Group A France, Group B Argentina, Group C Spain
‘Director Hwang Seon-hong, soaring’
With the Korean U-23 national soccer team attempting to advance to the Olympic finals for the 10th consecutive time, the men’s soccer group for the 2024 Paris Olympics was announced.
FIFA held the Paris Olympic men’s and women’s soccer group draw at the 2024 Paris Olympic Organizing Committee headquarters in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris, France, on the 21st (Korean time).
With 16 participating countries participating in the Paris Olympics men’s soccer, a group draw was held for all countries excluding the AFC countries (up to 4 countries) that have not yet competed in the Olympic qualifiers.
Argentina, the ‘most winning team’ among participating countries in the Paris Olympics by winning the title twice (2004 and 2008), was in Group B (Argentina, Morocco, Ukraine, and AFC’s 3rd place team), and Spain, the 1992 champion, was in Group C ( Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic, AFC 2nd place team), and the 1984 champion France were named in Group A (France, USA, New Zealand, AFC 4th place team – Guinea playoff winner).
The AFC’s top-ranked team was placed in Group D along with Paraguay, Mali, and Israel.
Looking at the results of the group draw, Group A, which includes France and the United States, naturally emerged as the ‘group of hardship’.The United States was the fourth-place team in the 2000 tournament.
2024 Paris Olympics men’s soccer group draw results
‘Hwang Seon-hong’ Korea’s opponent in the Paris Olympics finals will be determined based on the results of the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, which will be held in Qatar from April 15.
In the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, the 1st to 3rd place teams advance directly to the Paris Olympics, and the 4th place team must compete in a continental playoff against Guinea, the 4th place team in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) preliminary round, to secure a ticket to the finals.
Korean soccer, which holds the world record for ‘most consecutive Olympic appearances’ (9), aims to advance to the Olympics for the 10th consecutive time since the 1988 Seoul Olympics through this U-23 Asian Cup.
Considering the results of the Paris Olympics group draw, the best scenario is for Korea to be included in Group D, avoiding Spain, Argentina, and France, which are considered favorites for the championship.
However, the group assignment of AFC member countries to the Paris Olympics will be determined based on the results of the men’s soccer team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
At the Tokyo Olympics, Japan took fourth place, its highest ranking, and Korea advanced to the quarterfinals.Australia and Saudi Arabia were eliminated in the group stage.
If Korea and Japan both place in the top three and secure a spot in the Paris Olympics finals, Japan will be included in Group D and Korea will be included in Group C.If Japan misses the ticket to the finals, Korea will enter Group D.
In Group D, Paraguay, the 2004 tournament runner-up, is considered a difficult opponent, but Mali and Israel are worthy opponents.
There are also variables.If Korea takes fourth place and advances to the continental playoffs against Guinea and takes the last train to Paris, it will be assigned to Group A regardless of the results of the Tokyo Olympics.
Paris Olympics women’s soccer group draw results
Meanwhile, in the Paris Olympics women’s soccer group draw, in which 12 countries will participate, the United States (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012), the four-time champion, is the winner, Germany, the 2016 winner, Australia, the 4th place team in the 2020 tournament, and an African team (Zambia or Morocco) and Group B became the ‘Group of Death’.
Spain, which won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, will compete in Group C against ‘Asian powerhouse’ Japan, two-time Olympic runner-up Brazil (2004, 2008), and African teams (Nigeria or South Africa).
Group A included the host country, France, as well as Colombia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Korean women’s soccer failed to advance to the Paris Olympics finals. 스포츠토토