Olympics football - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. The Olympics football tournament is officially known as the Men's Olympic Football Tournament and is organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
- 2. The tournament is open to male players under the age of 23, with each team allowed to include up to three overage players as well.
- 3. The first Olympic football tournament was held in 1900 in Paris, France. It was not until the 1908 London Olympics that a dedicated football competition was organized.
- 4. The women's football tournament was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and follows a similar format to the men's tournament.
- 5. The Olympics football tournament consists of 16 teams in the men's competition and 12 teams in the women's competition.
- 6. The tournament is played in a knockout format, with teams competing in a single-elimination bracket until the gold medal match.
- 7. Brazil is the most successful nation in Olympic football history, having won the gold medal five times (1956, 1960, 1964, 2016, 2020).
- 8. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics saw Argentina win the gold medal in the men's competition, while Canada claimed the gold in the women's competition.
- 9. The Olympics football tournament is seen as a prestigious event for young players to showcase their talent on an international stage and potentially earn a move to a top club.
- 10. The next Olympics football tournament is scheduled to take place at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where teams will once again compete for the coveted gold medal.