World Cup How Easy Is It For CONCACAF North America Teams To Qualify For The World Cup?

[Abram Jones]

CONCACAF has 3.5 spots for the 2018 World Cup. Here are the major North American countries with their economic determinant (a number that estimates countries potential based on gdp per capita and population amount). See this video for more commentary:

United States: 149 million (soccer is unpopular sport here, reduce to about 10 to 15% of value)
Canada: 16 million (soccer is unpopular sport here, reduce to about 10 to 15% of value)
Mexico: 10 million

Puerto Rico: 1.1 million (soccer is unpopular sport here, reduce to about 10 to 15% of value)
Cuba: 641,000 (soccer is unpopular sport here, number should be significantly reduced)
Dominicana: 545,000 (soccer is unpopular sport here, number should be significantly reduced)

Guatemala: 402,000
Costa Rica: 373,000
Panama: 294,000 (not traditionally a soccer country, but starting to lean toward soccer. number still should be reduced)
Salvador: 221,000
Trinidad Tobago: 210,000 (not traditionally a soccer country, but starting to lean toward soccer. number still should be reduced)
Honduras: 161,000
Jamaica: 132,000 (not traditionally a soccer country, but starting to lean toward soccer. number still should be reduced)

Conclusion: United States and Mexico are almost guaranteed to go to the World Cup unless they severely under perform. Other listed countries have moderate difficulty to achieve world cup birth. North American countries not listed here have almost no chance of getting to the World Cup. No matter how efficient or good they are at the sport the economics are too far against their favor. In fact, the only country I think that ever qualified in this group is Haiti.

 

[Established1870]

Well the US are losing to Honduras so there is that.

 

[Abram Jones]

Well the US are losing to Honduras so there is that.

Honduras is, by far, more efficient at soccer than the United States. In my wealth and population adjusted rankings Honduras is ranked #38 and United States is ranked #129: http://internationalsports.nfshost.com/index.php/home/load_sports/5/2017

 

[ioppolo]

So easy that everything literally went against the USA on the last matchday. Literally every match couldn't have gone worse for them.

 

[go you pups]

So easy that everything literally went against the USA on the last matchday. Literally every match couldn't have gone worse for them.

Only got themselves to blame

Will be the same for the Socceroos if we don't win this playoff

 

[Godzke]

Should be 2.5 spots with their third playing S. America's 5th placed team.

On SM-G920I using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Fryer Tuck]

Should be 2.5 spots with their third playing S. America's 5th placed team.

On SM-G920I using BigFooty.com mobile app

Not with a 48 World Cup on the way!

To think 8 South American nations, and potentially San Marino all have a good chance of making it!

 

[Godzke]

Not with a 48 World Cup on the way!

To think 8 South American nations, and potentially San Marino all have a good chance of making it!

Yeah stupid idea that is.
We know FIFA are money-grabbers but even the notion of a 48-team comp surprised me.

 

[underthestars]

Yeah stupid idea that is.
We know FIFA are money-grabbers but even the notion of a 48-team comp surprised me.

concacaf is so generous with spots to all but guarantee the u.s. makes it through - so no doubt the coming 48 team finals will be a relief to fifa after this years shock. the 48 format means china will likely qualify and even india have a chance in the years ahead.
big downside will be the number of nations able to host it- i'd expect a lot of co-hosting in the future, but we'll never get it.

 

[sverik25]

You could argue similar with the AFC in terms of the strength of the teams there.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Yeah under the 32 team format, this region should probably lose a spot and Asia should also, with 2 more being handed to Europe, that's if you wanted the level of competition to be at a greater standard.

 

[Holden Hillbilly]

When we have 8 extra teams for the 2026 World Cup (40 in total) then the extras should be:

Asia 2
Africa 2
South America 1
Europe 2
Another can be shared between Asia + Oceania.

 

[Fryer Tuck]

Yeah under the 32 team format, this region should probably lose a spot and Asia should also, with 2 more being handed to Europe, that's if you wanted the level of competition to be at a greater standard.

If I wanted to watch European teams face off, I would watch the Euros.

The intrigue comes in intercontinental matches, surprises are to be had. Yes, Europe or South America will get there in the end, but to see how far the world progresses is the fun part.

 

[Blackas87]

When we have 8 extra teams for the 2026 World Cup (40 in total) then the extras should be:

Asia 2
Africa 2
South America 1
Europe 2
Another can be shared between Asia + Oceania.

Asia and Oceania should be one group

 

[sydney_gws]

Asia and Oceania should be one group

Given their very large populations, the Asian confederation deserves to lose places, won almost no games in the last 3 world cups. They need to become more integrated with Africa ( get some talented players to live their) I believe to be able to prosper

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Asia and Oceania should be one group

Yep or at least allow NZ into Asia.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

If I wanted to watch European teams face off, I would watch the Euros.

The intrigue comes in intercontinental matches, surprises are to be had. Yes, Europe or South America will get there in the end, but to see how far the world progresses is the fun part.

Yeah I can understand that way of thinking.