The Olympic Games are always special occasions, with football (known as soccer in some parts of the world) being a major highlight.
Football first became an official Olympic sport at the 1900 Paris Games and has been featured regularly since then, except for the 1932 Los Angeles Games.
Women's football joined the Olympic Games at the Atlanta Games in 1996, and the Paris 2024 Olympic Football Tournament will continue this rich tradition, shining a light on the stage with some exciting matches over the coming days.
In women's soccer, the United States has had great success winning gold medals at the Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games. Germany won gold in Rio 2016 and Canada is the current champion after winning in Tokyo 2020.
European teams dominated men's soccer until Spain's victory in Barcelona in 1992. Since the 1996 Atlanta Games, teams from Africa and Latin America have won every gold medal, with Brazil winning consecutive tournaments, including Tokyo 2020.
Read more: Why Christian Pulisic won't be at the Olympics? FIFA rules bar many of the biggest men's stars from the Olympics
When is Football Competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics?
The football competition at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics will take place from July 24 to August 10, 2024. During this period, both the men's and women's competitions will take place.
The draw for the matches was held in Paris on 20 March 2024. The tournament, which will feature teams from all over the world, is set to feature two and a half weeks of top-class football action.
Where will the football competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympics take place?
The matches will be played across seven venues in different French cities, resulting in a wider geographical reach and allowing more fans to watch the matches live.
These matches will bring Olympic excitement to the host city, Paris, as well as Bordeaux, Decines-Charpieu near Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice and Saint-Étienne, allowing fans in different regions to experience the excitement of Olympic football first-hand.
Details of the stadiums where the matches will be held are as follows:
| city | Stadium | capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Marseille | Stade de Marseille | 67,394 |
| Décines-Charpieu (Lyon area) | Stade de Lyon | 59,186 |
| Paris | Parc des Princes | 47,929 |
| Bordeaux | Stade de Bordeaux | 42,115 |
| Saint-Étienne | Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium | 41,965 |
| Nice | Stade de Nice | 36,178 |
| Nantes | Stade de la Beaujoire | 35,322 |
Read more: 2024 U.S. Men's Olympic Soccer Team Roster
Paris 2024 Olympic Football Tournament: List of participating teams
Paris 2024 men's football teams
In the men's tournament, a total of 16 teams qualified through various qualifying tournaments. It is an under-23 competition, but each team can have up to three players over the age of 23, adding a variety of experience to the younger squads.
The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) has qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2008. Host nation France and reigning World Cup champions Argentina are the leading favorites to win, especially after two-time defending champions Brazil failed to qualify.
| How to obtain qualifications | Bath | Participating teams |
|---|---|---|
| Host Country | 1 | France |
| 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship | 2 | United States, Dominican Republic |
| 2023 UEFA European U-21 Championship | 3 | Spain, Israel, Ukraine |
| 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations | 3 | Morocco, Egypt, Mali |
| 2023 OFC Olympic Qualification Tournament | 1 | new zealand |
| 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament | 2 | Paraguay, Argentina |
| 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup | 3 | Japan, Uzbekistan, Iraq |
| AFC-CAF Playoffs | 1 | Guinea |
Paris 2024 women's football teams
The United States Women's National Team (USWNT), under the guidance of new head coach Emma Hayes, is one of the favorites to win the gold medal, looking to bounce back after not winning an Olympic gold medal since the 2012 London Games.
But they face a tough group stage with strong teams such as Germany, Australia and Zambia. Hosts France are also expected to do well, with other favourites including Canada, Brazil, defending World Cup champions Spain and Japan.
| How to obtain qualifications | Bath | Participating teams |
|---|---|---|
| Host Country | 1 | France |
| 2022 CONCACAF World Championship | 1 | America |
| 2022 Copa America Femina | 2 | Brazil, Colombia |
| CONCACAF Playoffs | 1 | Canada |
| 2024 OFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament | 1 | new zealand |
| 2024 UEFA Women's Nations League Final | 2 | Spain, Germany |
| 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers | 2 | Australia, Japan |
| 2024 CAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament | 2 | Nigeria, Zambia |
Paris 2024 Olympic Football Tournament Schedule, Kick-off Time
The 2024 Paris Olympic Football Tournament will be played in a group stage and knockout format. 16 teams will be divided into four groups for the men's competition, with the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals. In addition to the semifinals and final (gold medal match), there will also be a third-place match to decide the bronze medal.
In the women's competition, 12 teams will be divided equally into three groups, with the top two teams and the best two third-placed teams advancing to the quarterfinals, followed by the semifinals, final and bronze medal match.
Football competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will begin on Wednesday, July 24, with a men's group stage matchup between Uzbekistan and European powerhouse Spain.
Meanwhile, the women's tournament will begin on Thursday 25 July, with world champions Spain taking on Japan.
Kick-off times below are local time (CET). The UK (BST) is 1 hour behind Paris, the US/Canada (ET) is 6 hours behind, India (IST) is 3.5 hours ahead and Australia (AEDT) is 8 hours ahead.
For example, a kick-off of 3pm Central European Time is equivalent to 2pm British Summer Time / 9am Eastern Standard Time / 6:30pm Indian Standard Time / 11pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Men's Football Tournament Schedule
Group Stage
| date | group | Match | venue | Time (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 24th | C | Uzbekistan vs Spain | Parc des Princes | 3 pm |
| July 24th | B | Argentina vs Morocco | Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium | 3 pm |
| July 24th | C | Egypt vs. Dominican Republic | La Beaujoire Stadium | 5pm |
| July 24th | a | Guinea v New Zealand | Nice Stadium | 5pm |
| July 24th | is | Japan vs Paraguay | Bordeaux Stadium | 7pm |
| July 24th | B | Iraq vs Ukraine | Lyon Stadium | 7pm |
| July 24th | is | Mali vs. Israel | Parc des Princes | 9 pm |
| July 24th | a | France vs. America | Marseille Stadium | 9 pm |
| July 27 | C | Dominican Republic v Spain | Bordeaux Stadium | 3 pm |
| July 27 | B | Argentina vs Iraq | Lyon Stadium | 3 pm |
| July 27 | C | Uzbekistan vs Egypt | La Beaujoire Stadium | 5pm |
| July 27 | B | Ukraine vs Morocco | Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium | 5pm |
| July 27 | a | New Zealand v USA | Marseille Stadium | 7pm |
| July 27 | is | Israel vs Paraguay | Parc des Princes | 7pm |
| July 27 | is | Japan vs Mali | Bordeaux Stadium | 9 pm |
| July 27 | a | France v Guinea | Nice Stadium | 9 pm |
| July 30 | C | Dominican Republic v Uzbekistan | Parc des Princes | 3 pm |
| July 30 | C | Spain v Egypt | Bordeaux Stadium | 3 pm |
| July 30 | B | Ukraine vs Argentina | Lyon Stadium | 5pm |
| July 30 | B | Morocco vs Iraq | Nice Stadium | 5pm |
| July 30 | a | USA vs Guinea | Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium | 7pm |
| July 30 | a | New Zealand v France | Marseille Stadium | 7pm |
| July 30 | is | Paraguay vs Mali | Parc des Princes | 9 pm |
| July 30 | is | Israel vs Japan | La Beaujoire Stadium | 9 pm |
Quarter finals
| date | Match | venue | Time (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2 | Group B Winner vs Group A Runner-up | Parc des Princes | 3 pm |
| August 2 | Group D Winner vs. Group C Runner-up | Lyon Stadium | 5pm |
| August 2 | Group C Winner vs. Group D Runner-up | Marseille Stadium | 7pm |
| August 2 | Group A Winner vs. Group B Runner-up | Bordeaux Stadium | 9 pm |
semifinal
| date | Match | venue | Time (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 5 | Winner of Quarterfinal 1 vs. Winner of Quarterfinal 3 | Marseille Stadium | 6 pm |
| August 5 | Winner of Quarterfinal 2 vs. Winner of Quarterfinal 4 | Lyon Stadium | 9 pm |
bronze medal
| date | Match | venue | Time (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 8 | Bronze Medal Match | Nantes | 5pm |
gold medal
| date | Match | venue | Time (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 9 | Gold Medal Match | Parc des Princes | 6 pm |
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Women's Football Tournament Schedule
Group Stage
| date | group | Match | venue | Time (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 25 | C | Spain vs Japan | La Beaujoire Stadium | 5pm |
| July 25 | a | Canada v New Zealand | Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium | 5pm |
| July 25 | C | Nigeria vs Brazil | Bordeaux Stadium | 7pm |
| July 25 | B | Germany v Australia | Marseille Stadium | 7pm |
| July 25 | a | France v Colombia | Lyon Stadium | 9 pm |
| July 25 | B | USA v Zambia | Nice Stadium | 9 pm |
| July 28 | C | Brazil vs Japan | Parc des Princes | 5pm |
| July 28 | a | New Zealand v Colombia | Lyon Stadium | 5pm |
| July 28 | C | Spain v Nigeria | La Beaujoire Stadium | 7pm |
| July 28 | B | Australia v Zambia | Nice Stadium | 7pm |
| July 28 | a | France vs Canada | Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium | 9 pm |
| July 28 | B | America vs Germany | Marseille Stadium | 9 pm |
| July 31 | C | Japan vs Nigeria | La Beaujoire Stadium | 5pm |
| July 31 | C | Brazil vs Spain | Bordeaux Stadium | 5pm |
| July 31 | B | Zambia vs Germany | Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium | 7pm |
| July 31 | B | Australia vs. America | Marseille Stadium | 7pm |
| July 31 | a | New Zealand v France | Lyon Stadium | 9 pm |
| July 31 | a | Colombia vs Canada | Nice Stadium | 9 pm |
Quarter finals
| date | Match | venue | Time (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 3 | Group B Winner vs. Group C Runner-up | Parc des Princes | 3 pm |
| August 3 | Group C Winner vs. Group A/B 3rd Place | Lyon Stadium | 5pm |
| August 3 | Group A Runner-up vs. Group B Runner-up | Marseille Stadium | 7pm |
| August 3 | Group A Winner vs. Group B/C 3rd Place | La Beaujoire Stadium | 9 pm |
semifinal
| date | Match | venue | Time (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 6 | Winner of Quarterfinal 2 vs. Winner of Quarterfinal 4 | Lyon Stadium | 6 pm |
| August 6 | Winner of Quarterfinal 1 vs. Winner of Quarterfinal 3 | Marseille Stadium | 9 pm |
bronze medal
| date | Match | venue | Time (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 9 | Bronze Medal Match | Lyon Stadium | 3 pm |
gold medal
| date | Match | venue | Time (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 10 | Gold Medal Match | Parc des Princes | 5pm |
