FIFA gives smaller soccer nations shot at Youth Olympics for rare chance to grace world stage

Smaller soccer nations get Youth Olympics shot

NASSAU, Bahamas — FIFA has given places at the first Youth Olympic Games to smaller soccer nations who rarely play on the world stage.

Eight European teams have been chosen by UEFA to compete for a place at the inaugural games in Singapore next year where they will play for gold medals against teams preselected by the five other soccer confederations.

Boys’ teams from Albania, Liechtenstein, Montenegro and San Marino, and girls’ teams from Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia and Moldova will play round-robin tournaments in Nyon, Switzerland, on autumn dates yet to be fixed.

The YOG lineup is completed by host Singapore, Bolivia, Cuba, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe in the boys’ event. Chile, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Papua New Guinea plus Trinidad and Tobago will play in the girls’ tournament.

FIFA announced the entries at its Congress late Wednesday.

The global governing body wants the youth games to offer an opportunity for countries that traditionally have little chance of qualifying for the World Cup or Summer Olympics.

Bulgaria is ranked highest among the entrants at No. 23, with No. 92 Albania the next best of the Europeans. San Marino and Papua New Guinea are in a six-way tie for last place at No. 202.

The Singapore games will feature about 3,200 athletes aged 14-18 competing in 26 sports.