World Cup 2018

[just some bloke]

Kicks off less than a year from now, with a round-robin, single-venue Oceania preliminary tournament taking place between 8-16 June 2015. Participating teams will be American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga. This happens before the preliminary draw in St Petersburg on July 15, a year from today.

In total, 208 teams are eligible to take place to join the hosts Russia. There are some embryonic plans to have 40 teams complete in 8 groups of 5, which is probably unlikely to happen.

So, a little early to say the least but, any predictions?

[just some bloke]

Kicks off less than a year from now, with a round-robin, single-venue Oceania preliminary tournament taking place between 8-16 June 2015. Participating teams will be American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga. This happens before the preliminary draw in St Petersburg on July 15, a year from today.

In total, 208 teams are eligible to take place to join the hosts Russia. There are some embryonic plans to have 40 teams complete in 8 groups of 5, which is probably unlikely to happen.

So, a little early to say the least but, any predictions?

[Ouroboros]

Christ, can you imagine how many dead rubbers there would be if there were 10 games to be played in every world cup group? What a terrible idea.

[LUX]

got to be Tonga. Good at the back, fast on the break. Plus they invented the tattoo.

[Hendo]

Surely if it was 8 groups of 5 then it would be 8 games and not 10.

Unless the teams want to play with themselves?

[Platypuss]

Surely if it was 8 groups of 5 then it would be 8 games and not 10.

Unless the teams want to play with themselves?

AB
AC
AD
AE
BC
BD
BE
CD
CE
DE

[Sutekh]

Not before time IMO. Smaller groups and less games, give some dates back to the calendar for proper domestic football and/or less time away from clubs. Of course it won't happen as even if you do get smaller groups they're talking of filling up the remaining dates with that stupid "friendly league" idea.

[Ouroboros]

Not before time IMO. Smaller groups and less games, give some dates back to the calendar for proper domestic football .

Erm, I may have misunderstood but I'm pretty sure the 8 groups of 5 proposal would be for the World Cup proper as opposed to Uefa qualfication?

In which case it is larger groups and more games.

[Platypuss]

Not before time IMO. Smaller groups and less games, give some dates back to the calendar for proper domestic football .

Erm, I may have misunderstood but I'm pretty sure the 8 groups of 5 proposal would be for the World Cup proper as opposed to Uefa qualfication?

In which case it is larger groups and more games.

But if more teams qualify for the finals wouldn't there therefore be fewer qualifying games needed?

[Hendo]

Surely if it was 8 groups of 5 then it would be 8 games and not 10.

Unless the teams want to play with themselves?

AB
AC
AD
AE
BC
BD
BE
CD
CE
DE

Yeah, I think I have got myself a bit confused here as well.

Was thinking of only from 1 teams perspective and that there would be "Home and Away" games .....

[Royal Ginger]

I'm backing American Samoa. After their 31-0 defeat to Australia in 2001 and their 15-0 defeat to Vanuatu in 2010, i really feel they have something to prove.

[peterroyal76]

I'm backing American Samoa. After their 31-0 defeat to Australia in 2001 and their 15-0 defeat to Vanuatu in 2010, i really feel they have something to prove.

To be fair they were unlucky, against the Aussies if that throw at 19-0 had gone the other way who knows what would of happened?

[From Despair To Where?]

American Samoa. The only national football association with the balls to select a transgender player.

[LUX]

nope, Ronaldo was the first.

[frimmers3]

The Genie granted me one wish."Can I live forever"? I asked."Sorry,no can do" came the reply."Well can I die the next time England win the world cup"?

"Crafty bastard" he replied.

[Mr.Swainey]

Kicks off less than a year from now, with a round-robin, single-venue Oceania preliminary tournament taking place between 8-16 June 2015. Participating teams will be American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga. This happens before the preliminary draw in St Petersburg on July 15, a year from today.

In total, 208 teams are eligible to take place to join the hosts Russia. There are some embryonic plans to have 40 teams complete in 8 groups of 5, which is probably unlikely to happen.

So, a little early to say the least but, any predictions?

[genome]

got to be Tonga. Good at the back, fast on the break. Plus they invented the tattoo.

And toy trucks

[just some bloke]

American Samoa. The only national football association with the balls to select a transgender player.

Have you also read this?



It is a football obscurantists wet dream.

[Brum Royal]

Is that a similar book to "Up Pohnpei" with the two English guys who go out to coach the tiny Pacific island nation?

[paultheroyal]

2018 World Cup will be held in England