The men’s football tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris promises to be a thrilling spectacle, featuring 16 teams from around the globe competing across seven cities in France.
The tournament runs from July 24 to August 9, showcasing emerging talents and established stars alike in a quest for Olympic glory.
The teams are divided into four groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stages, culminating in the gold medal match at the iconic Parc des Princes in Paris.
As the 2024 tournament approaches, teams will be eager to build on the lessons learnt from Tokyo and make their marks in the highly anticipated Paris edition.
The tournament features 16 teams divided into four groups, with matches to hold across seven cities in France: Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Saint-Etienne, Nice, and Nantes.
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Here are the four groups’ fixtures, venues and dates:
Group Stage Fixtures:
Group A:
France, USA, Guinea, New Zealand
July 24: Guinea vs. New Zealand (Allianz Riviera, Nice)
July 24: France vs. USA (Orange Velodrome, Marseille)
July 27: New Zealand vs. USA (Orange Velodrome, Marseille)
July 27: France vs. Guinea (Allianz Riviera, Nice)
July 30: New Zealand vs. France (Orange Velodrome, Marseille)
July 30: USA vs. Guinea (Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne)
Group B:
Argentina, Morocco, Iraq, Ukraine
July 24: Argentina vs. Morocco (Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne)
July 24: Iraq vs. Ukraine (Groupama Stadium, Lyon)
July 27: Argentina vs. Iraq (Groupama Stadium, Lyon)
July 27: Ukraine vs. Morocco (Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne)
July 30: Ukraine vs. Argentina (Groupama Stadium, Lyon)
July 30: Morocco vs. Iraq (Allianz Riviera, Nice)
Group C:
Uzbekistan, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic
July 24: Uzbekistan vs. Spain (Parc des Princes, Paris)
July 24: Egypt vs. Dominican Republic (Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)
July 27: Dominican Republic vs. Spain (Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux)
July 27: Egypt vs. Uzbekistan (Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)
July 30: Dominican Republic vs. Uzbekistan (Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux)
July 30: Spain vs. Egypt (Parc des Princes, Paris)
Group D:
Japan, Paraguay, Mali, Israel
July 24: Japan vs. Paraguay (Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)
July 24: Mali vs. Israel (Stade de Nice, Nice)
July 27: Japan vs. Mali (Stade de Nice, Nice)
July 27: Paraguay vs. Israel (Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)
July 30: Israel vs. Japan (Stade de Nice, Nice)
July 30: Paraguay vs. Mali (Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)
Knockout Stages:
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will take place on August 2.
The semifinals will be held on August 6.
The gold medal match will be played on August 9 at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
The last men’s football tournament at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) saw an impressive array of performances.
The tournament was ultimately won by Brazil, who secured their second consecutive Olympic gold medal and their third overall, defeating Spain 2-1 in the final.
The tournament was held in a bubble environment due to the pandemic, with matches played across various stadiums in Japan, including Tokyo, Saitama, and Yokohama.
Brazil’s victory was highlighted by standout performances from players like Matheus Cunha and Richarlison, who played pivotal roles throughout the tournament.
The 2020 edition also saw silver medalists Spain showcasing their strong footballing tradition, while Mexico and Japan rounded out the top four with commendable performances.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
