FIFA extends Concacaf international windows for 2022 World Cup qualifiers

World Cup qualifiers in North and Central America could now feature three games in one match window instead of the existing two, after FIFA Council approval on Friday.

The sport’s governing body added one day to the existing windows for September 2021, October 2021, January 2022 and March 2022, setting up Concacaf teams to play three games in a condensed window when gathering for World Cup qualifiers head of Qatar 2022.

Under this format, the 14-game Concacaf qualifying campaign for those like the US men’s national team will involve four windows with three games, increasing the demands on players. Only the November 2021 window would include two games, which is more representative of the usual…