Qualifying for the 2018 World Cup

Outside of Europe, where most of the usual suspects have pretty much qualified, there are some countries looking to qualify that might raise an eyebrow or two.

In Asia, battling to join Iran in Russia next year are 3 countries. Only the top two qualify and the aforementioned Iranians have claimed top spot. For the all important runners up spot, South Korea currently sit in second and face a trip to Uzbekistan in their last game. The winner of that group will finish second and qualify IF Syria don't beat Iran away. Otherwise, Syria will qualify in their place.
In the other group, Japan beat Australia to qualify in top spot. Second place is currently occupied by Saudi Arabia and they will clinch that place by beating Japan at home. If not, both Australia and the UAE can nip in if they can beat Thailand at home and Iraq away respectively. The UAE have a much worse goal difference, however and would need both the Aussies and the Saudis to lose and put at least 5 past Iraq to have a chance.
The third placed team in both groups will play each other for the final Asia spot.

The CONCACAF qualifying is also heating up, with Mexico clinching their place yesterday with a victory over Panama. Costa Rica look set to join them barring a mathematical miracle and some **** footballing on their part, they need a point from their game against Mexico to go through. The USA sit third at the moment, but are level on points with Honduras and only a point ahead of Panama. Even bottom side Trinidad and Tobago could sneak in, but they'd have to hope for results elsewhere to go in their favour. The team finishing fourth will play against the winning team from the Asia playoff.

In Africa, Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco, Burkina Faso and Uganda currently lead their groups, but there's a way to go yet and the groups are all very close, with nobody being directly eliminated or qualified as of today.

South America has been a weird one. Brazil have naturally qualified, but after that it's a bit odd. Colombia sit second, a point ahead of Uruguay in third. Uruguay are a point ahead of both Chile and Argentina, the latter having had something of a nightmare qualifying campaign. Venezuela and Bolivia aside, both of whom are eliminated, anyone from Paraguay in 7th could still qualify with 3 games to go.

Finally, Oceania. You've gotta feel sorry for New Zealand. They're the only team you'd expect to ever come out of that group, but even if they do, they have to face off against the 5th place team in South America, which as it stands is Argentina. The Kiwis faced the Solomon Islands and beat them 6-1, the return leg is next Thursday. As if there was a need for one.

 

The dirty looking bird with tatts in home bargains was saying exactly the same thing to me earlier today.

 

In France ?????

 

Whoops... I'll change it.

 

Once qualifying is sorted, the seedings are going to look strange. Switzerland and Poland currently sit at 4 and 5 in the world rankings, and of course Russia will be seeded as well.

 

It goes on previous tournaments doesn't it ??
Should rule us out then

 

Nah, the top pot is taken from the rankings now. The other 3 pots will be geographical (one from Europe, one from Asia & N America, one from Africa & the rest).

 

It would be an incredible achievement if Syria qualified

 

It would, but it would be equally impressive if Uzbekistan made it.

 

Iran have conceded 3 goals in 17 qualifying matches so far. (They've scored 34.)

 

Anyone watching Spain v Italy? Spain are killing them.

 

I know someone who'll be pretending they didn't...

 

First qualifier Italy have lost since September 2006.

 

What with.

 

Yeah but aren't the rankings driven by tournament results? I assume so if we're 19th.

 

We're 13th at the moment, aren't we?

If I'm not mistaken, even friendly results count towards the rankings. Although I assume competitive matches carry more weighting.

 

Here's the weighting:

Friendly match (including small competitions): I = 1.0

World Cup qualifier or confederation-level qualifier: I = 2.5

Confederation-level final competition or FIFA Confederations Cup: I = 3.0

World Cup final competition: I = 4.0

 

Syrians are getting ****ing everywhere.

Not content to raid our countries they also have to get their noses in the World Cup.

****s.

 

Wasn't there some big hoohah about someone a few years ago (Switzerland?) as the friendly opposition ranking contributed to ranking points?

Here we go.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25134584