AIPS ASIA News:

As Asia’s contenders set their sights on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has conveyed his best wishes to the Continent’s teams and match officials ahead of their quest for glory.

History makers Uzbekistan will be the first Asian side to feature when they take on Group C opponents Spain at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, July 24. Two-time quarter-finalists at both the FIFA U-17 World Cup and the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the White Wolves will also battle Tokyo 2020 quarter-finalists Egypt on July 27 and fellow debutants the Dominican Republic on July 30.

Shaikh Salman said: “Our Asian teams have continued to create history on the world’s biggest stages, and I am confident that both our women’s and men’s teams as well as all our match officials will carry on our proud legacy on the international stage.

“The Asian football family stands with me in congratulating them on reaching this pinnacle arena and we share a collective sense of belief and excitement that our players and match officials will continue to achieve more breakthrough moments that will inspire future generations across our great Continent.”

Poised for their 12th appearance and a record eighth consecutive Games – an impressive run unmatched at Paris 2024 – Japan will be hoping to better their Mexico 1968 bronze medal finish when they take on Paraguay at Stade de Bordeaux three hours later with Mali (July 27) and Israel (July 30) completing the Group D challengers.

Simultaneously, Iraq, who will be returning to the quadrennial extravaganza after eight years, will kick off their campaign against Ukraine at Stade de Lyon. The West Asians will look to outshine their heroes of 2004, who finished fourth in Athens, but will first need to navigate past Group B rivals Argentina (July 27) and Morocco (July 30).

In the women’s tournament, London 2012 silver medallists Japan will kick-start Asia’s challenge the following day when they face Tokyo 2020 runners-up and reigning world champions Spain at Stade de la Beaujoire at 5pm in what promises to be an epic showdown. The Nadeshiko, who recorded a famous victory over their European opponents at the global showpiece in New Zealand just less than a year ago, will also contend with Brazil (July 28) and Nigeria (July 31) in Group C.

Buoyed by their historic Semi-final run at the FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil last year, Australia will take on Germany in Group B at Stade de Marseille two hours later, with Zambia (July 28) and heavyweights the United States (July 31) also set to test the Matildas in their hunt to claim their first-ever Olympic football medal.

The women’s gold medal match is scheduled for August 10, 2024, at the Parc des Princes in Paris whilst the men’s final will take place at the same venue a day earlier.

Meanwhile, the trailblazing Japanese trio of referee Yoshimi Yamashita and assistant referees Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi have been appointed to the women’s competition alongside Korea Republic’s Kim Yu-jeong and compatriot Park Mi-suk as well as Australia’s Joanna Charaktis.

The Emirati trio of Adel Alnaqbi, Ahmed Alrashadi and Sabet Obaid Al-ali have been entrusted to oversee the men’s tournament together with Uzbekistan’s Ilgiz Tantashev, who will team up again with AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Final match officials Andrey Tsapenko and Timur Gaynullin.

Australia’s Kate Jacewicz, Thailand’s Sivakorn Pu-Udom and Khamis Al Marri from Qatar will serve as Video Match Officials with the Kyrgyz Republic’s Veronika Bernatskaia set to support the ensemble of match officials.

Courtesy AFC