LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The IOC set a target of 2029 on Wednesday to pick a 2036 Olympics host in a currently stalled contest that has long been targeted by India and Qatar.
The timetable agreed at a meeting of the full International Olympic Committee membership is a reset under president, Kirsty Coventry, after 2028 Summer Games host Los Angeles and 2032 host Brisbane were chosen 11 years in advance.
It brings back a competitive vote wanted by members after L.A. and Brisbane were effectively chosen without facing a rival candidate. The 2024 Olympics host Paris was picked with the traditional seven years to prepare in 2017, when L.A. stood aside as a rival to be given the 2028 edition uncontested.
The strategic shift has been a defining move in Coventry's presidency that formally started exactly one year ago when she succeeded Thomas Bach.
At least 10 potential Summer Games bids for 2036 and beyond had been in ongoing talks with the IOC when Coventry pressed pause on the process in the first big decision of her presidency.
Detailing the new timetable, IOC member Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said the contest should take shape in March next year.
The IOC's executive board will pick an official short list for "deeper evaluation of a number of interested parties with developed projects,” said Grabar-Kitarović, the former state president of Croatia.
“We talked of more than 10, so now it is becoming a bit more clear,” she told reporters later, with the IOC looking to be transparent and this year publish a list of interested parties. That could be around eight bidders.
A target of late-2028 was set to begin a “targeted dialogue” phase with bidders, when their governments will be required to give legal and financial guarantees.
The 2036 host election is set to be at the IOC Session expected in mid-2029 at a venue yet to be decided.
Qatar is expected to be a strong candidate after hosting world championships in many top-tier Olympic supports including track and field, gymnastics, swimming, soccer and cycling.
An Olympics anchored in Doha also could share some events with regional neighbors.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry, speaks during the 146th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the SwissTech Convention Centre, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (Cyril Zingaro/Keystone via AP)
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mateo Chávez and Julián Quiñones scored in a six-minute span early in the second half, and Mexico beat the Czech Republic 3-0 on Wednesday night to win all three of its World Cup group-stage matches for the first time.
The 22-year-old Chávez, in his first World Cup, opened the scoring in the 55th minute and Quiñones scored his second goal of the tournament in the 61st. Alvaro Fidalgo added a goal in second-half stoppage time.
Mexico's previous best group-stage performance was two wins and one draw, done in 1986 and 2002 and both featuring Javier Aguirre, the first as a midfielder and the second as El Tri's coach. Aguirre is back as coach this year, his third stint leading the team.
Already the winner of Group A, Mexico will play again at Estadio Azteca on Tuesday in a round-of-32 match against an opponent to be determined.
Mexico is undefeated at nine World Cup matches at the massive stadium, which was packed with 80,824 fans on Wednesday. El Tri has only two losses at Azteca, most recently in World Cup qualifying against Honduras on Sept. 6, 2013.
The match included nods to Mexico’s past and future. Gilberto Mora, at age 17, became the youngest Mexico player to start in a World Cup. And 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa entered in the 77th minute, joining Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to appear in six World Cups.
Mexico's triumph was marred, however, by the return of a homophobic chant by fans that has previously led to fines and other sanctions against its soccer federation. The chant, a one-word slur that literally means male prostitute in Spanish, was heard near the end of the first half when Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar took a goal kick.
The Czech Republic was eliminated, finishing with one point in three games.
Mexico is unbeaten in 11 games dating to a friendly loss against Panama last November. And Aguirre has made the most of his roster, using 25 of 26 players in the tournament. Chávez was one of five starters Wednesday who did not start last Thursday's 1-0 win over South Korea.
Ochoa, who wears No. 13, played the last 13 minutes, plus stoppage time, in what's likely to be his final appearance for Mexico. He turns 41 on July 13 and has said he plans to retire from international competition after the World Cup.
He was a substitute in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments and started for Mexico in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Raúl Rangel is the starter this year, stepping in for the injured Luis Ángel Malagón, who helped Mexico win the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup last year. Malagón's injury opened the door for Ochoa's return.
Ochoa became the oldest Mexican to play in the World Cup. The previous record holder was Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who was 37 when he played in South Africa in 2014.
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
Mexico's Mateo Chavez (20) shoots and scores their opening goal against Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovar (1) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Mexico's Alvaro Fidalgo celebrates scoring his side's third goal against Czechia during a World Cup Group A soccer match in Mexico City, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Mexico's Mateo Chavez celebrates scoring the opening goal during a World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and Czechia in Mexico City, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, top, celebrates with teammates following the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Mexico's Julian Quinones celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Czechia during a World Cup Group A soccer match in Mexico City, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
