US Soccer Players

The official site of the USMNT Soccer Players with soccer news, schedule, statistics, players, interviews, and exclusive stories.


Next Opponent

6/15/2023 10pm ET on CBS Sports
  • Rankings
  • Schedule
  • Results
  • Home
  • Roster
  • USMNT News
  • MLS
  • USMNT Players in Europe
  • Alumni
  • USNSTPA
  • Archive

Concacaf alters World Cup qualifying format for 2022

July 10, 2019 by US Soccer Players

concacaf logo

Concacaf announced changes to World Cup qualifying for the 2022 cycle on Wednesday. With limited time to schedule qualifying, Concacaf is opting to enter the top six nations in the region direclty into the Hexagonal round where the top three finishers will advance to the 2022 World Cup. The rest of the region will play to meet the 4th-place Hexagonal finisher for the final World Cup qualifying spot. Concacaf will determine the top six teams in the region using next summer’s FIFA Ranking.

“This new FIFA World Cup Qualifying format, based on the FIFA rankings, makes every competitive match count,” Concacaf president Victor Montagliani said. “Alongside the Concacaf Nations League, and our expanded Gold Cup, it will raise standards of play to unprecedented levels and develop the sport across the region. Making the leading Concacaf nations stronger on the global stage, while giving our emerging footballing nations the chance to pursue their dreams of playing at a World Cup.”

FIFA no longer issues rankings each month, so Concacaf will use the ranking likely to happen at the end of July, 2020. Based on the current June rankings, the top six teams in Concacaf are Mexico, USA, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, and El Salvador. The top three are unlikely to change based on the Gold Cup results. Concacaf will use the September, October, and November match windows in 2020 and the March and September windows in 2021 for the Hexagonal.

The remaining 29 teams in the region will play an unbalanced group stage (5 groups of 4, 3 groups of 3) during the September, October, and November 2020 windows. The group winners advance to the home-and-away knockout rounds with the quarterfinals during the March 2021 window, the semifinals in June, and the final in September. The winner plays the 4th-place finisher in the Hexagonal during the October 2021 window. That team advances to the intercontinental playoff for the final World Cup qualifying spot.

Logo courtesy of Concacaf

Filed Under: 2022 World Cup, Soccer News, World Cup qualifying Tagged With: concacaf, world cup qualifying

Takeaways from the United States’ opening matches at U-20 World Cup

By Charles Boehm

Charles Boehm explains what is working for the United States so far at the U-20 World Cup where they have six points from two group B games.

Gio Reyna’s quality for Borussia Dortmund with a two-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table

Gio Reyna’s quality for Borussia Dortmund with a two-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table

By Jason Davis

With Borussia Dortmund in 1st-place with a game left, Jason Davis looks at the five Bundesliga goals Gio Reyna has scored in 2023.

Using the US Open Cup round of 16 to push forward in MLS

Using the US Open Cup round of 16 to push forward in MLS

By Clemente Lisi

Clemente Lisi highlights four round of 16 games in the 2023 US Open Cup with opportunities for MLS clubs to create momentum for league play.

More from our writers

US Soccer Players

paul-arriola-goal-celebration-usmnt-world-cup-qualifying-september-2016

Paul Arriola - USMNT

Position Forward
Pro Team FC Dallas
Read more about Paul Arriola - USMNT

UNITED STATES NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

Players

  • Squad
  • Results
  • Schedule
  • Match Reports

Soccer News

  • National Team
  • Major League Soccer
  • USMNT Players in Europe
  • Newsletter

About USNSTPA

  • About US Soccer Players
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Sponsorship and Licensing

Copyright © 2023 All Rights Reserved - US Soccer Players.