Essential The Official Football (Soccer) Thread - The Slotification of Liverpool is nearly complete

[Blessings]

Nice, now we are in pure nerd mode .

Assuming Nigeria beat DR Congo on Sunday, here is how the seeding for the intercontinental play-off in March 2026 will work and what it probably looks like for the Super Eagles.

---

1. How FIFA will seed the 6-team play-off​

From FIFA’s official regulations for the World Cup 26 Play-Off Tournament:

• There will be 6 teams:
  • 1 from CAF (winner of Nigeria vs DR Congo)
  • 1 from CONMEBOL (Bolivia)
  • 1 from OFC (New Caledonia)
  • 1 from AFC (winner of Iraq vs UAE two-leg playoff)
  • 2 from CONCACAF (the two best runners-up from the final qualifying round)
• FIFA will use the Men’s World Ranking of 19 November 2025.
• At the draw on 20 November 2025, they will:
  • Rank the 6 teams by that ranking.
  • The top 2 are seeded and go straight into the two “finals”.
  • The other 4 are unseeded and drawn into two “semi-finals”.
  • Each semi-final winner meets one of the seeds.
  • The two winners of those finals qualify for the World Cup.
  • Extra time and penalties if needed in all matches.

Also important, the two CONCACAF teams must be kept in separate paths, so they cannot meet each other.

---

2. Current ranking picture for the likely six teams​

Using the latest ranking (17 October 2025) as a guide:

Locked in:

• Nigeria (CAF, if they beat Congo): 41st in the world.
• Bolivia (CONMEBOL rep): around 76th.
• New Caledonia (OFC rep): 150th.

AFC play-off winner (one of):

• Iraq: 57th.
• United Arab Emirates: 67th.

CONCACAF candidates for the two spots (top runners-up):

From FIFA and regional ranking summaries:

• Panama: 31st
• Costa Rica: 45th
• Honduras: 64th
• Jamaica: 68th
• Others in the mix (Haiti, Curaçao, Suriname, Guatemala etc.) are all ranked well below Nigeria.

We do not yet know which two CONCACAF teams will actually land in the play-off, because the final round still has two matchdays left.

---

3. So who are the two likely seeds if Nigeria qualify?​

Seeding is purely “who are the top two in the ranking on 19 November among the six play-off teams”.

With the numbers right now, and assuming no crazy swings:

Scenario A: Panama ends up as one of the CONCACAF runners-up​

Then the six teams would be something like:

• Panama (31)
• Nigeria (41)
• Costa Rica or another CONCACAF side (45–70 range)
• Iraq or UAE (57 or 67)
• Bolivia (76)
• New Caledonia (150)

In that world:

Seed 1: Panama
Seed 2: Nigeria

Everyone else would be unseeded.

Scenario B: Panama wins its group and qualifies directly​

Then the CONCACAF play-off teams might be, for example, Costa Rica (45) and Honduras (64) or Jamaica (68).

Rough ranking stack would be:

• Nigeria (41)
• Costa Rica (45)
• Iraq or UAE (57 / 67)
• Honduras or Jamaica (64 / 68)
• Bolivia (76)
• New Caledonia (150)

Here the seeds would be:

Seed 1: Nigeria
Seed 2: Costa Rica

Same story if Costa Rica do not make it and a slightly lower-ranked CONCACAF team does. Nigeria are still clearly top two in that mini-group.

---

4. What this means for Nigeria in practical terms​

If Nigeria beat Congo and nothing wild happens to the rankings:

• It is almost certain the Super Eagles will be one of the two seeded teams in the play-off.
• The other seed will be the highest ranked CONCACAF runner-up, most likely Panama or Costa Rica based on current rankings.

So Nigeria’s path in Mexico would probably look like this:

• They skip the semi-final in their path.
• They face the winner of a semi between two of:
  • AFC rep (Iraq or UAE)
  • the other CONCACAF runner-up
  • Bolivia
  • New Caledonia

Win that one-off final in Guadalajara or Monterrey, and Nigeria are at the World Cup.

---

One-line summary for your timeline​

If Nigeria beat DR Congo, the FIFA ranking almost guarantees they will be seeded in the intercontinental play-off, which means one last single knockout game in Mexico, not two, to book their ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

 

[Roberto Firmino]

Nice, now we are in pure nerd mode .

Assuming Nigeria beat DR Congo on Sunday, here is how the seeding for the intercontinental play-off in March 2026 will work and what it probably looks like for the Super Eagles.

---

1. How FIFA will seed the 6-team play-off​

From FIFA’s official regulations for the World Cup 26 Play-Off Tournament:

• There will be 6 teams:
  • 1 from CAF (winner of Nigeria vs DR Congo)
  • 1 from CONMEBOL (Bolivia)
  • 1 from OFC (New Caledonia)
  • 1 from AFC (winner of Iraq vs UAE two-leg playoff)
  • 2 from CONCACAF (the two best runners-up from the final qualifying round)
• FIFA will use the Men’s World Ranking of 19 November 2025.
• At the draw on 20 November 2025, they will:
  • Rank the 6 teams by that ranking.
  • The top 2 are seeded and go straight into the two “finals”.
  • The other 4 are unseeded and drawn into two “semi-finals”.
  • Each semi-final winner meets one of the seeds.
  • The two winners of those finals qualify for the World Cup.
  • Extra time and penalties if needed in all matches.

Also important, the two CONCACAF teams must be kept in separate paths, so they cannot meet each other.

---

2. Current ranking picture for the likely six teams​

Using the latest ranking (17 October 2025) as a guide:

Locked in:

• Nigeria (CAF, if they beat Congo): 41st in the world.
• Bolivia (CONMEBOL rep): around 76th.
• New Caledonia (OFC rep): 150th.

AFC play-off winner (one of):

• Iraq: 57th.
• United Arab Emirates: 67th.

CONCACAF candidates for the two spots (top runners-up):

From FIFA and regional ranking summaries:

• Panama: 31st
• Costa Rica: 45th
• Honduras: 64th
• Jamaica: 68th
• Others in the mix (Haiti, Curaçao, Suriname, Guatemala etc.) are all ranked well below Nigeria.

We do not yet know which two CONCACAF teams will actually land in the play-off, because the final round still has two matchdays left.

---

3. So who are the two likely seeds if Nigeria qualify?​

Seeding is purely “who are the top two in the ranking on 19 November among the six play-off teams”.

With the numbers right now, and assuming no crazy swings:

Scenario A: Panama ends up as one of the CONCACAF runners-up​

Then the six teams would be something like:

• Panama (31)
• Nigeria (41)
• Costa Rica or another CONCACAF side (45–70 range)
• Iraq or UAE (57 or 67)
• Bolivia (76)
• New Caledonia (150)

In that world:


Everyone else would be unseeded.

Scenario B: Panama wins its group and qualifies directly​

Then the CONCACAF play-off teams might be, for example, Costa Rica (45) and Honduras (64) or Jamaica (68).

Rough ranking stack would be:

• Nigeria (41)
• Costa Rica (45)
• Iraq or UAE (57 / 67)
• Honduras or Jamaica (64 / 68)
• Bolivia (76)
• New Caledonia (150)

Here the seeds would be:


Same story if Costa Rica do not make it and a slightly lower-ranked CONCACAF team does. Nigeria are still clearly top two in that mini-group.

---

4. What this means for Nigeria in practical terms​

If Nigeria beat Congo and nothing wild happens to the rankings:

• It is almost certain the Super Eagles will be one of the two seeded teams in the play-off.
• The other seed will be the highest ranked CONCACAF runner-up, most likely Panama or Costa Rica based on current rankings.

So Nigeria’s path in Mexico would probably look like this:

• They skip the semi-final in their path.
• They face the winner of a semi between two of:
  • AFC rep (Iraq or UAE)
  • the other CONCACAF runner-up
  • Bolivia
  • New Caledonia

Win that one-off final in Guadalajara or Monterrey, and Nigeria are at the World Cup.

---

One-line summary for your timeline​

If Nigeria beat DR Congo, the FIFA ranking almost guarantees they will be seeded in the intercontinental play-off, which means one last single knockout game in Mexico, not two, to book their ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

Yea we are all but certain to be seeded and have to play just the one game but let’s not get ahead of ourselves and focus on Sunday first

 

[phcitywarrior]

I saw this somewhere (I think Reddit Soccer) but it really resonated with me.

Osimhen’s performance today encapsulates Nigerian WCQ campaign.

We like to do things the hard way.

We should have qualified for this WC with games to spare and not go through this playoff process. Likewise, Osimhen should have wrapped up this game in the 90+12 without the need for ET…

It is well sha. We move

 

[thatrapsfan]

On way home from Canada-Ecuador friendly. We got a red 5 minutes in but still managed to have most threatening chances and came away with a goalless draw. Impressive considering Ecuadors form past few years.

 

[MajesticLion]

I saw this somewhere (I think Reddit Soccer) but it really resonated with me.

Osimhen’s performance today encapsulates Nigerian WCQ campaign.

We like to do things the hard way.

This might as well be the motto of CONCACAF






In other developments from tourist-land...

MLS owners vote to flip schedule to European calendar, change format starting in 2027

MLS will soon align with leagues that play from the fall to the spring after a transformational decision made by its owners

www.nytimes.com

MLS owners vote to flip schedule to European calendar, change format starting in 2027​

PALM BEACH, Fla. — MLS owners officially voted Thursday to flip the league’s calendar to begin in mid-July and run through May.

The vote moves MLS forward on a major change it has been studying and debating for more than a year. The league will begin play under the new format in 2027.

In addition to a new calendar, league owners also voted to update the regular season format. The playoff format is still in discussion. The league will move to a single-table competition, but will also have five six-team divisions beginning in 2027, according to sources, though league executives declined to go into detail on the new structure.

The plan is for the MLS regular season to span from the middle of July to April, with playoffs staged in May. A winter break would take place in December and January. Games would likely pause from around the second week in December through the first or third week in February. MLS understandably is trying to avoid restarting the league on Super Bowl weekend.

There would also be a summer break in June and July.

“When we look at the footprint, 91 percent is the same as the current footprint,” MLS executive Nelson Rodriguez said. “To begin and end in great weather, with less stadium conflicts, with our fields in pristine shape, with our players on a cycle that mirrors the global cycle, especially as it relates to the big international events and schedule, will just make our fan experience and our player performance and our overall player quality that much better. That’s the large driver of it. And having our playoffs, having our end of season in April, leading into our playoffs in May, completely uninterrupted by any FIFA window or event will also be massively popular and again add a lot to the quality and drama of our league.”

The league will stage a “sprint season” likely to be 14 games from mid-February through May in 2027 ahead of the calendar flip.

A significant chunk of the new season will overlap with the typical MLS calendar. MLS currently plays from the third weekend of February through the second weekend of December. Now, MLS’s most valuable property — the end of its regular season and its playoffs — will no longer compete directly against college football and the NFL. By moving the MLS playoffs to May, the league also will avoid a FIFA international window disrupting its playoffs.


...

 

[jj23]

WTF, i was reading the bbc live reporting before i saw any clips of the goals and figured that since they are saying this "On if Phil Foden's assist was key to his goal" then foden must have delivered some pass to Eze for them to glaze him like this. well far from it, the goal was about eze doing the business. shyt, the pass from jude to foden was better than that layoff.

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i hope their great white hope delivers for them because they are clearly desperate to push some kinda narrative.

To be fair to foden he looked great as a sub l, as did Bellingham.

Tuchel juat needs to get the balance right, but it will be interestingnto seenwhat the final starting team will be.

 

[Roberto Firmino]

 

[hashmander]

This might as well be the motto of CONCACAF






In other developments from tourist-land...

MLS owners vote to flip schedule to European calendar, change format starting in 2027

MLS will soon align with leagues that play from the fall to the spring after a transformational decision made by its owners

www.nytimes.com

damn they call that a mid-season break? that looks like the amount of time time you get off between european seasons. they're going to have to go through pre-season again.

 

[hashmander]

To be fair to foden he looked great as a sub l, as did Bellingham.

Tuchel juat needs to get the balance right, but it will be interestingnto seenwhat the final starting team will be.

well that pass wasn't the one to be using as an example of this great peformance. i can spot an agenda when i see it. lee dixon was basically like "the goal was aiiiiiight, but what about that genius pass from the gawd foden."

 

[MikelArteta]

Next month we'll be giving Uganda a proper beating in the Afcon

 

[MikelArteta]

Whatever Naija hurt this Canuck rastaman cum Ugandan must have hurt him horrid for all this hate in his heart

 

[hashmander]

at least some of you english people noticed that shyt and are calling it out.



0.03 xG chance is considered being put on a plate now.

 

[concise]

This might as well be the motto of CONCACAF






In other developments from tourist-land...

MLS owners vote to flip schedule to European calendar, change format starting in 2027

MLS will soon align with leagues that play from the fall to the spring after a transformational decision made by its owners

www.nytimes.com

Just stupid.

If they're going to have those kinds of long breaks and still consider it a season, they need to do like most leagues in the Americas and have an Apertura and Clausura tournament.

 

[concise]

Nobody has clinched and most teams still have a shot ... they should find a way to do this everytime, this is way better than the Hexagonals.

 

[hashmander]

Nobody has clinched and most teams still have a shot ... they should find a way to do this everytime, this is way better than the Hexagonals.

it should be this way al the time because the US, Canada and Mexico have no business playing these tiny nations in the first place. they need to go merge with conmebol and call it confederation america or some shyt and actually develop footballing teams worthy of their size. then copa america won't be some invite only special occasion.