Neutral venue in Middle East, apparently with OFC currently working through options. Due to Covid travel restrictions making it otherwise impossible to gather all the teams together. There is some articles above in this thread talking about it. Suspect FIFA would need to bankroll it.
Could actually work out well for AWs, especially if is in early January. Much greater chance of having a near full strength side, than having tourney down this way.
Most of the European leagues being on winter breaks come early Jan. MLS/USL plus other leagues like Sweden, Norway & Finland being in their off seasons. Having the UK contingent available could be the problem - but maybe they can come in late just for semis onwards. Certainly you would want Wood for the knock out games, disaster if AWs failed to win the tourney.
Also by January there maybe travel exemptions allowing the A League guys to re enter NZ/Aus without 2 weeks MIQ. Maybe.
Wouldn't be a surprise if the Island nations with mostly domestic based squads, were making things tricky for NZF. They would have less incentive to play up in the Middle East, than NZF - and they have a history of playing around with venues, going for 1 legged OFC Champions League ties verus 2 legs etc etc, if they think it gives their teams a chance of making a FIFA world event.
Might be some FIFA 'compensation money' having to be put on the table to make a ME tourney happen. FIFA won't want any further delays with OFC WC qualifying, with a tight schedule into the June 2022 intercontinental playoffs.
Could actually work out well for AWs, especially if is in early January. Much greater chance of having a near full strength side, than having tourney down this way.
Most of the European leagues being on winter breaks come early Jan. MLS/USL plus other leagues like Sweden, Norway & Finland being in their off seasons. Having the UK contingent available could be the problem - but maybe they can come in late just for semis onwards. Certainly you would want Wood for the knock out games, disaster if AWs failed to win the tourney.
Also by January there maybe travel exemptions allowing the A League guys to re enter NZ/Aus without 2 weeks MIQ. Maybe.
Wouldn't be a surprise if the Island nations with mostly domestic based squads, were making things tricky for NZF. They would have less incentive to play up in the Middle East, than NZF - and they have a history of playing around with venues, going for 1 legged OFC Champions League ties verus 2 legs etc etc, if they think it gives their teams a chance of making a FIFA world event.
Might be some FIFA 'compensation money' having to be put on the table to make a ME tourney happen. FIFA won't want any further delays with OFC WC qualifying, with a tight schedule into the June 2022 intercontinental playoffs.