CONCACAF and South America to have Playoff for 2010 World Cup Spot

December 6th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

FIFA announced Wednesday the number of World Cup spots for each confederation for the 2010 competition. The only significant change is that the fifth place finisher from South America will square off against the 4th place finisher from CONCACAF, while Oceania and Asia will square off to determine the fifth World Cup spot from those two regions.

This makes sense from a travel perspective, but it will make things much tougher for CONCACAF. You’ll recall that in 2006 qualifying CONCACAF’s Trinidad and Tobago had a playoff with Asia’s Bahrain, while Oceania’s Australia had a playoff with South America’s Uruguay. With Australia moving to Asia, it is likely that Oceania’s New Zealand will end up playing the fifth place finisher in Asia during 2010 qualifying.

It is also worth noting that Africa will have five spots in addition to host South Africa. This is one more than what the continent had in 2006, while Europe lose the slot that was reserved for Germany. Here’s a breakdown of the slots:

Europe – 13
Africa – 6
Asia and Oceana – 5
South America – 4.5
North America – 3.5

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Martinez

I think it works out for the best, though personally CONCACAF is gonna have to fight to secure a fourth spot on the World Cup.

Imagine, North America and South America having the same number of spots in 2010.

Ah well… I’m happy Latin America is practically guaranteed at least 6 (dare I say 7) spots.
Martinez

PS. I also like that Africa is getting 6 spots, after all this is being presented as AFRICA’S World Cup. Hope their qualification system makes more sense this time.
http://france.theoffside.com sam

Take off one from CONCACAF and Asia, give an extra to Europe and South America. Then it’ll be perfect. Stop trying to be cute and saying that North America stand a chance.
Martinez

Everyone knows CONCACAF’s fourth doesn’t stand a chance against the CONMEBOL’s fifth.

However, people always love throwing around how Europe and South America deserve so many more spots when the bottom rung of these confederation’s classifiers don’t impress much more than the other confederation’s worst (or worst of the best, if you will).

Serbia & Montenegro and Paraguay? Are they that more able able than CONCACAF’s and AFC’s last place teams? By giving the other confederations more spots, they at least keep the World Cup a -global- event.

Not to mention that spreading around the qualifying spots means more countries have the opportunity to participate. This heightens interest and passion for football around the globe… which can only be good for the sport.
Martinez

Not to hog the comments (bad form, I know), but let me put forth a clearer example of what I’m saying. Europe and South America’s last aren’t necessarily better than the last qualifiers of other regions (apparently, especially in the World Cups outside of Europe).

The 2002 World Cup:
Uruguay and France finish last in a group with Denmark and Senegal.

Slovenia last in a group with South Africa.

Poland and Portugal last in a group with USA and South Korea.

Ecuador and Croatia last in a group with Mexico (and Italy).

Russia failed to qualify over Japan.
Claude

All this means is that the teams from Europe and S. America will have an easier time advancing at the expense of Asia/Oceania, Africa and N. America. Let’s face it Mexico will advance, Brazil and Argentina, about 10 European teams and that leaves 3 places for the rest of the world to fight for. Here is a list of things that are a certainty for 2010:
1. Blatter will again make an ass of himself.
2. We are going to be all over the refs for blowing calls.
3. Some team(s) will get screwed on the pitch so that FIFA can make Africa look good (remember 2002 S.Korea/Italy and S. Korea/Spain?
4. Sepp Blatter, Jack Warner and friends will line their pockets with money earned from corruption.
5. ESPN/ABC’s broadcasts will suck big time.
6. Europe and S. America will have a team or two teams in the final and probably the semi-finals.

TTFN
dick

Don’t forget Claude.

7. At least one African team (possibly S. Africa) is pretty much guaranteed a spot in the final four but will not make the final. The title will go to France or Germany (Beckenbauer or Platini?). Brazil will be given their 6th title at home in 2014.

My prediction for the final four of 2010

Germany
France
South Africa
Brazil
Claude

I agree with you Dick. That is why I put in #3 that FIFA will make sure an African team will advance like S. Korea did in 2006. The Italy and Spain Bloggers have left their opinion before of the injustice done to their teams vs. S. Korea in 2002. Let’s face it South Africa has enough Krugerrands and diamonds to pay for a favorable finish in 2010.
Kahuru

Claude, you’re an a**hole and a bloody cynic you know that, or is it that time of the month when you are having those cramps? Now South Africa have enough diamonds and Kruger rands to pay for a favourable finish weren’t you the one who said South Africa don’t even have the $1.9 billion to build the stadiums? It’s funny this coming from someone whose country overachieved in 2006.
Claude

Actually Kahuru, I felt that South Afirca would be better served by spending the money on its infrastructure than on stadiums that will be practically empty after WC2010. I don’t know what your problem is. Can’t you have a nice dialogue without using profanity and resorting to name calling? I suggest you see a shrink and get some anger/behavior management. In addition to that you are a racist.
Kahuru

‘Best served by having it’s money spent on infrastructure …’ just what makes you such a damn expert on matters relating to SA that you have to make such statements? Is it your money that is being spent? I know, you and your cronnies expect us to throw our hands in the air and have Germany host the 2010 edition by default – keep on dreaming.
Tim Ron

Haiti will go to World cup on 2010. we are going to beat what so ever we are going to face.