The Hexagonal was initially the top-seeded round in the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, but, following FIFA's decision on 25 June 2020 to postpone the September international window due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CONCACAF noted that "The challenges presented by postponements to the football calendar, and the incomplete FIFA rankings cycle in our confederation, means our current World Cup qualifying process has been compromised and will be changed." The confederation eventually announced on 27 July its new qualifying format for the World Cup, replacing the Hexagonal with an eight-team final round.