With your suggestion of special qualify round, which teams play this qualification and which get automatic participation in group play?
I thought you had the idea of the qualification game. I was just chiming in on when it could be played. Maybe I misunderstood something.
I think you also suggested something about world rank. It could be used to determine who plays the game(s). I don't know how I feel about world rank as it still has some issues - but I guess it is as good as any.
Run of the Mill Canadian Manager