Paris Olympics 2024: Men’s football – teams, players, format, matches, date

 

Which football teams are playing at the Olympics, when are the games and who are the favourites? Al Jazeera explains.

Men’s football has been a approved accoutrement in every Olympic Games edition, except in 1896 and 1932.

As the 2024 Olympics bliss off in Paris, Al Jazeera tells you aggregate you charge to apperceive about the men’s football event:

⚽ Which men’s football teams accept able for the Olympics?

A absolute of 16 countries accept able for men’s football at Paris 2024.

Group A: France, United States, Guinea, New Zealand

Group B: Argentina, Morocco, Ukraine, Iraq

Group C: Uzbekistan, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic

Group D: Japan, Paraguay, Mali, Israel

⚽ What is the architecture of men’s Olympic football?

Unlike the women’s football tournament, which is a abounding senior-level tournament, the men’s Olympic football accident is belted to players beneath 23 years old, with a best of three over-age players allowed.

The 16 men’s teams are disconnected into four groups of four teams each. The top two from anniversary accumulation advance to the quarterfinals, followed by the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals accommodated in the gold badge match, while the losers comedy in the brownish badge match.

⚽ Who are the favourites to win the gold?

With a mix of arising aptitude and some accomplished players, hosts France are the top contenders at the Paris Games. Coached by Thierry Henry, France are attractive to defended their second-ever Olympic gold medal, accepting aboriginal won at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

Twice gold medallists Argentina additionally accept a ample aggregation with Manchester City advanced Julian Alvarez and Major League Soccer (MLS) midfield awareness Thiago Almada.

Spain are amid the favourites, with Euro 2024 players Fermin Lopez and Alex Baena additionally apery their country at the Olympics.

⚽ Which added top players will be arena at the Olympics?

Other top players at the Paris Olympics accommodate France’s Michael Olise and Alexandre Lacazette, Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi and Guinea’s Naby Keita.

⚽ What are the key dates for the matches?

• Group stage: July 24-30
• Quarterfinals: August 2
• Semifinals: August 5
• Bronze badge match: August 8
• Gold badge match: August 9

⚽ Where will the matches be held?

The men’s football matches will be captivated beyond seven stadiums in France.

• Bordeaux Stadium in Bordeaux
• Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne
• La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes
• Lyon Stadium in Decines-Charpieu (near Lyon)
• Marseille Stadium in Marseille
• Nice Stadium in Nice
• Parc des Princes in Paris

⚽ What happens if a bout ends in a draw?

If a bout is akin at the end of accustomed arena time, added time of two 15 account anniversary will be played. If still tied, the bout will be absitively by a amends shootout.

⚽ How abounding players are in anniversary team?

The accommodating countries can name a band of 18 players, including a best of three over-age players. They are additionally accustomed to name four assets players.

⚽ Which teams accept won the best golds?

Hungary and Great Britain accept won the best gold medals – three anniversary – in men’s football at the Olympics while Brazil, Argentina, the above Soviet Union and Uruguay accept won two times each.

Brazil accept the best medals (seven) including back-to-back golds in 2020 and 2016. However, the Brazilians will not be arresting their appellation at the Paris Games afterwards they bootless to authorize for the aboriginal time back 2004.