the only issue I have with the WC quals is who we have to play after beating up on the Oceania teams (assuming that tournament goes ahead). We still have to play either an Asian or COMEMBOL 5th place team to qualify right?
we are gonna need some decent warm up games in between.
we are gonna need some decent warm up games in between.
Also chance of 4th best CONCACAF, but trouble is the OFC thing is set for March and the very next window are the playoffs in June, so might be able to squeeze a friendly or two before them but nothing much more than that.
It sucks we’re in October and still haven’t finalised qualifying format, I wouldn’t be surprised if half the OFC teams don’t bother going half way around the world to get beaten then quarantine once heading back to Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia etc
Yipe a real bugger that OFC tourney is not going to be in January 2022 as first mooted. Thereby freeing up the March window for some tough friendlies, before the 2 huge games in June 2022.
Hopefully the 2 Intercontinental Playoff games are mid-late June. So early June can be a 2 week camp plus maybe 1 good warmup game. Most Euro leagues finish by end of May. Will be tricky getting MLS guys M Boxall & Tuiloma outside the FIFA window dates.
But Socceroos (who are looking good for automatic qualification from AFC) at Eden Park, then first playoff game a week later at the ROF, would be a nice scenario and potential double big gate cash cow for NZF. Bearing in the mind these are now likely to be the first game(s) the AWs will have played in NZ since Nov 2017, so heading towards 5 years by that point!! Insane really