Can't you see Korean soccer at the Olympics again…IOC discusses reducing men's soccer 16→12 team at LA Olympics

Can't you see Korean soccer at the Olympics again…IOC discusses reducing men's soccer 16→12 team at LA Olympics

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There may be a situation in which Korean soccer does not make it to the Olympic finals for the second consecutive time.

The Associated Press reported on the 3rd (Korea time) that FIFA President Gianni Infantino proposed changing the number of men's and women's soccer teams for the 2028 LA Olympics.

So far, 16 teams have participated in men's soccer and 12 teams have participated in women's soccer at the Olympics. Amid this development, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has continuously expressed its opinion on the increase in the number of women's teams. The reason is that the IOC is keeping pace with the current trend of men's and women's equality. In response, Infantino said, "If the number of women's soccer teams increases, additional players and executives will be needed, and as a result, it will exceed the agreed quota," explaining the reason for the proposal to reduce the number of men's teams.

In general, the management of the Olympic Games is managed by the relevant international federation in addition to the host country and the IOC. In particular, FIFA has considerable authority over football matches for both men and women. The IOC wants to abolish the age limit for men's soccer, which is significantly popular and profitable, but it is taking the age limit of participation of players under 23 and wild card system in spite of opposition from FIFA, which is hosting the World Cup. Infantino's proposal is a clear example of the situation in which FIFA has the initiative to manage Olympic soccer. The Associated Press said, "FIFA's proposal will be discussed at the IOC board meeting on the 9th."

There were 3.5 tickets for men's soccer matches in Asia up until the last Paris Olympics. There were four for Europe, one for Oceania, 3.5 for Africa, two for North and Central America, and two for South America. If the number of participating countries decreases from 16 to 12, adjustment of the number of participating countries in Asia and Africa will be inevitable. 메이저사이트

If this happens, it will inevitably deal a blow to the Korean soccer team's plan to return to the Olympics. As the team failed to advance to the semifinals due to Indonesia's defeat in the preliminary round for the Asian region at the Paris Olympics, it has put a brake on Korea's consecutive advance to the Olympics. Japan, Uzbekistan and Iraq participated in the Paris Olympics. With the Asian soccer gap narrowing significantly, if the number of tickets to the Olympics is adjusted, it will become more difficult to guarantee that Korean soccer will advance to the finals.