When it comes to World Cup events in sport do we want to see the best teams in the world compete for the ultimate prize? Or do we want to see the best teams from each region in the World compete for the ultimate prize?
This is a very real problem facing sports in the modern era. As discussed previously (Bigger Definitely Not Always Better)FIFA opts for the best teams in each region, as this guarantees votes for their key positions and these votes are used as bargaining chips on numerous issues.
Then there is the issue of television rights, when it comes to a World Cup event. In football’s case if the teams from Asia failed to qualify this would be a major blow financially when it came to television viewers and the purchasing of the rights. It would also significantly reduce the overall audience figures which in turn are used to attract sponsors.
Other sports follow the FIFA model and frequently in a number of sports, teams from certain regions qualify for the World Cup event, but are found to be hopelessly out of their depth.
In Hockey they too give automatic qualification to their blue riband events, the Olympics and the World Cup via the Continental Championships. Australia in essence have to beat New Zealand to qualify as the other nations making up Oceania are simply not in the same class. Is this fair when in Europe you have England, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Ireland, all top ten teams in the men’s competition vying for one spot? Of those teams only Belgium are outside the top ten in the Women’s game.
In Asia, the Asian Games are the qualification tournament for the Olympics, and the tournament has thrown up an interesting conundrum. Japan are the host of the Olympic Games so automatically qualify for the Games. The women’s team qualified for the Gold medal match for the fourth time. They have yet to win, and will meet India in that final. Their men’s team beat Pakistan and qualified for their final, where they will meet Malaysia.
If Japan win the Men’s or Women’s tournament, that qualification position does not go to the losing finalist. Instead this spot for Asia goes back into the pot for all the other nations to fight for.
Outside of the Continental Championships confirming Olympic qualification the four highest placed teams in the 2019 edition of the Hockey Pro League will claim a place in Tokyo. This opens another pandora’s box as it is not a competition open to all. Teams nominated to be a part of the Pro League and were selected on merit, yet qualifying for the Olympic Games is supposed to be open to all.
Also qualifying for the Olympic Games will be the two highest placed teams in each of the three Hockey Series Finals 2019, along with the two highest placed teams in the FIH World Rankings as at the end of the above 2019 Continental Championships.
As the rules state, “if any of the teams finishing in the positions above also qualify as Continental Champions or as Host Country team, their place will be taken by the next highest ranked team in the FIH World Rankings as at the end of the above 2019 Continental Championships.”
Understandably many in Asia are not happy about this situation. In the women’s competition the top teams in terms of world rankings are India (9) Korea (10) and China (11) Japan (14) and Malaysia (22). However those rankings could easily change by the end of the Continental Championships in 2019.
In the men’s competition, India are currently ranked 5, Malaysia are 12th, Pakistan 13th, Korea 14th, Japan 16th and China 17th.
The fear is that ‘Asia’s slot’ could well go to a team from another continent. How much impact could that have on the sport not only in the region but also in the countries that fail to qualify?
The fact is everyone knew the rules before the competition started, so it is not much use crying foul after the event. Presumably none of the nations competing at the Asian Games ever thought that Japan would make the final, let alone win the Gold medal. If they were genuinely worried that this situation could arise they would and should have spoken up earlier.
Of course it does come back to the question as to whether you want the best teams in the World or the best teams from each region in the World competing at your major events. If you want the former then the process is the right one.
The structure that Hockey has put forward is different to FIFA’s and looks to favour the best teams. Which makes the event a battle between the best in the World. Every team that qualifies has earned the right to be there.
As we saw in London recently at the Women’s World Cup, when you get there anything can happen, with Ireland the second lowest ranked team progressing all the way to the final. Can anyone argue that they did not deserve to be there? Consequently they now find themselves ranked in the top 10 in the World. Proving that success breeds success.
It may seem harsh to some in Asia, but if Japan does win the Gold medal few can argue that they didn’t deserve it. Their Women are unbeaten in the tournament and have beaten some strong opponents including the defending Gold medallists Korea. Everyone knew what was at stake. Everyone knew the rules. It was up to each nation to make sure that they were good enough to win.
Sorry for the lack of posts, I have been a little busy of late commentating Hockey in Europe and then at the Asian Games. Thanks as always for your comment. I too would prefer to see the best in the world rather than the best from each region. To me that can be a seperate competition
You have been very quite of late, but an interesting read as always. My personal view is that the best teams in the world should be playing in World Cup Tournaments otherwise they become pointless. Qualification should not be based on region.