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AFC’s New Nations League: How could it leave smaller football nations like India and Bangladesh further behind?
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is preparing to introduce a new biennial Nations League from 2030, in a major change that could transform how Asian teams qualify for both the FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup, similar to that of the European Nations League.
While the proposal promises more meaningful international fixtures for the smaller football nations like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, it has also attracted criticism over its format and potential consequences for such smaller nations.
As per the draft plans reported, Asia’s 47 member nations would be divided into three divisions, with 18 teams in the top two tiers and 11 in the third. Promotion and relegation would be central to the competition, creating a system modelled partly based on UEFA’s Nations League.
The biggest talking points would come in World Cup qualification.
The top division is set to feature 18 teams playing 12 matches each, home and away.
The top six would directly earn World Cup qualification, while teams finishing seventh to 10th would enter a playoff for the remaining direct places and an intercontinental playoff berth.
However, this system would make qualification even more difficult for established teams that suffer a poor Nations League campaign.
A traditional Asian powerhouse dropping into the second division could find itself temporarily outside the direct qualification race, regardless of its strength, while making it difficult for the emerging nations as well.
AFC has argued that it would help smaller nations compete at the highest level and gain experience, but it would make qualification for the World Cup very difficult as well.
There are also concerns about the increased number of competitive fixtures and the demands placed on international players solely on the basis of raising more money.
For the AFC, the challenge will be balancing competitiveness with development, and for now the plan suggests that it is far from being balanced.
The Nations League could provide Asia with more competitive fixtures, but its success will ultimately depend on whether it creates opportunities for emerging nations without making the road to the World Cup unnecessarily complicated.
The smaller nations like India and Bangladesh now will have to promote themselves to tier one and end up in the top 7 at least to secure World Cup qualification, and with exhausting travelling schedules, it could become a huge mountain to climb.
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