The eagerly awaited draw for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament has concluded, and the groupings have been revealed.
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Paris 2024 Olympic Football Tournament: Exciting Group Matchups Unveiled in Draw Ceremony
Host nation France will kick off their participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Football Tournament against the United States on July 24th, with both teams drawn in Group A. This match is scheduled two days prior to the Opening Ceremony. It’s noteworthy that France clinched their only Olympic football title 40 years ago on U.S. soil during Los Angeles 1984.
Argentina, a two-time Olympic champion, found themselves in Group B, alongside Morocco, Ukraine, and the third-placed finisher from the upcoming 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup. Spain, the champions of Barcelona 1992, will compete in Group C, while Paraguay, Mali, and Israel await the winner of the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup for Group D.
The draw ceremony commenced at 20:00 CET on Wednesday, March 20th, led by FIFA Director of Tournaments Jamie Yarza and Chief Women’s Football Officer Sarai Bareman. Accompanying them were former football stars Didier Drogba from Côte d’Ivoire, Stephanie Labbe from Canada, Javier Saviola, who won Olympic gold with Argentina, and Marie-Jose Perec, a three-time Olympic gold medallist representing France.
The 12 teams with confirmed Olympic quotas, along with the four teams yet to qualify, were divided into four groups, as detailed below.
PARIS Olympics 2024: Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Groups
Group A: France, USA, ICP AFC-CAF, New Zealand
Group B: Argentina, Morocco, AFC3, Ukraine
Group C: AFC2, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic
Group D: AFC1, Paraguay, Mali, Israel
France’s Gold Quest: Thierry Henry and Arséne Wenger’s Confidence in Paris 2024
Thierry Henry, the head coach of France’s men’s Olympic football team and a 1998 FIFA World Cup champion, expressed his ambitions for Paris in a conversation with Olympics.com after the draw, emphasizing his clear goal of pursuing the gold.
“I am aiming for the gold medal, although I acknowledge the journey ahead is long,” he stated. “However, if one does not aspire for gold in such a tournament, there is little purpose in participating.”
With reigning Olympic champions Brazil failing to qualify for the upcoming Games, France is poised as a formidable contender for the gold medal, particularly on their home ground later this year.
Arséne Wenger, FIFA Chief of Global Football Development and former Arsenal manager, echoed Henry’s confidence in the host nation. He remarked, “I believe both the French men’s and women’s teams stand a strong chance of advancing to the quarterfinals. The real challenge will commence from that stage onwards.”
Reflecting on the draw, Wenger added, “I think our [France’s] draw is favorable. Similar to the men’s team, I believe they are favorites to reach the quarterfinals.”
Just five days after the draw, on March 25th, the world will witness a preview of the potential Olympic opener, as the U.S. Under-23 men’s national team will engage in its inaugural match of the year against France at Stade Bonal in Montbéliard, France.
This encounter will serve as an essential test for France and their manager Henry, who emphasized his focus on the present moment rather than contemplating potential opponents in the knockout stages, stating that he is currently “working on a concrete plan.”
How and When Will The Final Four Teams Be Decided?
The final four teams for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament will be determined through the AFC U-23 Championships, scheduled to take place from April 15th to May 3rd. The top three teams from this championship will secure quotas for the Olympic tournament. Additionally, the fourth-placed team will enter a playoff against Guinea, the fourth-placed team from the CAF qualification competition.
The rankings of these teams at the conclusion of the tournament will determine their designation as AFC1, AFC2, and so forth.
It’s important to note that the participation of athletes in the Paris Games hinges on their National Olympic Committees (NOCs) selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024, as NOCs possess exclusive authority over the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games.
