the Announcement by Gianni Infantino, FIFA President

In a stunning announcement by Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, Football’s Governing body, the qualifying phase of the Football tournament for the Games of the 32^nd Olympiad for Men and Women, will be played in a format, the likes of that which never seen it before

The format will be:

1.       Every group will be hosted by 2 countries

2.       In groups of 6 teams, 2 host countries will each host 10 games in main stadiums, while the 5 games will be played in other stadiums

3.       In groups of 5 teams, 2 host countries will each host 8 games in main stadiums, while the 4 games will be played in other stadiums

4.       And in groups of 4 teams, 2 host countries will each host 6 games in main stadiums

Filippo Haas (Switzerland), the President of the International Olympic Committee, had welcomed the announcement, he said “I’m really delighted with the Announcement”

“This format was similar to the one which is in use for its male and female under-age competitions by UEFA, European Football’s governing body”

“When I met Aleksander Čeferin, the President of the administrative body for association football, futsal and beach soccer in Europe, in Nyon, the other day, this format, set up by the President of FIFA, will be making a bigger role on the Road to Tokyo”

Also, France, South Korea, and Japan had been automatically qualified for the Men’s Tournament, and the United States of America had been automatically qualified for the Women’s Tournament, although the 2018 Winter Olympic and 2020 Summer Olympic Hosts go through qualifying stages as normal.

The Draw for the Men’s AFC 1^st Round will be taking place in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the 12 lowest-ranked teams, according to the December 2019 FIFA Rankings, will be played home-and-away over two legs.