Futsal replaces 11-a-side football at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Senego
11-a-side football is not included in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics, as the IOC and FIFA have opted for futsal, a more compact format for young players. The tournament consists of two 20-minute halves and reduces staffing and infrastructure requirements, reports Seneweb.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) have chosen futsal instead of 11-a-side football for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, reports Seneweb. The decision is intended, in particular, to avoid the constraints associated with the number of players and the infrastructure required for an 11-a-side tournament.
11-a-side football had been offered to young athletes at the 2010 and 2014 Youth Olympic Games before being dropped from the programme starting with the Buenos Aires edition in 2018. The futsal tournament consists of two 20-minute halves and favours a shorter format as well as individual technical skills, according to Seneweb.
The IOC and FIFA also took into account the overlap between domestic league schedules and the Youth Olympic Games, which makes it difficult to secure the participation of young players. Squads of at least 18 players, excluding technical staff, would also have increased organisational costs, reports Seneweb.
Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games began with an opening ceremony on 31 October, according to the schedule of publications covering the event. Senegalese Minister of Youth and Sports Djirèye Clotilde Coly describes the organisation of these first Youth Olympic Games in Africa as a means of promoting regional integration, diplomacy and socio-economic development for African youth. The opening of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games notably marked the start of the competition.
