Posted July 31, 2024 23:48
· last edited July 31, 2024 23:49
LondonChris
I guess they want to lift the global standard. Not letting in an oceania team will just leave oceania further behind. It would be good if they could merge oceania/asia. Then at least all teams in oceania get more games against higher opposition. Maybe a prequalifying, like the lower ranked teams from asia/oceania have some tournament to see who makes the next/final round of the oceania/asia qualifiers. lthomas20
I'm curious if FIFA or IOC are entirely happy about OFC (NZ) getting an automatic spot at this tournament still. With other continents improving we are increasingly out of our depth, here and Tokyo. Or perhaps they can just use common sense and expand the tournament to 16 teams like the mens!
Actually some merit in this for the Women's game. The Middle Eastern/West Asian teams pretty much are at a similar weak level to the OFC no NZ teams.
The highest ranked West Asian team (women's rankings) is Uzbekistan at 47th. Then Iran at 63rd. Even Myanmar are 54th. There are 9 East Asian teams (incl Matildas) ranked higher than the Uzbeks. The Matildas beat Uzbekistan 10-0 earlier this year.
So you could agrue that the Ferns & other OFC teams, somehow join East Asia for WC/Olympics qualifying.
Though I guess the West Asian teams do have big potential to improve in the women's game, as things modernise there re women's sport. Doesn't Saudi now even have a women's football league?
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Unknown editoredited July 31, 2024 23:49
LondonChris
I guess they want to lift the global standard. Not letting in an oceania team will just leave oceania further behind. It would be good if they could merge oceania/asia. Then at least all teams in oceania get more games against higher opposition. Maybe a prequalifying, like the lower ranked teams from asia/oceania have some tournament to see who makes the next/final round of the oceania/asia qualifiers. lthomas20
I'm curious if FIFA or IOC are entirely happy about OFC (NZ) getting an automatic spot at this tournament still. With other continents improving we are increasingly out of our depth, here and Tokyo. Or perhaps they can just use common sense and expand the tournament to 16 teams like the mens!
Actually some merit in this for the Women's game. The Middle Eastern/West Asian teams pretty much are at a similar eak level to the OFC no NZ teams.
The highest ranked West Asian team (women's rankings) is Uzbekistan at 47th. Then Iran at 63rd. Even Myanmar are 54th. There are 9 East Asian teams (incl Matildas) ranked higher than the Uzbeks. The Matildas beat Uzbekistan 10-0 earlier this year.
So you could agrue that the Ferns & other OFC teams, somehow join East Asian WC/Olympics qualifying.
Though I guess the West Asian teams do have big potential to improve in the women's game, as things modernise there re women's sport. Doesn't Saudi now even have a women's football league?