Wait what? I'm confused. You get penalized for good results and benefit from poor results?
What do you mean by the teams that go to world's can't host?
Yep, Argentina got to host this time because in Season 13, they finished 2nd in the repechage and failed to make it to worlds. Instead, they went to the consolation tournament, where they made it to the quarterfinals. No other America's team made it that far, so they had the best consolation finish in the America's, thus earning the right to host.
I'm actually ok with the system, I just think it's idiotic that it applies for the semi's and finals. Should do like BBB (and/or cup tourney?) and put these at a neutral site.
So...um...crazy thought here...is the answer to winning worlds intentionally failing worlds the prior round?
Nah, that's not how world's HCA is decided, just continentals. I'm not sure there's a set procedure for world's (this year was Costa Rica because they won the world cup prediction contest, i think). And it's certainly possible to advance (even without the repe) without HCA.