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- Thread starter SoapyCy
- Start date
Honestly, the reason for so many tournaments apart from the World Cup itself and qualifying for the WC is the #1 motivating factor in sports these days, money. CONCACAF, UEFA, and CONMEBOL could just have their WC qualifying competitions and leave it at that. But when you can make millions of dollars via ticket sales and selling TV rights, you're going to get tournaments like Copa America, the Euros, and the Gold Cup. That might be a little cynical on my part as some of these competitions have existed for many, many years long before there was money to be made in having these tournaments. But don't overlook the fact that these tournaments are huge money making ventures for their confederations.
The main thing these Non World Cup affliated tourney's do is provide non friendly matches to Cap tie players. A player is not cap tied to a Nation unless he plays for the Sr team in a meaningful match. That can be the WC or its qualifiers OR the confederations Tourney or its Quals or Region tourney and its quals.
I would say that is the main reason for these tourney's.
Might I add that I think Europe is the only region that gets it right. European Nations are qualifying or playing in a major tourney every 2 yrs and really gets their elites on a schedule.
Right now Europe is qualifying for Euro 2016 then will play in Euro 2016. After that they will qualify and play in WC 2018. Europes major regional tourney is every 4 yrs and is offset from WC by 2 yrs. Therefore their major players are always in the same type mindset
I would say that is the main reason for these tourney's.
Might I add that I think Europe is the only region that gets it right. European Nations are qualifying or playing in a major tourney every 2 yrs and really gets their elites on a schedule.
Right now Europe is qualifying for Euro 2016 then will play in Euro 2016. After that they will qualify and play in WC 2018. Europes major regional tourney is every 4 yrs and is offset from WC by 2 yrs. Therefore their major players are always in the same type mindset
It isnt money! How do you get players cap tied to a Nation for the WC if the only meaningful matches are WC matches or its quals...
There are a good number of tournaments of varying importance, but in terms of the World Cup there already are lengthy World Cup qualification tournaments for each of the various federations.
CONCACAF for example has a tournament with 4 rounds, the top 6 ranked teams get byes for the first two rounds of the tournament. First round is the bottom 10 playing a 2 game series to weed out 5 teams.
Then the winning 5 join with everyone else except for the top 6 to play in a group stage, typical 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie, 0 for a loss format.
Then you get the 6 winners of that group stage and the top 6 ranked teams that had byes and you have another group stage.
Then the top 2 out of each of the 3 groups from that stage go onto The Hexagonal or 'The Hex' which is 6 teams in a double round robin. CONCACAF has 3 guaranteed World Cup spots so the top 3 get into the World Cup, and the fourth goes into a playoff with a team from another federation.
I think this has changed slightly from 2014, but I'm not entirely sure of the differences honestly.
CONCACAF for example has a tournament with 4 rounds, the top 6 ranked teams get byes for the first two rounds of the tournament. First round is the bottom 10 playing a 2 game series to weed out 5 teams.
Then the winning 5 join with everyone else except for the top 6 to play in a group stage, typical 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie, 0 for a loss format.
Then you get the 6 winners of that group stage and the top 6 ranked teams that had byes and you have another group stage.
Then the top 2 out of each of the 3 groups from that stage go onto The Hexagonal or 'The Hex' which is 6 teams in a double round robin. CONCACAF has 3 guaranteed World Cup spots so the top 3 get into the World Cup, and the fourth goes into a playoff with a team from another federation.
I think this has changed slightly from 2014, but I'm not entirely sure of the differences honestly.
Its not just the tv money but the sponsorship money and the personal bribe money that the soccer leaders have no problem taking. Every singe transaction by these people involves a bribe, nothing is done for free.
I highly doubt the leaders of UEFA and CONMEBOL back in the day thought, "Hey, we really need a way to get players cap tied. I know, let's have a tournament!" Getting players cap tied is important, but it's a byproduct of these tournaments. I don't think these tournaments exist solely as a cap tying mechanism.
I admitted my comment about money was cynical. I think that's probably true about the Euros and Copa America given their history. But why does CONCACAF have the Gold Cup every two years and always let the US host the tournament? Because the confederation can make a **** ton of money that way. Why is Copa America having their tournament both this summer and then next summer here in the US? I don't think it's because Argentina has a bunch of guys they need to get cap tied.
There are a lot of times that the US is not the only host of Gold Cup and the tourney is played in US.
Mexico loves to host or co host when it is played in the US. We have better facilities and they know they can still draw well.
Remember Mexico plays all of their WC Quals in the United States save one when they play the US at home then they play in Azteca.
Most times the Gold Cup is co hosted and played in US because we have the stadiums and infrastructure
Mexico loves to host or co host when it is played in the US. We have better facilities and they know they can still draw well.
Remember Mexico plays all of their WC Quals in the United States save one when they play the US at home then they play in Azteca.
Most times the Gold Cup is co hosted and played in US because we have the stadiums and infrastructure
I'm not trying to be a ****, but this is wrong. Mexico played every Hex home match last qualifying cycle in Azteca. And every match in the third round of qualifying last cycle was played in Azteca as well, save one which was played in Torreon, Mexico. Mexico likes to cash the check by playing almost all of their friendlies in the US, but when it comes to qualifying, they are making teams play in the altitude and smog.
Next years Copa America is because its the 100th anniversary of the original. How, when or why they got off the every 2 or 4 years schedule, Im not sure.
I think to some degree these tournaments are here because of money. I also think they are around to help teams better prepare for the World Cup. I am sure the Gold Cup came about because it could generate revenue, and the US and Mexico wanted some competition other than WC quals.
I do think the Gold Cup needs to take another step up, be an every 4 year tourney played 2 years after the WC. Force the refs to call the game the way it should so it isn't a knock down drag out like last nights game. I don't mind the World Cup Qauls being fights, but the Gold Cup needs to do more to further the game locally in my mind. That said I get that most teams don't have as much talent as the US and Mexico so for them their only chance to win is a low scoring physical battle.
Do wish somehow we could get in the Copa America. That would really help the US. Edit: Didn't realize we were playing in the Copa America next year. That is awesome.
I do think the Gold Cup needs to take another step up, be an every 4 year tourney played 2 years after the WC. Force the refs to call the game the way it should so it isn't a knock down drag out like last nights game. I don't mind the World Cup Qauls being fights, but the Gold Cup needs to do more to further the game locally in my mind. That said I get that most teams don't have as much talent as the US and Mexico so for them their only chance to win is a low scoring physical battle.
Do wish somehow we could get in the Copa America. That would really help the US. Edit: Didn't realize we were playing in the Copa America next year. That is awesome.
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