Road to Paris 2024: Football

Let us have a look at the qualification process for the Paris 2024 Olympics in Football.

Football at Paris Olympics

At Paris 2024 Olympics, Men’s football tournament will be a 16 team competition whereas Women’s tournament will be a 12 team competition.

In the men’s tournament, a nation can send only U-23 players with the exception of 3 players who can be over 23 years. For women’s competition, there is no age limit.

Qualifying Process

Men’s Tournament:

Out of 16 quota places, 1 place is reserved for host country France. The other 15 places are distributed across different continental federations. Quota places are as follows:

Asia: 3
Africa: 3
North, Central and Caribbean: 2
South America: 2
Oceania: 1
Europe: 3

1 quota will be given to either to an Asian or African team depending on the winner of play-off between 2 confederation teams.

How will the Asian qualification work?

For Paris Olympics, qualification will be basis performance at 2024 U-23 AFC Asia Cup. A total of 16 teams will compete at U-23 AFC Asia Cup and top 3 will qualify for Paris Olympics.

Teams can qualify for U-23 AFC Asia Cup through the qualifiers scheduled between 4-12 September 2023.

Women’s Tournament:

Out of 12 quota places, 1 place is reserved for host country France. The remaining 11 places are distributed across different continental federations. Quota places are as follows:

Asia: 2
Africa: 2
North, Central and Caribbean: 2
South America: 2
Oceania: 1
Europe: 2

How will the Asian qualification work?

The Asian qualification for Paris Olympics will take place across 3 rounds and top 2 teams will qualify.

Round 1: 3-11 April, 2023
Round 2: 23-31 October, 2023
Round 3: 27 Nov – 6 Dec, 2023

The qualification process:

Round 1: 26 Asian Countries are drawn in 7 groups (5 groups with 4 teams each and 2 groups with 3 teams). Top team from each group will qualify for 2nd round. India is drawn in group G along with Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan has withdrawn from the competition. So India will play a two-legged tie against Kyrgyzstan to qualify.

4 April: Kyrgyzstan v India

7 April: Kyrgyzstan v India

Round 2: In Round 2, 5 seeded teams will be joined by qualifiers from Round 1. These 12 teams will be drawn into 3 groups. 3 group winners along with best placed 2nd finish team will qualify for Round 3.

Round 3: The 4 teams in Round 3 will be drawn into 2 ties. 2 teams will qualify for Paris Olympics after two-legged tie.