Canada's 2024 Olympics Qualification Discussion

[JoshMartini007 2,861]

Here we can discuss Canada's qualification to the 2024 Olympics. We can post our own previews/predictions, discuss the events as they occur and any follow-up thoughts.

Edited September 4, 2023 by Sindo

[JoshMartini007 2,861]

Preview: 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship

 

Sport: Football

Events: Men's Tournament

Dates: June 18th to July 3rd 2022

Location: San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa

Olympic Quotas: Two teams of 18 athletes

Canada's Chances: 25%

 

With just over two years until the 2024 Olympics, the first direct qualifier is upon us. We begin with football and a bit of a format change relative to 2020. Instead of a dedicated Olympic qualification tournament with U-23 players, CONCACAF has decided to use the U-20 championship as the qualifier where the two finalists will qualify to the Olympics.

 

The format is also a bit unique where the top 16 teams qualified to the group stage and the top 3 advance to the knock-out stage along with four teams which qualified via the qualifying tournament.

 

Historically, Canada has been one step away from qualifying to the last four Olympics, losing to Mexico in the last three attempts. Lucky for Canada, the bracket is created in a way that Canada should avoid Mexico (unless one of the teams finish third during the group stage). Of course, this means they will likely have to defeat the United States and one of Costa Rica or Honduras, none of which will be easy.

 

The Canadian men's program is running on a high thanks to their qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. While I don't think they are favoured to qualify they do have a realistic chance. Sadly this will be the only opportunity for CONCACAF teams to qualify to the Olympics.

[intoronto 6,901]

Hoping the men's team can qualify in football/soccer. Was reading reports that this is one of the deepest teams ever (even with a few key names missing) and that they had a training camp (unlike previous years). The key will be to defeat the USA in the group stage.

[JoshMartini007 2,861]

Here's the team that will compete for Canada

 

1- GK- Ben Alexander | Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy

2- FB- Noah Abatneh | SS Lazio Rome

3- FB- Kwasi Poku | Forge FC Hamilton

4- CB- Justin Smith | OGC Nice

5- CB- Jamie Knight-Lebel | Bristol City FC

6- CB- Matteo Campagna | Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2

7- W- Jean-Aniel Assi | Cavalry FC

8- M- Rida Zouhir | CF Montréal

9- F- Lowell Wright | York United FC

10- M- Matt Catavolo | Valour FC

11- F- Kamron Habibullah | Pacific FC

12- CB- Loïc Cloutier | Académie de CF Montréal

13- FB- Kobe Franklin | Toronto FC II

14- M- Gabriel Pellegrino | SC Freiburg

15- FB- Keesean Ferdinand | CF Montréal

16- M- Maël Henry | Académie de l’Impact de Montréal

17- M- Jesse Costa | VfL Wolfsburg

18- GK- Dino Bontis | Forge FC Hamilton

19- F- Tiago Coimbra | SE Palmeiras

20- F- Hugo Mbongue Mbongue | Toronto FC II

[JoshMartini007 2,861]

And Canada's chances take a huge hit after that 1-0 loss to Cuba. We need to win tomorrow against the United States or we'll be placed in the lower half of the knock-out bracket.

[JoshMartini007 2,861]

Despite taking the lead twice, we ended up drawing the United States. While second place is still possible, it would take Cuba defeating the United States and for us to utterly crush to pull it off.

[JoshMartini007 2,861]

Preview: 2022 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships

 

Sport: Triathlon

Events: Mixed Relay

Dates: June 24th to June 26th 2022

Location: Montreal

Olympic Quotas: One team of 4 athletes

Canada's Chances: < 1%

 

Triathlon kicks off its qualification process with the 2022 World Championships. Only the winner (or second place if France wins) of the mixed team relay qualifies two men and two women to compete in the individual races and together in the mixed team event at the Olympics. Canada will be competing with Jeremy Briand, Charles Parquet and Tyler Mislawckuk (two of which will compete in the mixed relay) in the elite men's race while Dominika Jamnicky and Emy Legault will compete in the elite women's race.

 

While I feel Canada has a decent chance to eventually qualify a mixed relay team (or two men and two women via the individual rankings), they are far from being the best team in the world at this moment and while home field advantage may improve their performance, it would likely take a series of mistakes from multiple nations for Canada to win the entire race and grab the sole quota. With that said, there will be many other opportunities for us to qualify in this event.

[JoshMartini007 2,861]

Canada finished third in its group and will play in the round of 16. The good news is that the bottom half of the bracket seems to be a bit weaker overall, but the bad news is Mexico will be in our half.

[JoshMartini007 2,861]

Canada loses to 1-1 (4-3 PSO) and is eliminated from Olympic qualification contention.

 

And here I thought we would get eliminated by Mexico.

[Josh 13,502]

Still can’t believe we haven’t secured an Olympic quota yet, in any events/sports.