approval from FIFA.
Under the new format, Concacaf eliminates the six-team "Hexagonal" format in the final round of World Cup qualifying. The Hexagonal would be replaced by two groups of four, with the winner of each of the two groups automatically qualifying for the World Cup, while the second-place finishers would play off for the third qualifying spot (with the loser eligible to play off for the remaining half spot -- if Concacaf retains it -- against another region's team).
The USA and Mexico would unlikely be seeded in a manner that would group them together in the new format, which adds more games to the process and more opportunities for the smaller teams in the region. Before the two-group final stage, teams will compete in two earlier round group stages.
The USA and Mexico would still likely meet in friendlies and in the Gold Cup.
No comments:
Post a Comment