LDOG

I was surprised as well. I guess they're trying to make up for the single men's quota for concacaf? They couldn't give them more without substracting from one of the other confeds, which would probably make the tournament (even) less attractive.

I didn't find something from FIFA but read it on many spanish sources today. Among them, the national FA website. https://www.afa.com.ar/en/posts/plazas-juegos-olimpicos-2028-doce-para-el-torneo-masculino-y-dieciseis-en-el-femenino

Distribution of quotas for the olympic tournaments: Women's Host 1 AFC 2.5 CAF 2 CONCACAF 3 Conmebol 2.5 / OFC 1 UEFA 4 Men's Host 1 AFC 2 CAF 2 CONCACAF 1 Conmebol 2 OFC 1 UEFA 3

Junior world cups ended this week. The Men's competition, hosted by India, was won by Germany (shoot-out win over Spain after 1-1 draw). Second title in a row for them. Bronze for India (4-2 over Argentina). The Women's competition, hosted by Chile, was won by Netherlands (2-1 win over Argentina). Third title in a row for them and 5th of the last six in dispute. Bronze for Belgium (5-1 over China).

After that WCh our federation (FAV) was banned because of some dispute with corrupt president Acosta, went bankrupt and we had to found a new one (FEVA). Safe to say we will never host again. Also there's just not much commercial interest in this sport as it used to be. Proof of that is our league... it used to have some global stars, now it's a semi-professional joke.

But yeah, as you said, their intention (if I have to guess) probably is to prevent Pan America from having 3 teams without going through the world oqt. They were generous with the world cup qualification because it's in europe and with 16 teams but they won't be as much with their prime event. Anyway, this doc is terribly written and could bring problems without an update.

IDK this seems like a big mistake on their part. They should have excluded Pan America from the first clause. And also shoulda clarify if "highest placed" in the second statement means only champion or "highest placed not counting possible pro league qualified teams".

Aren't these two statements in the document contradictory then? "The highest placed team in each of the five continental championships that is not already qualified as host or through the FIH Pro League will earn one quota place for their NOC" "Should the host nation be the highest placed at the 20th Pan American Games in 2027 in the men's/women's competition, the second placed nation does not subsequently qualify, and instead the quota place will be allocated through the FIH Olympic Qualification Tournaments below."

After reading the qualification system document and assuming Argentina (M or W) takes a pro league quota, then: Case a: if USA wins pan american tournament and ARG finishes 2nd, then 3rd placed team doesn't take the continental quota. It's reallocated to world qualifiers. Case b: if ARG wins pan american tournament and USA finishes 2nd, then 3rd placed does take the quota. Did I understand correctly? Honestly don't know why FIH wanted a different criteria for these two cases.

I'm not very afraid of Uruguay in their current form tbh

I don't remember such an unbearable draw ever. This is crazy.

I will never understand why do they think that we need musical performances in draws. Nobody cares, not the people at the building, not us watching it. WHY

They seem to have changed the priority now, USA women qualified for next year's world cup despite finishing 2nd in the continental. We'll see for the olympic tournament.

This method could make a difference for some teams like Uruguay/Chile (women's) given USA is qualified.

Ehh they are doing exactly that for this draw, for the first time. It's been on the news for the past two days.

UEFA draws have many many more restrictions and they always conduct them succesfully. I trust FIFA has taken all the variables into account too.

It's the draw for the group stage of 1982. They made a mistake with Belgium and had to move them to group 3 later.

Pots for the draw

def. 35-0 in men's hockey. I'm pretty sure that's close to a world record score. I remember scores like that in 5s or indoor but not in outdoor.

Padel is indeed a weird addition. I wonder what's behind that.

Btw it would be interesting to see polish fans locked out of their own stadium in a possible final.

Wales, Ukraine, Turkey, ROI Honestly the only teams I'd be shocked to see qualifying are Romania, NI, Macedonia and Albania. Everyone else has a more than fair chance in my eyes.

I read that Congo will be above Iraq in the new (and final) ranking even if Iraq win in regular time.

Very much the front runners going into the last matchday. are in 2nd place but I don't see winning away in