These Guys Make the BCS Look Fair

Today is the World Cup Draw, where we learn possibly how well our great nation's summer could go. As always FIFA had to change the seeding formula, so all the excel spreadsheets and math I did was a complete waste of time.

World Cup Qualifying is the only competition I have ever seen where they let the teams play out the games, have all the teams qualify, and then they decide who the best teams without anyone knowing how they are going to determine who the best seven nations are. At least the BCS and college football have the decency to tell the mid-majors they are shit out of luck unless hell freezes over.

So what do I think will happen today? First off I don't think the draw is rigid, but the results sometimes can make you think otherwise. FIFA has always wanted the host to make into the knockout stage, which is why South Africa is seeded for this World Cup. I feel that South Africa, while potentially getting a difficult group, will get an easy group that will hopefully get them into the final 16. Look for something like:

How the Kit Could Be Better

I like the design of the jersey and its influence from the 1950s kit.  But I think it could be better and here is how I would change it.

Home Kit

Away Kit

Final Rankings for the 2010 FIFA World Cup

With the last FIFA World Rankings in today, we can calculate the final #1 seeds.
For info on the formula go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_FIFA_World_Cup_seeding

2010 USA World Cup Kit Leaked?

What do you think?  Some definite inspiration from the 1950 USA Kit.

2010 FIFA World Cup #1 Seeds as of now

Here is a preview of the 2010 FIFA World Cup rankings; if they use the same system for determining the #1 seeds as in 2006. The last world rankings come out in 2 days (Nov. 20th) so I have used the October rankings to get a good picture for what the rankings will look like. I will update this on November 20th to get the final rankings. Your #1 seeds are in bold.

For info on the formula go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_FIFA_World_Cup_seeding

Please click on the spreadsheet to enlarge, and a huge thank you to u75 of the Unprofessional Foul for helping to get the spreadsheet on the blog.  

Can Ireland and Bosnia really help us?

Using the same formula that FIFA used for the 2006 World Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_FIFA_World_Cup_seeding), I have the United States ranked 9th of the 23 teams that have qualified for the 2010 World Cup. 

1. Brazil        59.7
2. Germany   59.3
3. Italy          56.7
4. Spain        56.0
5. England    52.3
6. Argentina  49.7
7. Holland     43.7
8. Mexico     42.0
9. USA         38.0
*The October 2009 ranking is used until the November 2009 is released.
*South Africa will be ranked, and that will drop the US actually to #10.