Last time out we completed the line-up for this year's Draft World Cup. Usually, this is a bit later in the year, which means by then SI have released the post-January squad update which we use for the teams in the DWC finals. However, as we rattled through qualification, this won't be out for a while yet, so we're going to do something else in the meantime.
Specifically, we're going to kick off the first continental championships for each of the DWC world's six continents. Taking the format of the real-life equivalents, we have the following tournaments:
Since the conclusion of DWC qualifying, I have been running the qualifying for each of these competitions. We'll quickly go through what happened in each of these. Again, each format was borrowed (where possible) from the real-life equivalent.
Africa
Firstly, the lowest-ranked 14 teams had play-offs to determine who went through to the main stage of qualifying:
Specifically, we're going to kick off the first continental championships for each of the DWC world's six continents. Taking the format of the real-life equivalents, we have the following tournaments:
- African Championship (24 teams)
- Asian Championship (24 teams)
- European Championship (24 teams)
- North American Championship (16 teams)
- Oceanic Championship (8 teams)
- South American Championship (10 teams)
Since the conclusion of DWC qualifying, I have been running the qualifying for each of these competitions. We'll quickly go through what happened in each of these. Again, each format was borrowed (where possible) from the real-life equivalent.
Africa
Firstly, the lowest-ranked 14 teams had play-offs to determine who went through to the main stage of qualifying:
The 7 winners joined 41 seeds to make 12 groups of 4, where the top two in each group progressed. The outcome of these groups are shown below, with the teams ordered by their world ranking:
The big shocks are Morocco and DR Congo crashing out - both sides had also failed to get through to the final stage of DWC qualifying, so this really has been a bad year for them. Meanwhile, the stand-out achievement is that of Mauritania - who started in the preliminary round - qualifying very comfortably for the African Championship finals.
Asia
The 50 teams in Asia were simply put into 10 groups of 5. The top 2 in each group qualified automatically, whilst the 3rd-place team went into the play-offs:
Asia
The 50 teams in Asia were simply put into 10 groups of 5. The top 2 in each group qualified automatically, whilst the 3rd-place team went into the play-offs:
This set of qualification groups seemed to run more to plan than the African ones. Indonesia are the only top seed to fail to make automatic qualification, whilst Bangladesh defy the odds to get through.
We're left with 10 teams going into the play-offs for the 4 remaining spots. Firstly, the four teams with the worst record (Maldives, Lebanon, Iraq & Malaysia) faced off in two-legged ties:
We're left with 10 teams going into the play-offs for the 4 remaining spots. Firstly, the four teams with the worst record (Maldives, Lebanon, Iraq & Malaysia) faced off in two-legged ties:
Maldives and Malaysia then join the other 3rd-placed teams in the final round of play-offs:
Vietnam are the notable team to qualify here, as they (like Bangladesh) were 4th seeds in their group. Indonesia's dramatic loss to Jordan sees them embarrassingly fail to qualify for the Asian Championship.
Europe
The 54 teams are split across 9 groups. The top two automatically qualify for the finals. This how those groups went:
Europe
The 54 teams are split across 9 groups. The top two automatically qualify for the finals. This how those groups went:
The obvious shock is that Netherlands failed to qualify. Ever-presents at the (harder to qualify for) DWC, they are on the verge of failing to make the European Championship. Meanwhile, Norway and North Macedonia both defied the odds to secure their own qualification.
There are still 6 places remaining. However, rather than using a simple play-off format, we are going to copy UEFA's mad idea, and use the Nations League (covered in last year's DWC series). The four best-performing teams in each division from A-F make up the play-offs for the six remaining berths. This is how the teams did in the Nations League (use the arrow keys to cycle between the divisions):
There are still 6 places remaining. However, rather than using a simple play-off format, we are going to copy UEFA's mad idea, and use the Nations League (covered in last year's DWC series). The four best-performing teams in each division from A-F make up the play-offs for the six remaining berths. This is how the teams did in the Nations League (use the arrow keys to cycle between the divisions):
Teams in green were already qualified, leaving the teams in yellow to make up the play-offs. Because there were only 3 non-qualified teams from Division A, the 5th-ranked non-qualified Division B team (Slovenia) go into the Division A play-off.
So, this is how the six sets of play-offs went:
So, this is how the six sets of play-offs went:
So, a defeat in the Division A play-off final means that Netherlands have indeed missed out on qualification. Meanwhile, Kosovo and Lithuania are both unlikely participants in the finals.
North America
Again, taken from real-life, North American qualifying is strange. All 42 teams were effectively in one group. The teams were split into 7 bands by ranking - so band 1 would have the top 6-ranked teams, etc. Each team then faced 1 team from each band, and the teams' records were compared, with the 16 best-performing going through. This is how each team did:
North America
Again, taken from real-life, North American qualifying is strange. All 42 teams were effectively in one group. The teams were split into 7 bands by ranking - so band 1 would have the top 6-ranked teams, etc. Each team then faced 1 team from each band, and the teams' records were compared, with the 16 best-performing going through. This is how each team did:
To no great surprise, USA have the best record, as they win all 7 of their games. More surprisingly, Suriname are next, with 19 points taken from a possible 21. Further down, Jamaica were the very lucky 16th-placed team, as their goal difference saw them sneak through at the expense of Martinique. Grenada are the lowest-ranked qualifier.
Oceania
The top-ranked three teams in Oceania were given byes to the finals. Those lucky three were Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. The remaining 12 teams were put into 2 groups, with the top two qualifying automatically, and the 3rd-placed teams going into a play-off:
Oceania
The top-ranked three teams in Oceania were given byes to the finals. Those lucky three were Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. The remaining 12 teams were put into 2 groups, with the top two qualifying automatically, and the 3rd-placed teams going into a play-off:
No huge shock over the automatic qualifiers, although Cook Islands and Tuvalu both are fairly unlikely contenders for qualification. Which of them would find their way through?
Cook Islands triumph over two legs, making them the lowest-ranked team in the world to make a continental championship.
South America
There are only 10 teams in South America, so they are all automatically through to the finals. In real life there are two invited teams in a Copa America, but I don't want to give a team two continental championships to contest, so we're just having the South American teams.
So, this episode technically covers an absolutely ton of matches. But anyway, that's all the qualifying done. We're going to do the championships consecutively rather than concurrently.
We are going to start with the North American Championship, so next time we'll be covering the group stage there!
South America
There are only 10 teams in South America, so they are all automatically through to the finals. In real life there are two invited teams in a Copa America, but I don't want to give a team two continental championships to contest, so we're just having the South American teams.
So, this episode technically covers an absolutely ton of matches. But anyway, that's all the qualifying done. We're going to do the championships consecutively rather than concurrently.
We are going to start with the North American Championship, so next time we'll be covering the group stage there!