The USA who missed the quadrennial event for the first time since 1990 are set for the, no not HEX, but rather Octagonal, June 2021-March 2022. Concacaf put out this revamped fashion for them to make it, now an 8 nation set of games to make it. Fully 14 games are to be played as the top trio move onto the Cup, 4th place head of to an intercontinental game in June '22 during the international window.
HC Berhalter informed "It's good that we have clarity regarding the format and scheduling, which allows us to chart the course ahead. We are looking forward to the challenge. We have a busy 20210 and also a big step towards qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup."
The journey was to commence with the Hex but then the COVID-19 reared its ugly head, closing many FIFA windows, fouling up the regions putting the best half dozen sides as per the FIFA rankings direct to the Hex.
This new way has a dual set of games to determine the top 3 advancing to the Octagon. The inital part of this will have the 30 Concacaf teams enter 6 groups all teams get a quartet of games equally split home and away in the Oct. & Nov. windows. The 2nd half dozen ranked as per the FIFA rankings of July are in Groups A-F then a draw will set up the rest of the groups.
Those topping these groups move on to the next set of home-and away games in the Mach '21 window. A v F, B v G & C v D. Those victors enter the Octogonal come June '21. Then it is back like the previous Hex, with each getting 14 rather than the 10 games, in the next several FIFA windows.