Anger in US as FIFA Retains World Cup Places

FIFA has decided not to alter the number of qualifying sides from each continent for the 2014 World Cup.

Even though Brazil is hosting it, South America will keep all 5.5 its places. The decision has of course created both some aggrieved and relieved parties.

There is some anger in North America whose performance at the last World Cup exceeded expectations. Two of their three nations progressed beyond the group stage.

The United States finished top of their group before losing in extra time to Ghana.

Mexico also qualified out of their Group stage having beaten France, only to lose to Argentina in the next round. Honduras were eliminated without scoring a goal.

You could argue that this is not much of a case for a fourth side but it is stronger than the African case. Despite home continent advantage, Ghana were the only African side to progress from six qualifiers including hosts South Africa.

Chuck Blazer is secretary-general of CONCACAF (the USA’s federation) and a delegate to FIFA. He is among those disappointed that North America will remain at three automatic places plus another side entering a play-off.

He lashed out at South America’s allocation for 2014 where Brazil are not going to enter because they automatically qualify as hosts.

“Everyone is protecting their own interests rather than doing what is right. I’m a great supporter of South American football but for them to have a possible six countries out of ten is absurd.”

CONCACAF has fourty members but many of them are small Caribbean nations whose existence should not be used as proof of depth in CONCACAF. That said, six out of ten qualifying in South America seems initially preposterous though Blazer’s argument that mediocrity should not be rewarded is probably not assisted by his home country allowing ten clubs out of 18 to make the club play-offs in their domestic league.

Europe will retain its thirteen places, Asia its 4.5 and Oceania will send one side to a play-off, almost certainly New Zealand unless they abandon that Conference and join Australia in the Asian.

As one consolation to North America, their fourth place side will not automatically play the fifth place South American side. Those two sides will enter an open draw with an Asian play-off contended and the Oceania side.

In 2010, those four were Uruguay, Costa Rica, Bahrain and New Zealand. Costa Rica had to play Uruguay from South America, always likely to be the strongest of the quartet. Under the 2014 arrangement, they could have drawn Bahrain or New Zealand.