FIFA hasn't yet announced how they are going to calculate the seedings for the 2010 World Cup. But if they go by the seeding calculations they used for the last 3 World Cup seeding system (
2006,
2002,
1998) we have almost no chance of getting a top 8 seed, thanks to the turd we laid in 2006. Also, our Dec 2008 and Dec 2007 rankings were 22 and 19 respectively. We are currently ranked #11..assuming we rise upto #9 or even #8 in Nov 2009 rankings and teams currently ahead of us (Russia, France, Croatia, Argentina) fail to qualify as per scenarios given below, we still have a tough shot at being seeded in the top 8.
Rankings
Russia and France lose in the European playoffs
Croatia (out of even a playoff spot unless Ukraine lays a turd vs Andorra)
Argentina (clinging onto the last automatic spot in S. America...have 1 pt more than Uruguay and needs a draw in their final game @ Uruguay to clinch. No easy task)
South Africa as a host takes up one of the 8 seeds which I think is horseshit. The same happened to S. Korea and Japan..they got 2 of the top 8 seeds. As a host nation, you get an automatic qualification and you get to HOST the damn World Cup...that should be more than enough. Giving a seed (or two, in 2002) to teams ranked in 60s and 70s is ridiculous.
Anyway we will get to know our fate on Dec 4 when the draw takes place in Cape Town (
Link)
Oh, if you thought NCAA was run by a bunch of cronies, get this: The FIFA decided to seed the 8 European teams in the playoffs just when 2 games remained for the conclusion of the qualification games so that they could protect the bigger teams like France, Portugal, etc....not at the draw of the qualification groups, not even a game or two into the qualification games but 2 games before the conclusion of the qualification. (
Link)
PS: I just hope that some team keeps that POS Christiano Ronaldo out of this World Cup by knocking out Portugal in the playoffs (Portugal needs to win their final game vs Malta to secure playoff spot).
PPS: I just noticed that ESPN has done a story recently about the US' unlikely chances of being seeded. (
Link)