FIFA world cup is one of the biggest marquee events. With so many teams vying for a spot in the finals event, the qualifying process does become lengthy.
The qualifying process takes places regionally across Europe, South America, Asia, Australia/Oceania, North/Central America and Africa. These matches take place simultaneously and it takes around 2 to 3 years just to get over with these qualifying matches and to determine the teams proceeding to play in the finals.
Most of the top ranked teams belong to Europe and therefore it is no surprise that about half of the teams participating in the World Cup finals are European nations.
How the Host of the FIFA World Cup is Decided?
It is decided based on a bidding process, which roughly takes place seven years prior to the start of the event. FIFA sends a request inviting interested countries to bid to host the event. As most of the top ranked teams have been from Europe or Americas, countries belonging to these regions have been the hosts majorly.
This can also be said a move from FIFA to avoid boycotts of visiting certain regions by top teams (political or other reasons). However, this has changed in the present times, with countries from Asia and Africa also being the host of the FIFA world cup.
This time also, FIFA world cup is being hosted by Qatar, a middle-east nation with no rich football sport culture. This is the first cup to be hosted by a desert nation, and is the first winter world cup also.
Countries willing to enter bidding create a fully elaborate plan that details on the infrastructure, stadiums, facilities, transportation and what housing and other aspects they will develop. Considering all the factors FIFA decides on the winning nation. It also considers safety as a prominent factor.
What Format the FIFA World Cup Follows?
At present, for the past few tournaments there have been 32 teams vying for the trophy in the finals event of the world cup. These teams are divided into eight groups of four teams, from which two top teams advance to the next round of the tournament. Teams winning in the group stage are awarded three points, which a single point for a draw and no point for a loss.
Next come the round of 16 that is played like an elimination stage. After this come the quarter-final, semi-final and then the final of the tournament. These are stages where the tournament becomes interesting; the winner proceeds to the next stage and the loser moves home.
What Happens If Teams are Stranded on a Tie?
If teams are tied on same points after the full scheduled play, then a tiebreaker is held to determine the winner. During the group stage, winner between the two teams having same number of points is decided by who has the better goal difference. Meaning if a team has scored 6 goals from 3 matches and conceded 2, and another team has scored 5 goals and conceded 2, then the former one is the winner (having a goal difference of +1).
If the goals difference is same, then team having scored more goals is the winner. Similarly, there are other stages of tiebreakers. The final one is the coin flip when all other factors are similar.
Similar to above mentioned rules and regulations, there are several factors and aspects that are inclusive to the proceeding of a football match, the group stage, the elimination stage and much more.
Knowledge of these aspects is all the more important when you are looking to take part in FIFA football app.