| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe 16:20 - Nov 16 with 3342 views | bluelagos |
Win a group and you're through but beyond that - anyone want to explain in a short easy to grasp couple of sentences?
Cheers |  |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 16:27 - Nov 16 with 2435 views | Wacko |
All 12 runners-up go into playoffs plus the 4 best ranked nations league teams that didn’t get top two
Edit for more: each team plays a single-leg semi-final and the 8 winners play a single-leg final to find the 4 teams to qualify [Post edited 16 Nov 2025 16:28]
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 16:27 - Nov 16 with 2425 views | Alberto_the_frog |
Well, second place gets you into a play off, but beyond that ... I think it might be the sides with the most goals scored with a player with surname starting A to M, or N to Z if Easter falls in March. |  |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 16:44 - Nov 16 with 2341 views | ClareBlue |
There is also the not permitted fixtures to consider. If they draw each other then they have to go back into the pot.
Belarus v Ukraine and Kosovo v Serbia or Albania are sort of understandable but the other on the list of banned fixtures is Gibraltar v Spain. But Ireland v Northern Ireland is fine. Not sure what the criteria is to be added to tge list. Greece v North Macedonia might have been an issue before name change. | | | |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 16:48 - Nov 16 with 2321 views | bluelagos |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 16:27 - Nov 16 by Wacko |
All 12 runners-up go into playoffs plus the 4 best ranked nations league teams that didn’t get top two
Edit for more: each team plays a single-leg semi-final and the 8 winners play a single-leg final to find the 4 teams to qualify [Post edited 16 Nov 2025 16:28]
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"4 best ranked nations league teams"
Assume I'm an idiot (pipe down at the back) and explain how that works please.
fiik | |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 16:54 - Nov 16 with 2263 views | Mark |
Football should be a simple sport, but it is so over-complicated these days. For example, I look at the tables but I don't know if they use goal difference or head to heads if teams have the same points. I think it should always be goal difference. |  | | |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 16:55 - Nov 16 with 2253 views | Zx1988 |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 16:44 - Nov 16 by ClareBlue |
There is also the not permitted fixtures to consider. If they draw each other then they have to go back into the pot.
Belarus v Ukraine and Kosovo v Serbia or Albania are sort of understandable but the other on the list of banned fixtures is Gibraltar v Spain. But Ireland v Northern Ireland is fine. Not sure what the criteria is to be added to tge list. Greece v North Macedonia might have been an issue before name change. |
The idea of 'banned fixtures' hacks me off no end.
Football is always touted as being beyond politics, and a force for peace, so why allow politics to dictate which teams can opt not to play someone.
If Spain don't want to recognise Gibraltar by refusing to play against them, Gibraltar should just be awarded a walkover if they're drawn together and Spain continue to refuse to play them. | |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 16:56 - Nov 16 with 2255 views | bluefunk |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 16:48 - Nov 16 by bluelagos |
"4 best ranked nations league teams"
Assume I'm an idiot (pipe down at the back) and explain how that works please.
fiik |
The 4 teams added to the second place qualifying teams come from the best placed Nations League teams who haven’t qualified directly, so Sweden will be one of these for example (don’t know the others!) |  | | |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 17:03 - Nov 16 with 2222 views | gainsboroughblue |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 16:56 - Nov 16 by bluefunk |
The 4 teams added to the second place qualifying teams come from the best placed Nations League teams who haven’t qualified directly, so Sweden will be one of these for example (don’t know the others!) |
It's a process I only really make sense of when it's all over. All those permutations and what ifs fry my brain and really affect my immersion in the process. It's the same when you get the 24 team tournaments and some but not all third place teams go through but you don't know who they'll play in the next round.
Just have less groups and send the top two through would be much easier. It's probably a way to make the Nations League have more importance than it actually has and to give nations that don't have a prayer in the qualifying proper a chance, but in terms of following along, it just becomes a confusing mess.
As far as I know, its only the UEFA section that has this much convolution. |  |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 17:38 - Nov 16 with 2123 views | vapour_trail |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 17:03 - Nov 16 by gainsboroughblue |
It's a process I only really make sense of when it's all over. All those permutations and what ifs fry my brain and really affect my immersion in the process. It's the same when you get the 24 team tournaments and some but not all third place teams go through but you don't know who they'll play in the next round.
Just have less groups and send the top two through would be much easier. It's probably a way to make the Nations League have more importance than it actually has and to give nations that don't have a prayer in the qualifying proper a chance, but in terms of following along, it just becomes a confusing mess.
As far as I know, its only the UEFA section that has this much convolution. |
The UEFA qualifying is straightforward compared with Asia and the one for north and Central America.
And the Asian final play off section has essentially been heavily weighted to favour Saudi and Qatar for some reason. |  |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 17:49 - Nov 16 with 2079 views | gainsboroughblue |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 17:38 - Nov 16 by vapour_trail |
The UEFA qualifying is straightforward compared with Asia and the one for north and Central America.
And the Asian final play off section has essentially been heavily weighted to favour Saudi and Qatar for some reason. |
I wonder why!
Yeah good point, I don't pay as much attention to the AFC process but I do notice that teams seem to have a lot more rope to play with before getting knocked out. Finish 3rd in the group? No worries, just move on to the next stage and have another crack.
I still get headaches following the UEFA one though. | |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:04 - Nov 16 with 2039 views | skinnybob72 |
All the big teams get a pi55 easy draw - see England for a reference point - and if they somehow make an ar5e of it - see Italy for a reference point - the play-offs are rigged so that the big teams have the easiest ties. | | | |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:11 - Nov 16 with 2019 views | gainsboroughblue |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:04 - Nov 16 by skinnybob72 |
All the big teams get a pi55 easy draw - see England for a reference point - and if they somehow make an ar5e of it - see Italy for a reference point - the play-offs are rigged so that the big teams have the easiest ties. |
And even then, Italy still managed to cock up in the play-offs in the last two qualifying campaigns. Losing to North Macedonia last time. | |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:13 - Nov 16 with 2005 views | skinnybob72 |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:11 - Nov 16 by gainsboroughblue |
And even then, Italy still managed to cock up in the play-offs in the last two qualifying campaigns. Losing to North Macedonia last time. |
They sure did! | | | |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:14 - Nov 16 with 1995 views | vapour_trail |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 17:49 - Nov 16 by gainsboroughblue |
I wonder why!
Yeah good point, I don't pay as much attention to the AFC process but I do notice that teams seem to have a lot more rope to play with before getting knocked out. Finish 3rd in the group? No worries, just move on to the next stage and have another crack.
I still get headaches following the UEFA one though. |
They gave them both home advantage and more rest between games, and provided zero justification as to their reasoning.
They both qualified.
It’s fraud, essentially. | |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:14 - Nov 16 with 1993 views | PhilTWTD |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 17:49 - Nov 16 by gainsboroughblue |
I wonder why!
Yeah good point, I don't pay as much attention to the AFC process but I do notice that teams seem to have a lot more rope to play with before getting knocked out. Finish 3rd in the group? No worries, just move on to the next stage and have another crack.
I still get headaches following the UEFA one though. |
Ali Al-Hamadi and Iraq are in the fifth stage of qualifying and even if they come through that face an intercontinental play-off! |  | | |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:29 - Nov 16 with 1920 views | vapour_trail |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:14 - Nov 16 by PhilTWTD |
Ali Al-Hamadi and Iraq are in the fifth stage of qualifying and even if they come through that face an intercontinental play-off! |
There is no way Trump wants that lot making the trip next summer. | |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:47 - Nov 16 with 1872 views | Churchman |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:04 - Nov 16 by skinnybob72 |
All the big teams get a pi55 easy draw - see England for a reference point - and if they somehow make an ar5e of it - see Italy for a reference point - the play-offs are rigged so that the big teams have the easiest ties. |
I’d exempt the ‘big’ teams from playing qualifiers and do straight mini leagues for the rest. That way you wouldn’t have to mess about with the domestic league season which is what after all pays the bills. Englands qualifiers? Total waste of time. Who would I include?
Argentina
Brazil
Germany
Italy
France
Spain
England
Netherlands |  | | |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:48 - Nov 16 with 1861 views | vapour_trail |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:47 - Nov 16 by Churchman |
I’d exempt the ‘big’ teams from playing qualifiers and do straight mini leagues for the rest. That way you wouldn’t have to mess about with the domestic league season which is what after all pays the bills. Englands qualifiers? Total waste of time. Who would I include?
Argentina
Brazil
Germany
Italy
France
Spain
England
Netherlands |
This is possibly the worst idea ever. | |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 19:05 - Nov 16 with 1812 views | PhilTWTD |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:29 - Nov 16 by vapour_trail |
There is no way Trump wants that lot making the trip next summer. |
I have wondered whether he might not let certain teams in. Iran are understood not to be allowed to attend the draw. Wonder how certain media might get on if he's still in the process of suing them by the time the tournament starts! | | | |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 19:05 - Nov 16 with 1809 views | MattinLondon |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:48 - Nov 16 by vapour_trail |
This is possibly the worst idea ever. |
It’s a very bizarre idea. |  | | |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 19:25 - Nov 16 with 1766 views | Churchman |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 18:48 - Nov 16 by vapour_trail |
This is possibly the worst idea ever. |
Why?
The domestic leagues pay the players, the audiences support and finance is driven by the big leagues and watching England reserves walking all over four other countries twice over achieves what?
As you usually do you downvoted me. I’ll try and live with the disappointment, but do try and remember it’s just an opinion for discussion. [Post edited 16 Nov 2025 19:28]
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 19:35 - Nov 16 with 1734 views | Keno |
Think of it as schrodinger's qualifying |  |
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 19:36 - Nov 16 with 1724 views | NedPlimpton |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 19:25 - Nov 16 by Churchman |
Why?
The domestic leagues pay the players, the audiences support and finance is driven by the big leagues and watching England reserves walking all over four other countries twice over achieves what?
As you usually do you downvoted me. I’ll try and live with the disappointment, but do try and remember it’s just an opinion for discussion. [Post edited 16 Nov 2025 19:28]
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For a start it's hideously unfair |  | | |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 19:42 - Nov 16 with 1711 views | Churchman |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 19:36 - Nov 16 by NedPlimpton |
For a start it's hideously unfair |
It’s just an out of the box thought. In what way is it unfair?
Is it more unfair than introducing PL and Championship clubs at the FA Cup third round stage and not the first? Is it any more unfair than seeding certain teams for the finals? [Post edited 16 Nov 2025 19:43]
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| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 19:43 - Nov 16 with 1703 views | MattinLondon |
| Does anyone understand the qualifying process in Europe on 19:25 - Nov 16 by Churchman |
Why?
The domestic leagues pay the players, the audiences support and finance is driven by the big leagues and watching England reserves walking all over four other countries twice over achieves what?
As you usually do you downvoted me. I’ll try and live with the disappointment, but do try and remember it’s just an opinion for discussion. [Post edited 16 Nov 2025 19:28]
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Your idea centres upon some international teams automatically qualifying for the WC. It’s unfair because Italy and England have failed to qualify for the tournament on more than one occasion.
You also stated that those domestic leagues will continue uninterrupted- so you’re saying only English players or players in those international teams you listed play in the PL and La Liga etc.
Irish, Scottish, Scandinavian players play in those leagues - carrying on regardless will be unfair on teams that have those national in their squad. | | | |
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