CONCACAF which is the North America, Central America and Caribbean Football Federation, has been a confederation with one of the smallest assigned spaces for the World Cup, we started out with one then two, three and three and a half in the last one. We at first had round robin qualifiers then we had an Hexagonal where one of the countries played host and the other five played as guests, this one was eventually eliminated mostly because Mexico was not able to make it to the World Cup twice. So from then on we have had an Hexagonal where everyone plays everyone and the first places qualify.
To get to the final Hex was a long route, the whole area was divided into groups and it continued until only six were left, but now that has changed the six countries with the highest FIFA ranking are the ones going to the final Hex, from which three qualify directly. The other 29 countries will play against each other, obviously in groups, and from these 29 countries one will qualify for a play off against the fourth place of the Hex. The winner of this play off will then play against another country from another to be named confederation for that final spot in the world cup.
This has not been well received by anyone around these parts as a lot of teams who are playing good football will be out just because of this new rule, right now the top six are Mexico, USA, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras and El Salvador, this leaves Panama out. But the thing I don't like about this is I think this can be gamed, FIFA world rankings depend on your scores against other international teams, and of course it is much easier for Mexico and the US to play against the best European or South American teams than for the other countries and it is against these kind of teams that you get the most points and therefore a better ranking. And scores matter also, who says you can't buy a game?
No, I am not for this change, it just leaves too many questions open, and it also means that we will see less football because I do hope Honduras does make it through the rankings but as there will be no previous qualifiers all we will be seeing are friendlies and these games are quite boring there is no excitement no nerves.