Ukraine’s national football team to play friendly against Japan ahead of Summer Olympics

The New Voice of Ukraine
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Ukraine to play at the Olympic Games for the first time
Ukraine to play at the Olympic Games for the first time

Ukraine's national football team will play a friendly match against Japan in preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the country’s Football Federation announced on Jan. 13.

The match will be held on Mar. 25 at the Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan.

A total of 16 teams will compete in the men's football tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from Jul. 24 to Aug. 9. In addition to the host nation, France, 15 men's Under-23 (U-23) national teams have qualified or will qualify from tournaments held by the six continental confederations. Each team will consist of 18 players, three of whom may be over the age limit.

Ukraine, Spain, Israel, France, Morocco, Egypt, Mali, the United States, the Dominican Republic, and New Zealand have all qualified to participate. It marks the first time the Ukrainian national football team has qualified for the Olympics.

Read also: Ukrainian National Team goalkeepers among the world’s most expensive

Three representatives from Asia, two from South America and one from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) will be announced at a later date. The winner of the playoff between the fourth-placed teams from Africa and Asia will also be included.

Ukraine is considering boycotting the 2024 Paris Olympics over concerns about the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) welcoming of Russian and Belarusian athletes, acting Sports Minister Matviy Bidnyi said on national television.

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