Home nations signal intent for Tokyo 2020 Team GB women's team
England must finish as one of top three European teams at 2019 World Cup for Team GB to qualify for 2020
Monday 1 October 2018 18:25, UK
FIFA has confirmed the home nations have formally signalled their intent to try to get a women’s side to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Team GB did not field a team for the Rio 2016 Olympics because the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs could not come to an agreement, with FIFA confirming it would block an entry without the support of every British association.
The home nations have traditionally not competed in Olympic football tournaments because of fears that it could tempt FIFA to force England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to compete as a United Kingdom team permanently.
These concerns were put aside, though, for London 2012, when a men's team took part for the first time since 1972 and a women's team competed for the first time, reaching the quarter-finals.
An agreement has now been reached by the home nations, but only for a women's team to compete.
England, now ranked third in the world, are the nominated country to try to qualify for the 2020 Games, which means they will need to be one of the top three European nations at next year's Women's World Cup in France.
