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<DIV class=pagetitle><H1>Qualifying format for CONCACAF region needs work</H1></DIV><DIV class=bylinebox style="MARGIN-TOP: 8px"><DIV class=bylinetext>Andrea Canales
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As much as both the United States and Canada were celebrating their successful qualification to the Women's World Cup in China next year after winning their CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup semifinal matchups last week, it was hard to find a fan of the new format. <DIV class=phinline>
<DIV style="WIDTH: 275px"><DIV class=photocred2>Andy Mead/WireImage</DIV><DIV class=photosubtext>Count Mexico coach Leo Cuellar among critics of the CONCACAF qualifying format.</DIV></DIV></DIV>
"I think the best way to do it is like they do it for the men's World Cup, like they do it in Europe for the women's teams," U.S. coach Greg Ryan said.
In that scenario, teams in a region play home and away matches for points, with the top two teams in points qualifying for the World Cup.
Instead, the U.S. and Canada were given byes into the semifinal round of the Gold Cup. The winners of those two games would automatically receive a World Cup spot, while the losers would play for third place, then face Japan in a home-and-away playoff for one final berth.
"If you want to get fair results, play home and away, because if you have six or eight teams in your group, your best teams are always going to come out on top," Ryan said. "If not, there's something really strange that's happened. I believe that that's the best system."
Mexico's coach, Leo Cuellar, agreed.
"There should be a hexagonal of the top teams to qualify," Cuellar said.
"We're forgetting about the rest of the region. It was sad to see the girls of Panama and Trinidad and Tobago cry, because they gave it all they had. What you have to understand, taking into account the potency of the U.S. and Canada, who are very advanced, is that it gives an opportunity to the rest of the region to play these games against such a top level. Sure, you run the risk of high scores, but even those end up being a teacher and a motivator. It worries me that the region has such a low percentage of growth in the FIFA rankings. We need to find all the avenues to progress."
Ryan also didn't agree with the lack of a seeding system. Most playoffs in America award the top seed by matching the team to the lowest seed.
"If you're going to do it, do it so that the No. 1 team isn't playing with what could be, arguably, the No. 2 team. Mexico knocked Canada out for the Olympics."
The major factor in the decision to set up qualifying this way was economical.
"I partly agree with [Cuellar], but I don't think they're going to pay for [a home-and-away format]," U.S. striker Abby Wambach said.
"Our federation right now isn't too keen on spending a lot of money on us," Mexican defender Monica Gonzales said.
One example of this is that in the 18 times the full national teams of the U.S. and Mexico have met, they have never played in Mexico. Cuellar didn't think the money matters were an issue for his country alone.
"Economically, women's soccer still does not produce," he said. "All you have to do is look at the attendance [in Los Angeles]. The high ticket prices might be part of the problem. For that price, you can go see the Lakers, o
Archive </DIV><DIV style="FLOAT: left"></DIV></DIV><BR clear=all><DIV class=text11 style="BACKGROUND: rgb(255,255,255) 0% 50%; moz-background-clip: initial; moz-background-origin: initial; moz-background-inline-policy: initial"><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
As much as both the United States and Canada were celebrating their successful qualification to the Women's World Cup in China next year after winning their CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup semifinal matchups last week, it was hard to find a fan of the new format. <DIV class=phinline>
<DIV style="WIDTH: 275px"><DIV class=photocred2>Andy Mead/WireImage</DIV><DIV class=photosubtext>Count Mexico coach Leo Cuellar among critics of the CONCACAF qualifying format.</DIV></DIV></DIV>
"I think the best way to do it is like they do it for the men's World Cup, like they do it in Europe for the women's teams," U.S. coach Greg Ryan said.
In that scenario, teams in a region play home and away matches for points, with the top two teams in points qualifying for the World Cup.
Instead, the U.S. and Canada were given byes into the semifinal round of the Gold Cup. The winners of those two games would automatically receive a World Cup spot, while the losers would play for third place, then face Japan in a home-and-away playoff for one final berth.
"If you want to get fair results, play home and away, because if you have six or eight teams in your group, your best teams are always going to come out on top," Ryan said. "If not, there's something really strange that's happened. I believe that that's the best system."
Mexico's coach, Leo Cuellar, agreed.
"There should be a hexagonal of the top teams to qualify," Cuellar said.
"We're forgetting about the rest of the region. It was sad to see the girls of Panama and Trinidad and Tobago cry, because they gave it all they had. What you have to understand, taking into account the potency of the U.S. and Canada, who are very advanced, is that it gives an opportunity to the rest of the region to play these games against such a top level. Sure, you run the risk of high scores, but even those end up being a teacher and a motivator. It worries me that the region has such a low percentage of growth in the FIFA rankings. We need to find all the avenues to progress."
Ryan also didn't agree with the lack of a seeding system. Most playoffs in America award the top seed by matching the team to the lowest seed.
"If you're going to do it, do it so that the No. 1 team isn't playing with what could be, arguably, the No. 2 team. Mexico knocked Canada out for the Olympics."
The major factor in the decision to set up qualifying this way was economical.
"I partly agree with [Cuellar], but I don't think they're going to pay for [a home-and-away format]," U.S. striker Abby Wambach said.
"Our federation right now isn't too keen on spending a lot of money on us," Mexican defender Monica Gonzales said.
One example of this is that in the 18 times the full national teams of the U.S. and Mexico have met, they have never played in Mexico. Cuellar didn't think the money matters were an issue for his country alone.
"Economically, women's soccer still does not produce," he said. "All you have to do is look at the attendance [in Los Angeles]. The high ticket prices might be part of the problem. For that price, you can go see the Lakers, o
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