World Cup 2022 qualifying begins

[Winston Biscuit]

World Cup 2022 qualifying kicks off 3 weeks today with the first round matches in the Asian Group

There are 6 ties which are all 2 legged affairs:

Mongolia Vs Brunei
Macau Vs Sri Lanka
Laos Vs Bangladesh
Malaysia Vs Timor-Leste
Cambodia Vs Pakistan
Bhutan Vs Guam

first leg played 6th June, 2nd leg 11th June

The 6 winners there will be added to the 34 other nations making up the 2nd round and groups will be drawn on 17th July for matches to be played starting in September

[Silver Fox]

Up the Guam!!

[Winston Biscuit]

Head says Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan & Guam

Based on literally nothing.

How on earth have Malaysia got themselves into round 1? I know we are just talking different levels of sh*tness here but come on, but they are no Timor-f*cking-Leste!





(awaits Timor-Leste to overturn Malaysia)

[Hendo]

Always interested as to what the stadiums of much smaller nations look like.

I guess unsurprisingly a lot are multi-purpose and have athletics tracks included, but the two which caught my eye were:

Bukit Jalil National Stadium - Malaysia





Changlimithang Stadium - Bhutan (which has a very nice 'main stand')

[stealthpapes]

Head says Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan & Guam

Based on literally nothing.

How on earth have Malaysia got themselves into round 1? I know we are just talking different levels of sh*tness here but come on, but they are no Timor-f*cking-Leste!





(awaits Timor-Leste to overturn Malaysia)

Malaysia's FIFA ranking



just a few decades of decline, really

[stealthpapes]

There was a decent article about Cambodian football in the Blizzard. Turns out its hard to get an effective XI when anyone fit is worked to death in a fucking paddyfield.

[CountryRoyal]

There was a decent article about Cambodian football in the Blizzard. Turns out its hard to get an effective XI when anyone fit is worked to death in a fucking paddyfield.

You say that but the USSR always managed to put out a decent team for sports.

[Stranded]

How much competitive international football do countries like Bhutan actually get to play?

The World Cup qualifying doubles up as qualification for the Asian Cup too so say they lose to Guam, will they be their only 2 competive fixtures until 2023?

[stealthpapes]

The place I grew up played only 2 games between 2011 and 2018, a home and away tie in the first round of caribbean qualifying.

Lost on away goals.

You may have seen the CONIFA thing last summer - genuinely think some of the smaller islands and outposts would be better off in that and playing similarly sized countries/matched teams more regularly.

[Winston Biscuit]

The place I grew up played only 2 games between 2011 and 2018, a home and away tie in the first round of caribbean qualifying.

Lost on away goals.

You may have seen the CONIFA thing last summer - genuinely think some of the smaller islands and outposts would be better off in that and playing similarly sized countries/matched teams more regularly.

I remember trying to follow the Wild Cup back in 2006 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFI_Wild_Cup

I see the Island Games have dropped football this time around which seems a shame - https://www.gibraltar2019.com/

[stealthpapes]

CONIFA Euros this summer, gr8 m8

CONCACAF have introduced a caribbean nations league, guarantees 6 competitive games every cycle. Nice.

[stealthpapes]

If I wasn't away

[bcubed]

Plans to expand the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams have been abandoned by Fifa.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino said last yearthe expansion from 32 teams could be brought forward from 2026 to the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

The change would have required Qatar to share hosting duties with other countries in the region.

[Stranded]

The place I grew up played only 2 games between 2011 and 2018, a home and away tie in the first round of caribbean qualifying.

Lost on away goals.

You may have seen the CONIFA thing last summer - genuinely think some of the smaller islands and outposts would be better off in that and playing similarly sized countries/matched teams more regularly.

Crazy, makes you wonder how/if the really small countries will ever improve if they don't play competitively more often. I did find out that Bhutan get to play in the South Asia Football Federation finals every 2 years, actually making the semi finals once - the only time they have won a game in it but I think you may be on to something with them joing CONIFA - I guess they don't as it may stop their clubs playing in any regional tournaments that are recognised by the FIFA affliated regional body.

[Winston Biscuit]

If I wasn't away

Get in there you Kernow's!!!

[stealthpapes]

The place I grew up played only 2 games between 2011 and 2018, a home and away tie in the first round of caribbean qualifying.

Lost on away goals.

You may have seen the CONIFA thing last summer - genuinely think some of the smaller islands and outposts would be better off in that and playing similarly sized countries/matched teams more regularly.

Crazy, makes you wonder how/if the really small countries will ever improve if they don't play competitively more often. I did find out that Bhutan get to play in the South Asia Football Federation finals every 2 years, actually making the semi finals once - the only time they have won a game in it but I think you may be on to something with them joing CONIFA - I guess they don't as it may stop their clubs playing in any regional tournaments that are recognised by the FIFA affliated regional body.

I do think FIFA have noticed this - so there's a nations league in CONCACAF now, and also AFC has regionalised tournaments

In any case, there was one team at the CONIFA world cup - Tuvalu - who could join FIFA but currently have not.

[Winston Biscuit]

Tuvalu sticking it to the man

[The Enfield Royal71]

Macau are a tough team to break down away from home. I do think that Timor-Leste could do it however. Got some handy big men up front.

[Sutekh]

Still can’t help but feel the 2022 World Cup should be boycotted by one and all.

[Sanguine]

Whilst I don't disagree, and understand the wider issues on which we should make a stand, the optics would be awful. FIFA takes the World Cup to a country full of brown people, and no-one turns up. They've stitched football up big time with this decision.