This summer’s festival of football continues with the Olympics, just 10 days after the Euro 2024 final.
There is no rest for the wicked when it comes to providing yet another showpiece global football event with the eyes of the world set to be trained on Paris.
The men’s football competition will get under way on Wednesday July 24, a day before the start of the women’s tournament on Thursday July 25.
At Tokyo 2020, the gold medals were received by Brazil and Canada in the men’s and women’s football tournaments respectively.
So, who are taking part in this summer’s edition in France? Sky Sports runs you through everything you need to know…
Football schedule, fixtures and venues at Paris 2024
The football tournaments run from July 24 to August 10 with seven venues used throughout: Nice, Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne will be among the group stage stadia.
Lyon and Marseille will stage the semi-finals, with a bronze medal match in Nantes for the men’s and a bronze medal game in Lyon for the women’s tournament.
Paris will host both finals at the 48,000-seater Parc des Princes. The men’s final will take place on August 9 and the women’s final a day later on August 10.
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Paris 2024 football venues in full
- Parc des Princes (Paris) – Capacity: 47,929
- Stade de Bordeaux (Bordeaux) – Capacity: 42,115
- Stade de Lyon (Lyon) – Capacity: 59,186
- Stade de Marseille (Marseille) – Capacity: 67,394
- Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes) – Capacity: 35,322
- Stade de Nice (Nice) – Capacity: 36,178
- Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Etienne) – Capacity: 41,965
Who will kick off the men’s tournament?
Host nation France will play their first men’s game of the tournament against the United States on July 24, 48 hours before the opening ceremony. The women’s tournament begins on the following day on July 25.
Men’s Olympic tournament groups
Group A: France, USA, Guinea, New Zealand
Group B: Argentina, Morocco, Iraq, Ukraine
Group C: Uzbekistan, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic
Group D: Japan, Paraguay, Mali, Israel
Men’s Olympic Football fixture schedule
Group stage
Wednesday, 24 July 2024
Group A: France v USA, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 8pm
Group A: Guinea v New Zealand, Stade de Nice, kick-off 4pm
Group B: Argentina v Morocco, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 2pm
Group B: Iraq v Ukraine, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 6pm
Group C: Uzbekistan v Spain, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm
Group C: Egypt v Dominican Republic, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm
Group D: Mali v Israel, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 8pm
Group D: Japan v Paraguay, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 6pm
Saturday July 27
Group A: France v Guinea, Stade de Nice, kick-off 8pm
Group A: New Zealand v USA, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Group B: Argentina v Iraq, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 2pm
Group B: Ukraine v Morocco, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 5pm
Group C: Uzbekistan v Egypt, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm
Group C: Dominican Republic v Spain, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 3pm
Group D: Israel v Paraguay, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 6pm
Group D: Japan v Mali, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 8pm
Tuesday July 30
Group A: New Zealand v France, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Group A: USA v Guinea, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 6pm
Group B: Ukraine v Argentina, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm
Group B: Morocco v Iraq, Stade de Nice, kick-off 4pm
Group C: Dominican Republic v Uzbekistan, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm
Group C: Spain v Egypt, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 2pm
Group D: Israel v Japan, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 8pm
Group D: Paraguay v Mali, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 8pm
Quarter-finals
Friday August 2
Match 25: 1A v 2B, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 8pm
Match 26: 1B v 2A, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm
Match 27: 1C v 2D, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Match 28: 1D v 2C, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm
Semi-finals
Monday August 5
Match 29: Winner Match 25 v Winner Match 27, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 8pm
Match 30: Winner Match 26 v Winner Match 28, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 5pm
Bronze medal match
Thursday August 8
Match 31: Loser Match 29 v Loser Match 30, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm
Gold medal match
Friday August 9
Match 32: Winner Match 29 v Winner Match 30, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 5pm
Women’s Olympic tournament groups
Group A: France, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand
Group B: USA, Zambia, Germany, Australia
Group C: Spain, Japan, Nigeria, Brazil
Women’s Olympic Football fixture schedule
Group stage
Thursday July 25
Group A: France v Colombia, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 8pm
Group A: Canada v New Zealand, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 4pm
Group B: USA v Zambia, Stade de Nice, kick-off 8pm
Group B: Germany v Australia, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Group C: Spain v Japan, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm
Group C: Nigeria v Brazil, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 6pm
Sunday July 28
Group A: France v Canada, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 8pm
Group A: New Zealand v Colombia, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm
Group B: USA v Germany, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 8pm
Group B: Australia v Zambia, Stade de Nice, kick-off 6pm
Group C: Spain v Nigeria, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 6pm
Group C: Brazil v Japan, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 4pm
Wednesday July 31
Group A: New Zealand v France, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 8pm
Group A: Colombia v Canada, Stade de Nice, kick-off 8pm
Group B: Australia v USA, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Group B: Zambia v Germany, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 6pm
Group C: Brazil v Spain, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 4pm
Group C: Japan v Nigeria, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm
Quarter-finals
Saturday August 3
Match 19: 1A v 3B/C, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 8pm
Match 20: 1B v 2C, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm
Match 21: 1C v 3A/B, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm
Match 22: 2A v 2B, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Semi-finals
Tuesday August 6
Match 23: Match 19 Winner v Match 21 Winner, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 8pm
Match 24: Match 20 Winner v Match 22 Winner, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 5pm
Bronze medal match
Friday August 9
Match 25: Match 23 Loser v Match 24 Loser, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 2pm
Gold medal match
Saturday August 10
Match 26: Match 23 Winner v Match 24 Winner, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 4pm
What is the format?
This is 29th time football has made an Olympic appearance for men and the eighth occasion it has involved a women’s event.
Group games can end in a draw but knockout games will go to extra-time and penalties, if needed.
The 16 men’s teams are divided into four groups, with the top two in each advancing to the quarter-finals. There are 12 women’s teams across three groups – the top two in each progress, in addition to the two best third-placed teams.
Will there be any high-profile wildcard picks?
Only three men per squad can be over 23 – described as ‘wildcard’ picks – but there are no age restrictions for the women.
Previously in the men’s, Neymar starred for Brazil during the the 2016 Rio Games alongside Thiago Silva, whilst Dani Alves, Luis Suarez and Andrea Pirlo have also previously featured.
Lionel Messi has not been included in the Argentina squad, while France head coach Thierry Henry will not be selecting new Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappe.
The two winning teams will received gold medals, the runners-up silvers and the winners of the third/fourth place play-off will collect Olympic bronze.
Brazil legend Marta set for historic sixth Olympics
Marta has been selected in Brazil’s 18-strong women’s football squad for the Paris Olympics putting her on course for a historic sixth Games of her career.
The 38-year-old striker, widely considered one of the best women’s players in history, had previously said she intends to retire from the national team after playing in the Olympics.
The Orlando Pride forward has two silver medals to her name after Brazil lost to the United States in the final of both the 2004 and 2008 tournaments, but has never won gold.
Brazil will be in Group C at the Olympics and start against Nigeria in Bordeaux on July 25.
Japan and World Cup winners Spain are also in the same group.
Spain select Olympic squad packed with World Cup winners
Spain head coach Montse Tome will lean heavily on the players who won the Women’s World Cup last year after the entire starting 11 from their victory over England in Sydney was included in her 22-woman squad for the Paris Games.
The squad, released by the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) on Wednesday, includes 34-year-old all-time top scorer Jennifer Hermoso and Ballon d’Or winners Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati.
Hermoso, Bonmati and Ona Batlle scored in Spain’s 3-0 home win over the Netherlands in the Nations League semi-finals in February that secured Olympic qualification for the first time.
Spain are drawn in Group C at Paris along with Japan, Nigeria and Brazil. The women’s football tournament will be held from July 25 to Aug. 10.
Which Premier League stars are going to the Olympics?
Argentina have named Man City’s Julian Alvarez in their squad for the Olympic Games in Paris, despite him taking part in the recent Copa America in the United States.
The 18-man Olympic squad is being coached by Javier Mascherano. Alvarez has already played over 50 games this season for club and country.
Meanwhile, new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has received a boost ahead of the start of pre-season training after midfielder Wataru Endo was left out of Japan’s squad for the Olympics.
The national team wanted to include the 31-year-old as one of their three over-age players in a predominantly under-23 squad for the Paris Games.
However, head coach Go Oiwa told a press conference in Tokyo the “restrictions” the Japanese Football Association had to work under in relation to European players – as the Olympics does not fall in FIFA-designated window – had influenced their selection with no over-age players selected.
Zabarnyi turns down Olympic chance to rest up for PL season
Ukraine centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi said he turned down an invitation to play for his country at the Paris Olympics because he needs to rest after a long football season.
The 21-year-old played in 37 of Bournemouth’s Premier League games last season before joining up with the national team for the Euros, and another tournament hot on the heels of his German adventure would be too much, he told the Ukrainian FA’s YouTube channel.
“Ukraine is in this (Olympic) tournament for the first time, it is very important but if I go there, I will miss the pre-season training with Bournemouth, I will not be able to recover and rest,” Zabarnyi said.
“It is not critical, but it is very important (to rest), I have a very long season in the Premier League ahead of me, I need to prepare properly.”
Olise and Mateta included in France squad
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Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier, Obed Nkambadio, Guillaume Restes, Robin Risser.
Defenders: Bafode Diakité, Mazime Esteve, Bradley Locko, Castello Lukeba, Kiliann Sildillia, Adrien Truffert, Loic Badé.
Midfielders: Maghnes Akliouche, Joris Chotard, Desiré Doué, Manu Koné, Enzo Millot, Khephran Thuram, Lesley Ugochukwu, Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Attackers: Bradley Barcola, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Alexandre Lacazette, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Michael Olise, Mathys Tel.
