Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament

The men's football tournament at the 2020 Summer Olympics was held from 22 July to 7 August 2021. Originally, it was to be held from 23 July to 8 August 2020, but the Summer Olympics were postponed to the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the official name of the games remains the 2020 Summer Olympics.[1] It was the 27th edition of the men's Olympic football tournament. Together with the women's competition, the 2020 Summer Olympics football tournament was held at six stadiums in six cities in Japan. The final was hosted at the International Stadium in Yokohama. Teams participating in the men's competition were restricted to under-24 players (born on or after 1 January 1997) with a maximum of three overage players allowed. The men's tournament is typically restricted to under-23 players though following the postponement of the Olympics by a year, FIFA decided to maintain the restriction of players born on or after 1 January 1997.[2]

2020 Men's Olympic Football Tournament
Tournament details
Host countryJapan
Dates22 July – 7 August 2021
Teams16 (from 6 confederations)
Venue(s)6 (in 6 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Brazil (2nd title)
Runners-up Spain
Third place Mexico
Fourth place Japan
Tournament statistics
Matches played32
Goals scored93 (2.91 per match)
Attendance14,291 (447 per match)
Top scorer(s)Brazil Richarlison
(5 goals)
2016
2024

Brazil were the defending champions and successfully retained their title.[3]

Schedule

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The match schedule of the tournament as of 5 December 2018.[4]

Legend
G Group stage ¼ Quarter-finals ½ Semi-finals B Bronze medal match F Gold medal match
22 Thu 23 Fri 24 Sat 25 Sun 26 Mon 27 Tue 28 Wed 29 Thu 30 Fri 31 Sat 1 Sun 2 Mon 3 Tue 4 Wed 5 Thu 6 Fri 7 Sat
G G G ¼ ½ B F

Qualification

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In addition to host nation Japan, 15 men's national teams will qualify from six separate continental confederations. The Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions ratified the distribution of spots at their meeting on 14 September 2017.[5]

Means of qualification Ref. Dates1 Venue(s)1 Berth(s) Qualified
Host nation [6] 1   Japan
2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship [7] 16–30 June 2019   Italy
  San Marino
4   Spain
  Germany
  France
  Romania
2019 OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament [8] 21 September – 5 October 2019   Fiji 1   New Zealand
2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations [9] 8–22 November 2019   Egypt 3   Egypt
  Ivory Coast
  South Africa
2020 AFC U-23 Championship [10] 8–26 January 2020   Thailand 3   South Korea
  Saudi Arabia
  Australia
2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament [11] 18 January – 9 February 2020   Colombia 2   Argentina
  Brazil
2020 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship [12] 18–30 March 2021   Mexico 2   Mexico
  Honduras
Total   16
  • ^1 Dates and venues are those of final tournaments (or final round of qualification tournaments), various qualification stages may precede matches at these specific venues.

Venues

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Chōfu
(Tokyo Area)
Saitama Yokohama
Tokyo Stadium Saitama Stadium 2002 International Stadium Yokohama
Capacity: 49,970 Capacity: 63,700 Capacity: 72,327
     
Kashima
Ibaraki Kashima Stadium[13]
Capacity: 37,638
 
Rifu
Miyagi Stadium
Capacity: 49,133
 
Sapporo
Sapporo Dome
Capacity: 42,065
 


Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, most matches were played behind closed doors without any spectators. However, Miyagi Stadium allowed a limited audience to attend matches and Kashima Stadium permitted local schoolchildren as part of the school program but Olympic spectators were still not allowed.[14]

Squads

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The men's tournament was an international tournament with restrictions on age: players had to be born on or after 1 January 1997, with three overage players allowed for each squad in the final tournament. Traditionally the roster rules required each team to submit a squad of 18 players, two of whom must be goalkeepers. Each team also named a list of four alternate players, who could replace any player in the squad in case of injury during the tournament.[15] In late June 2021 the International Olympic Committee and FIFA announced that all 22 players of each team would be available for selection before each match. Prior to each match, the teams chose from their total of 22 players, a roster of 18 players to be available for play in that match.[16] The rule change was made in regards to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]

Match officials

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In June 2020, FIFA approved the use of the video assistant referee (VAR) system for the tournament.[18] The match officials were announced on 23 April 2021.[19][20]

Draw

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The draw for the tournament was held on 21 April 2021, 10:00 CEST (UTC+2), at the FIFA headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland.[21] It was conducted by Sarai Bareman, FIFA chief women's football officer, while Samantha Johnson presented the ceremony. Lindsay Tarpley and Ryan Nelsen acted as the draw assistants.[22]

The sixteen teams were drawn into four groups of four teams.[23] The hosts Japan were automatically seeded into Pot 1 and assigned to position A1, while the remaining teams were seeded into their respective pots based on their results in the last five Olympics (more recent tournaments weighted more heavily), with bonus points awarded to confederation champions. No group could contain more than one team from each confederation.[24]

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

Group stage

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The competing countries were divided into four groups of four teams, denoted as groups A, B, C and D. Teams in each group played one another in a round-robin basis with the top two teams of each group advancing to the quarter-finals.

All times are local, JST (UTC+9).[25]

Tiebreakers

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The ranking of teams in the group stage was determined as follows:[15]

  1. Points obtained in all group matches (three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a defeat);
  2. Goal difference in all group matches;
  3. Number of goals scored in all group matches;
  4. Points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question;
  5. Goal difference in the matches played between the teams in question;
  6. Number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question;
  7. Fair play points in all group matches (only one deduction could be applied to a player in a single match):
    • Yellow card: −1 point;
    • Indirect red card (second yellow card): −3 points;
    • Direct red card: −4 points;
    • Yellow card and direct red card: −5 points;
  8. Drawing of lots.

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Japan (H) 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Mexico 3 2 0 1 8 3 +5 6
3   France 3 1 0 2 5 11 −6 3
4   South Africa 3 0 0 3 3 8 −5 0
Source: TOCOG and FIFA
(H) Hosts


Mexico  4–1  France
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Gignac   69' (pen.)
Japan  1–0  South Africa
Kubo   71' Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)

France  4–3  South Africa
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Referee: Kevin Ortega (Peru)
Japan  2–1  Mexico
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Alvarado   85'

France  0–4  Japan
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
South Africa  0–3  Mexico
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   South Korea 3 2 0 1 10 1 +9 6 Advance to knockout stage
2   New Zealand 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
3   Romania 3 1 1 1 1 4 −3 4
4   Honduras 3 1 0 2 3 9 −6 3
Source: TOCOG and FIFA


Honduras  0–1  Romania
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Oliva   45+1' (o.g.)
Referee: Leodán González (Uruguay)

New Zealand  2–3  Honduras
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Romania  0–4  South Korea
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)

Romania  0–0  New Zealand
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Referee: Kevin Ortega (Peru)
South Korea  6–0  Honduras
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Spain 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 5 Advance to knockout stage
2   Egypt 3 1 1 1 2 1 +1 4
3   Argentina 3 1 1 1 2 3 −1 4
4   Australia 3 1 0 2 2 3 −1 3
Source: TOCOG and FIFA


Egypt  0–0  Spain
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Argentina  0–2  Australia
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)

Egypt  0–1  Argentina
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Medina   52'

Australia  0–2  Egypt
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Brazil 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Ivory Coast 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 5
3   Germany 3 1 1 1 6 7 −1 4
4   Saudi Arabia 3 0 0 3 4 8 −4 0
Source: TOCOG and FIFA


Brazil  4–2  Germany
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)

Saudi Arabia  2–3  Germany
Al-Najei   30', 50' Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)

Germany  1–1  Ivory Coast
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Attendance: 4,294[27]
Referee: Leodán González (Uruguay)[28]

Knockout stage

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In the knockout stage, if a match was level at the end of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner.[15]

Bracket

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsGold medal match
 
          
 
31 July – Yokohama
 
 
  South Korea3
 
3 August – Kashima
 
  Mexico6
 
  Mexico0 (1)
 
31 July – Saitama
 
  Brazil (p)0 (4)
 
  Brazil1
 
7 August – Yokohama
 
  Egypt0
 
  Brazil (a.e.t.)2
 
31 July – Kashima
 
  Spain1
 
  Japan (p)0 (4)
 
3 August – Saitama
 
  New Zealand0 (2)
 
  Japan0
 
31 July – Rifu
 
  Spain (a.e.t.)1 Bronze medal match
 
  Spain (a.e.t.)5
 
6 August – Saitama
 
  Ivory Coast2
 
  Mexico3
 
 
  Japan1
 

Quarter-finals

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Spain  5–2 (a.e.t.)  Ivory Coast
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Attendance: 5,526[27]
Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)



South Korea  3–6  Mexico
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)

Semi-finals

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Japan  0–1 (a.e.t.)  Spain
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)
Asensio   115'
Referee: Kevin Ortega (Peru)

Bronze medal match

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Mexico  3–1  Japan
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)

Gold medal match

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Brazil  2–1 (a.e.t.)  Spain
Report (TOCOG)
Report (FIFA)

Statistics

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Goalscorers

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There were 93 goals scored in 32 matches, for an average of 2.91 goals per match.

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Source: FIFA

Final ranking

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As per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Final result
1   Brazil 6 4 2 0 10 4 +6 14 Gold medal
2   Spain 6 3 2 1 9 5 +4 11 Silver medal
3   Mexico 6 4 1 1 17 7 +10 13 Bronze medal
4   Japan (H) 6 3 1 2 8 5 +3 10 Fourth place
5   South Korea 4 2 0 2 13 7 +6 6 Eliminated in
quarter-finals
6   New Zealand 4 1 2 1 3 3 0 5
7   Ivory Coast 4 1 2 1 5 7 −2 5
8   Egypt 4 1 1 2 2 2 0 4
9   Germany 3 1 1 1 6 7 −1 4 Eliminated in
group stage
10   Argentina 3 1 1 1 2 3 −1 4
11   Romania 3 1 1 1 1 4 −3 4
12   Australia 3 1 0 2 2 3 −1 3
13   France 3 1 0 2 5 11 −6 3
14   Honduras 3 1 0 2 3 9 −6 3
15   Saudi Arabia 3 0 0 3 4 8 −4 0
16   South Africa 3 0 0 3 3 8 −5 0
Source: TOCOG
(H) Hosts

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee". Olympic.org. International Olympic Committee. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Dedicated COVID-19 working group proposes recommendations after first meeting". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Brazil edge Spain in men's Olympic football final thanks to Malcom's magic". The Guardian. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Match schedule for Tokyo 2020".
  5. ^ "OC for FIFA Competitions approves procedures for the Final Draw of the 2018 FIFA World Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 14 September 2017. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017.
  6. ^ FIFA.com. "Olympic Football Tournaments 2020 - Men - News - The road to Tokyo". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Under-21 EURO 2019: all you need to know". uefa.com. 16 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Olympic Qualifier Draw complete". Oceania Football Confederation. 7 May 2019.
  9. ^ "CAF confirms 2019 Total U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt will be played in November". Ghana Soccernet. 29 September 2018.
  10. ^ "FA Thailand proposed as 2020 AFC U-23 Championship host". AFC. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Colombia será sede del Campeonato Sudamericano Preolímpico Sub-23 del 2020". conmebol.com. 14 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Concacaf confirms Guadalajara to host Men's Olympic Qualifiers in March 2021". CONCACAF. 14 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Olympic Sports : Football". The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  14. ^ "Nadeshiko Japan see off Chile in front of fans to progress through to the quarterfinals". 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  15. ^ a b c "Regulations for the Olympic Football Tournaments Tokyo 2020" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
  16. ^ Creditor, Avi (30 June 2021). "Report: IOC Approves Expansion of Olympic Soccer Rosters to 22 Players". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  17. ^ Harris, Rob; Peterson, Anne M. (1 July 2021). "FIFA confirms roster changes for Olympic soccer". Washington Post. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  18. ^ "FIFA Council unanimously approves COVID-19 Relief Plan". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Match officials appointed for Olympic Football Tournaments Tokyo 2020". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Olympic Football Tournaments Tokyo 2020: List of appointed Match Officials (International Technical Officials – ITO)" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Olympic draws to be held at the Home of FIFA". FIFA. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  22. ^ "Teams ranked and allocated for Tokyo 2020 Olympic football draws". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Draws set path to Tokyo 2020 gold". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  24. ^ "Draw Procedures – Olympic Football Tournaments Tokyo 2020: Men's tournament" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Olympic Football Tournament: Match Schedule" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Attendance Summary" (PDF). Olympics.com. 24 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Attendance Summary" (PDF). Olympics.com. 24 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  28. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20210811182649/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/FBL/OG2020-_FBL_C73_FBLMTEAM11------------GPD-000600--.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2021. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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