World Cup 2018: US exploring tournament for non-qualiers

[Kabalega]

World Cup 2018: US Soccer exploring tournament for non-qualifiers

By Saj Chowdhury
BBC Sport


USA's hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup ended in October with defeat by Trinidad & Tobago
The teams that failed to qualify for the World Cup might yet have the chance to play in an international tournament next year.

That is because the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) is exploring the idea of hosting a competition featuring those who missed out on Russia 2018.

BBC Sport has learnt that the idea is at a preliminary stage.

Associations have yet to be contacted and US Soccer, whose team also failed to reach the World Cup, has yet to formulate a structure for the tournament.

It is also understood that the competition would need to attract the cream of the teams that missed out on qualification and their best players.

A major obstacle to its realisation could have been Fifa. But football's world governing body told BBC Sport that it would not stand in its way as long as it followed the usual rules and regulations of international football.

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Such backing is expected with the organisation trying to reinvigorate international football, with a possible global league touted.

Michael Lewis, who has been writing about football in the USA for almost 40 years, is cynical about the reasons for US Soccer touting this tournament.

"This seems like a money-making idea," he told BBC Sport. "They would think about it as a positive revenue stream."

So which teams might play in the tournament?

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There were some heavyweights of world football who failed to make Russia 2018.

Both four-time champions Italy and three-time runners-up Netherlands would undoubtedly top the billing at a USA tournament.

Then there is Chile, ranked ninth in the world, boasting the likes of Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez.

Three African giants who were at Brazil 2014 could also feature. They include Ghana, whose squad includes the likes of Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey and West Ham midfielder Andre Ayew, five-time Cup of Nations winners Cameroon and also Ivory Coast.

Meanwhile, Gareth Bale's Wales, Czech Republic, Scotland, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkey, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and 2004 European champions Greece could also be asked to compete.

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With huge support for many of these teams in the United States, it could be worth participating. However, before major tournaments there are often friendlies between those who have missed out and those who have made it. How would a USA tournament fit in with the schedule?

Also, would players want to play in a competition of the stature of a 'Europa League' to Fifa's World Cup?

"I'm pretty sure the Italy players would rather go on holiday," added Lewis.

"I would also expect teams to field inexperienced players - that certainly would not help with the development of the US national team."

How much of a boost will this be for football in the US?

USA Soccer fans
Could the proposed tournament lead to big viewing figures of Fox Sports' World Cup coverage?
With a joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup being mulled over by Fifa, this would be a great opportunity for the USA to present its case.

Its premier domestic competition - MLS - is growing both in size and popularity, which is running in correlation with the growth of the country's Hispanic population who represent 35% of the league's fan base.

There are also the financial benefits, following the blow of missing out on World Cup qualification.

According to Forbes, the USSF will miss out on the $12.5m (£9.49m) paid by Fifa for reaching Russia 2018. And then there is Fox Sports, who might have felt a little punch-drunk after spending $425m (£322.76m) acquiring World Cup USA TV rights, which included next year's tournament. Business Insider said USA's failure was a "disaster" for the media organisation.

Could this proposed tournament build interest in the US before the main event and boost viewing figures despite the absence of the home team?

Lewis, who has written about USA at every World Cup since 1990, thinks not.

"I don't think it would make a difference to the size of the World Cup TV audience if we have this tournament or not," he added.

"There are so many supporters of other different nations in the country that I expect the figures to be big.

"What US Soccer need to do first is find a new coach."

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http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42001722

[charlie]

Not a bad idea. They should call it the Consolation Cup.

[Tbite]

How about 'The Lesser Leagues'

or the 'Chump-ions League' or 'Cup-out' Which is a triple entendre, referring to a Cup (As in title), Cop-out as in a the failure of the unqualified teams to accept their ouster. Which brings me to the last meaning, which is out of the cup, i.e. out of the Mundial.

[TheHitman47]

Off topic but I would like to play some friendlies against some of the teams that didn't qualify like Italy and the Netherlands. They are still challenging opposition even though they didn't qualify for the World Cup and would help us prepare against some of the teams we will play. We need as many challenging games as possible.

[Eaglezbeak]

No football loving nation would be too proud to feature in such a tournament,imagine seeing the rest of the World enjoying the real thing,most footballers who failed qualify to the major tournament are already mentally preparing for a football free holiday!

[Ayo Akinfe]

I hope you guys realise that Ghana would not even qualify for this Consolation Cup if it held. Ghana finished third in their group behind Egypt and Uganda so are not even eligible for this.

If Caf is asked to send its five runners up to the tournament, the teams that would represent Africa would be Zambia, Uganda, Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Burkina Faso. The only way Ghana can participate in an international tournament now is if it is strictly an African competition. The only way they can win anything is if it is strictly a Wafu competition!

[joao]

Not a bad idea for an appetizer before the main course.
I hope the organizers can line up some unfortunate but real competition like -
Italy, Netherlands, Zambia, Chile and other four non-qualifiers.
The winning team should be offered a free trip to Russia to see what they missed on.

[oluwaseye the 1st.]

Ipade awon olodo!!

[Metho scorpion]

...USA wants world to revolve only around them...

[asabatex]

They are WAFU champions..

I hope you guys realise that Ghana would not even qualify for this Consolation Cup if it held. Ghana finished third in their group behind Egypt and Uganda so are not even eligible for this.

If Caf is asked to send its five runners up to the tournament, the teams that would represent Africa would be Zambia, Uganda, Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Burkina Faso. The only way Ghana can participate in an international tournament now is if it is strictly an African competition. The only way they can win anything is if it is strictly a Wafu competition!

[ohenhen1]

...USA wants world to revolve only around them...

Exactly

Really arrogant move to host a tournament when the focus should be the world cup.

[mcal]

...USA wants world to revolve only around them...

...well they invented the Goodwill games after Moscow boycott and that went on well

[1naija]

Bad idea. Fifa should not allow it especially if it's held during tge WC.

[Ayo Akinfe]

This event will never happen. Players will want a break, so no one will turn up. None of the senior players who have had a hard season will want to play in a wooden spoon tournament.

I can understand why the Americans are touting this though. Billions was invested in World Cup TV rights by their media companies and now that the USA has failed to qualify, that looks like money poured down the drain, so they are thinking of ways to recoup it.

[bushboy]

I hope you guys realise that Ghana would not even qualify for this Consolation Cup if it held. Ghana finished third in their group behind Egypt and Uganda so are not even eligible for this.

If Caf is asked to send its five runners up to the tournament, the teams that would represent Africa would be Zambia, Uganda, Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Burkina Faso. The only way Ghana can participate in an international tournament now is if it is strictly an African competition. The only way they can win anything is if it is strictly a Wafu competition!

Eligible? I take it you are part of the organizing commitee and you are aware of the selection criteria?
Ghana v USA is an easy sell. It is developing into a real grudge match. With both sides at full strength, it will sell out most arenas in the U.S.

[Ayo Akinfe]

I hope you guys realise that Ghana would not even qualify for this Consolation Cup if it held. Ghana finished third in their group behind Egypt and Uganda so are not even eligible for this.

If Caf is asked to send its five runners up to the tournament, the teams that would represent Africa would be Zambia, Uganda, Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Burkina Faso. The only way Ghana can participate in an international tournament now is if it is strictly an African competition. The only way they can win anything is if it is strictly a Wafu competition!

Eligible? I take it you are part of the organizing commitee and you are aware of the selection criteria?
Ghana v USA is an easy sell. It is developing into a real grudge match. With both sides at full strength, it will sell out most arenas in the U.S.

Who wants to play a side they will beat 10-0? That will turn off fans and ruin the entire tournament. Bad move if you ask me.

[Odas]

Not a bad idea, but will the teams send their top quality (team A) players to the tournament?

[Kabalega]

...USA wants world to revolve only around them...

Exactly

Really arrogant move to host a tournament when the focus should be the world cup.

FIFA gave the OK.

This is about money and generating interest in the sport.

[Kabalega]

Not a bad idea, but will the teams send their top quality (team A) players to the tournament?

Italians will want nothing to do with this tournament.

[Odas]

...USA wants world to revolve only around them...

Exactly

Really arrogant move to host a tournament when the focus should be the world cup.

FIFA gave the OK.

This is about money and generating interest in the sport.

Chief, why are you so sure about that? Does the Italians not LIKE money? I think there will be a decent amount of money to be made by the teams

[Kabalega]

Chief, why are you so sure about that? Does the Italians not LIKE money? I think there will be a decent amount of money to be made by the teams

It would not only be insulting to the Italians, they don't have a coach (few Italians want the job).
If they didn't perform well, even more pressure would pile up on the federation.

If the money was good, they would probably send their Olympic team just to collect.

[jette1]

Its is really a great idea then after this non-qualifiers tournament in the US then another losers tournament should be organized and hosted by India
because they just hosted the age world cup and has still brand new facilities that's never going to be used again in 50 years. Then after that the remaining losers tournament should be hosted by Ghana right before the real thing in Russia

[green4life]

...USA wants world to revolve only around them...

Not really. If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense. That is the mantra of corporate America which is the main driver. They feel there's some low hanging bread to be grabbed via cover of the WC. There's free bread lying around and they wan grab am. That's all.