Football has become the latest sport to announce its qualification system to Paris 2024. This means that Aquatics, Athletics, Cycling (except Mountain Bike) and Table Tennis are the only sports left to wait for before we have the whole system.
Football
Of course, football in this country is played on a “home nations” basis and especially on the men’s side it has become politically difficult for a British team and negotiations between the relevant federations will be necessary. Just like 2020, there is a 16-team Men’s tournament and a 12-team Women’s tournament. Looking at the Men’s side first, and with one spot going to hosts France, the other spots are on a continental basis, including a European qualification event (dates and locations TBC) that will yield three spots. With a European host this year, one less place has been given to Europe through qualification events. It will likely be the Men’s Under-21 championships in Romania/Georgia in 2023 (Men’s Football at the Olympics is “underaged”, with fifteen of the eighteen players in the squad having to be born in 2001 or later). England have qualified for that event and could probably place in the top three, but will the various national federations stop their squabbling?
On the women’s side, again one place will go to hosts France, and the other eleven spots will be on a continental basis, including a European qualification event (dates and locations TBC) that will yield two spots. Again, Europe has lost a qualification place from 2020 due to the fact there is a European host. It seems less controversial to have a women’s “Great Britain” team at the Olympics, but repeating the qualification from 2020 will be tricky with a lot of talented sides. If it is like the last Games qualification may be through the best two European teams at the 2023 FIFA World Cup, which England have qualified for. It will be a tough challenge to earn a spot in France for the “Lionesses”.
GB Games 