The men’s football tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games kicks off on July 24, preceding the official opening ceremony. Sixteen nations will compete for gold in this prestigious under-23 competition.
Tournament Format and Squad Regulations
Teams consist of players under 23 years old, with three over-age players allowed. Each country can name a squad of 18 players, plus four alternates. If a match ends in a draw after 90 minutes during the knockout stages, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary.
Groups and Teams
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | United States, France (hosts), Guinea, New Zealand |
| B | Morocco, Ukraine, Iraq, Argentina |
| C | Dominican Republic, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Spain |
| D | Paraguay, Israel, Mali, Japan |
Notable Teams and Players
France, coached by Thierry Henry, features Alexandre Lacazette as captain. Argentina’s squad includes World Cup winners Julian Alvarez and Thiago Almada, who could make history as the first male players to win both the World Cup and Olympic gold in that order.
Spain brings Euro 2024 champions Fermin Lopez and Alex Baena. The United States returns to men’s Olympic football for the first time since 2008, having qualified by winning the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Walker Zimmerman captains the team, with Miles Robinson and Djordje Mihailovic as the other over-23 players.
Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Guinea’s Naby Keita are among other notable participants.
Venues
Matches will be held across seven stadiums in France:
- Parc des Princes (Paris) – Will host the gold medal match on August 9
- Marseille Stadium
- Lyon Stadium
- Bordeaux Stadium
- Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Etienne)
- La Beaujoire (Nantes)
- Nice Stadium
Detailed Schedule (All times in CET)
Group Stage:
| Date | Match | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 24 | Argentina vs Morocco | 18:30 | Saint-Etienne |
| Uzbekistan vs Spain | 18:30 | Paris | |
| Guinea vs New Zealand | 20:30 | Marseille | |
| Egypt vs Dominican Republic | 20:30 | Paris | |
| Iraq vs Ukraine | 22:30 | Marseille | |
| Japan vs Paraguay | 22:30 | Nice | |
| July 25 | France vs United States | 00:30 | Marseille |
| Mali vs Israel | 00:30 | Nice | |
| July 27 | Argentina vs Iraq | 18:30 | Saint-Etienne |
| Dominican Republic vs Spain | 18:30 | Paris | |
| Ukraine vs Morocco | 20:30 | Lyon | |
| Uzbekistan vs Egypt | 20:30 | Paris | |
| New Zealand vs United States | 22:30 | Marseille | |
| Israel vs Paraguay | 22:30 | Nice | |
| July 28 | France vs Guinea | 00:30 | Marseille |
| Japan vs Mali | 00:30 | Nice | |
| July 30 | Dominican Republic vs Uzbekistan | 18:30 | Paris |
| Spain vs Egypt | 18:30 | Lyon | |
| Ukraine vs Argentina | 20:30 | Lyon | |
| Morocco vs Iraq | 20:30 | Saint-Etienne | |
| New Zealand vs France | 22:30 | Marseille | |
| United States vs Guinea | 22:30 | Saint-Etienne | |
| July 31 | Israel vs Japan | 00:30 | Nice |
| Paraguay vs Mali | 00:30 | Nice |
Knockout Stages:
August 2: Quarterfinals
August 5: Semifinals
August 8: Bronze medal match
August 9: Gold medal match
How to Watch Live
Broadcast rights by country:
- United States: NBC
- France: France Télévisions
- Europe: Discovery Eurosport
- United Kingdom: BBC
- Australia: Nine Network
- New Zealand: SKY NZ
- Japan: Fuji TV/NHK/Nippon TV/TBS/TV Asahi/TV Tokyo
- Germany: ARD/ZDF
- South Africa: SuperSport
Many broadcasters will offer both traditional TV coverage and streaming options.
Historical Context
Hungary and Great Britain hold the record for most gold medals in men’s Olympic football with three each. Brazil, the defending champions, failed to qualify for Paris 2024, marking their first absence since 2004.
The men’s Olympic football tournament showcases emerging talent and offers a unique opportunity for players to represent their countries on the global stage. It’s worth noting that while not directly involved in the men’s tournament, India’s veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh plans to retire after the Paris Games, highlighting the significance of the Olympics across various sports.
As the first major event of the Paris Olympics, men’s football sets the tone for an exciting summer of sport in the French capital.
Also Read:
Paris Olympic Games 2024, Women’s Football: Schedule, Players, Format, Teams, Where To Watch
