EXPLAINER: Football at Tokyo Olympics
Things to know about the football competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics:
THE ABSOLUTE BASICS
- There are 16 nations competing in the men’s tournament and 12 in the women’s. Japan has qualified for both competitions as host nation.
- Men’s teams are restricted to under-24 players (born on or after Jan. 1 1997) with a maximum of three overage players allowed. The men’s tournament is normally restricted to under-23 players but following the postponement of the Olympics by a year FIFA decided to allow those qualified for last year’s planned competition to remain eligible.
- There is no age limitation for the women’s tournament.
- The format for the men’s competition is four groups of four teams with the top two from each section qualifiying for the quarterfinals.
- The women’s competition has three groups of four with the top two from each group going though along with the two best performing third-placed teams.
HOW MANY MEDALS?
Two golds on offer.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN TOKYO?
Brazil’s players including Neymar celebrate on the podium during the medal presentation following the Rio 2016 Olympic Games men’s football gold medal match between Brazil and Germany at the Maracana stadiumon August 20, 2016. (Photo by Odd Andersen / AFP)
Defending men’s champions Brazil will again fancy its chances but South American rivals Argentina will be looking to repeat their 2008 success. European powerhouses France, Spain and Germany will hope their impressive youth program will deliver medal glory.
Article continues after this advertisementAs always, the United States are favorites in the women’s tournament but Sweden and Japan have consistent records in the game — keep an eye on Canada too.
WHAT’S NEW?
For the first time the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will be used at the Olympics.
WHEN IS IT HAPPENING?
The men’s tournament runs from July 22 to August 7. The women’s from July 21 to Aug. 6.
Article continues after this advertisementWHERE IS IT HAPPENING?
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – Tokyo 2020 Olympics Test Event – Emperor’s Cup Final – Vissel Kobe v Kashima Antlers – National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan – January 1, 2020. General view of the stadium before the match. REUTERS/Issei Kato
As well as Tokyo’s national stadium, games will be played in Chofu, Saitama, Yokohama, Kashima, Rifu and Sapporo.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
The men’s tournament was introduced at the 1900 Games and, with the exception of the 1932 Los Angeles Games, it has been on the program ever since. The women’s event was not added until 1996 in Atlanta.
Hungary has the best record in the men’s tournament with three golds, a silver and a bronze. Argentina is the most successful of this year’s qualifiers having won two golds and two silvers.
The United States are by far the most successful nation in women’s Olympic football with four golds and a silver while Germany and Norway have a gold medal each.
WHAT HAPPENED IN RIO?
Hosts Brazil won the men’s tournament 5-4 on penalties after their final with Germany ended 1-1. Nigeria won the bronze medal match beating Honduras.
In the women’s tournament, Germany beat Sweden 2-1 in the final with Canada winning the bronze medal match against Brazil.
WELL FANCY THAT
From 1952 to 1984, teams from communist Eastern Europe dominated the men’s tournament. Competition rules were that only amateur players could compete but the communist regimes employed top club players in state jobs to maintain their amateur status.
