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The last spherical of qualifiers will begin in June 2021.© AFP
The last spherical of CONCACAF’s qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup is to be expanded from six to eight groups, the governing physique for soccer in North America, Central America and the Caribbean confirmed on Monday. CONCACAF mentioned in an announcement that 5 groups — Mexico, United States, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Honduras — would mechanically begin within the last eight-team spherical robin league the place 3.5 berths for the 2022 finals in Qatar can be up for grabs. Those 5 groups can be joined by three groups who emerge from two rounds of preliminary qualifiers which is able to contain the rest of CONCACAF’s 35 FIFA member nations.
Those preliminary rounds will get underway in October, with 30 groups drawn into six teams of 5.
The six group winners will then meet in three two-legged second-round video games, with the winners of every tie advancing to the ultimate spherical of qualifying.
The last spherical of qualifiers will begin in June 2021 earlier than reaching their conclusion in March 2022 — eight months earlier than the World Cup kicks off in Qatar.
In the ultimate spherical, every workforce performs one another on a house and away foundation with the highest three finishers qualifying for the World Cup. The fourth-placed workforce will enter a playoff in opposition to a workforce from a unique area.
The qualifying shake-up got here after the coronavirus pandemic compelled cancellation of a number of FIFA worldwide home windows, making CONCACAF’s earlier qualification plans unworkable.
In an announcement, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani mentioned the brand new format provided larger alternative for World Cup qualification to groups within the area.
Promoted
“All teams now have the chance to compete for direct access to Qatar 2022 and dream of playing at a World Cup,” Montagliani mentioned.
“We have also respected the positions of those nations which had already mathematically qualified for the Final Round under the previous system.”
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