The traditional Concacaf Hexagonal phase of the FIFA World Cup qualification will likely change as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

That’s the word from Concacaf president Victor Montagliani said that the federation will most likely need to change the format which is slated to start in September given this global crisis.

The current hexagonal qualifying format sees a final group of six teams battle for qualifying spots with those six teams chosen based on Fifa rankings.

The format sees the top three teams qualify directly for the world cup, with the fourth-placed team facing the winner of a competition involving the remaining 35 Concacaf teams with the winner of that round progressing to the inter-continental playoffs in March 2022.

And with no return date in sight, Montagliani admitted that it is very likely Concacaf will need to alter its qualifying format to fit in all the games required ahead of that 2022 playoff.

Mexico, USA, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Honduras are the top five teams in Concacaf, while additionally, El Salvador and Canada are currently locked in a race to seal that sixth and final spot in the Hexagaonal, with El Salvador currently just ahead in the FIFA rankings.

Concacaf he says remains committed to finishing off the ongoing Nations League after postponing the semifinal and final that were set for June.