Olympic Soccer Qualifying - Women

About Olympic Soccer Qualifying - Women

Olympic Soccer Qualifying - Women History, Format, Organization, Media Coverage

The women's Olympic Soccer Qualifying takes place around the world to determine the 12 teams that participate in the quadrennial competition. The host nation is automatically awarded a spot in the tournament, which is deducted from the number of teams its confederation can have in that same edition.

The number of teams per confederation is determined by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) based on their previous performances. All confederations have their say on the way each spot is filled. UEFA, for example, awards their slots based on how their teams perform at the FIFA Women’s World Cup edition preceding the Olympics. However, things differ for the other regions.

CONMEBOL, for example, has used both a preliminary qualifying competition and the Copa América Femenina, with the champion earning direct entry. Similarly, CONCACAF has also staged a preliminary event and an Olympic Qualifying Championship, with the two finalists from the latter tournament booking their tickets. CAF and AFC rely on their respective Olympic Qualifying Championships while OFC utilizes their Nations Cup to determine their representative.

Unlike the men, the women’s game bears no age restriction. As a result, the most talented and most senior players are eligible to represent their countries in both the qualifiers and the competition proper.