Paris 2024 Olympic men’s and women’s football draw summary: teams, groups, games, dates

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OLYMPIC GAMES

Who will the USMNT and USWNT play in the 2024 Olympic Games soccer?

Fans of the Stars and Stripes: my colleague Calum Roche has put together this full report on the USWNT and USMNT's Olympic draws.

When are the Olympic football tournaments?

The men's tournament is to be played from 24 July to 9 August, while the women's event is from 25 July to 10 August.

Both finals will be held at Paris' Parc des Princes.

The women's football draw in full

Group A: France, Canada, Colombia, New Zealand
Group B: USWNT, Germany, Australia, African qualifier 2
Group C: Spain, Japan, Brazil, African qualifier 1

CAF 1 into Group C

Finally, CAF 1 is drawn into Group C. They'll join Spain, Japan and Brazil in that section.

CAF 1, remember, will be one of Nigeria or South Africa.

NZ into Group A, CAF 2 into Group B

New Zealand are out first, and go into Group A, with France, Colombia, Canada.

CAF 2 is next out, and will go into Group B, with the US, Germany and Australia. A reminder that CAF 2 is one of Zambia or Morocco.

A reminder that the two African teams will come from the CAF Olympic qualifying tournament, and will be two of Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Morocco. We're also told that Nigeria or South Africa will be African qualifier 1, and African qualifier 2 will be Zambia or Morocco.

And to the final pot of the night...

So, finally, to pot 4. These three teams are: Pot 4: New Zealand, African qualifier 1, African qualifier 2.

The draw after pot 3

Group A: France, Canada, Colombia
Group B: USWNT, Germany, Australia
Group C: Spain, Japan, Brazil

Australia are drawn into Group B, joining the USWNT and Germany.

This, of course, means that Brazil will be in Group C.

Colombia in Group A

Colombia are the first pot 3 team plucked from the hat. They get Group A, with France and Canada.

We move on to pot 3...

It's time for pot 3, which contains: Brazil, Australia and Colombia.

The women's draw as it stands...

Group A: France, Canada
Group B: USWNT, Germany
Group C: Spain, Japan

Canada into Group B, Japan reunited with Spain

Defending champions Canada are next out, and they can go into France's group. 

That means that Japan get Group C, and a first-round date with world champions Spain. A team they walloped at the Women's World Cup, you may remember.

Germany get Group B

Germany are the first pot 2 team out of the hat. They can't go into France's group because they're from the same confederation, so they are placed into Group B, with the US.

On to pot 2...

Now for pot 2, which features: Germany, Japan and Canada.

Spain given Group C berth

With France and the US already pulled out of pot 1, it just remains for Spain to be drawn into Group C.

France and USA first out

France, as hosts, again go straight into Group A.

The USWNT, four-time winners of the women's Olympic football tournament, are next out. They head into Group B.

Who's in the women's draw pots?

A reminder of the pots:

Pot 1: France, Spain, USWNT
Pot 2: Germany, Japan, Canada
Pot 3: Brazil, Australia, Colombia
Pot 4: New Zealand, African qualifier 1, African qualifier 2

Drogba looking forward to Olympic football in Marseille

Drogba is asked about Marseille, which is going to be one of the venues for the Paris 2024 football tournament.

"I think it's going to be a great atmosphere," says the Champions League winner, who played for Marseille during his career. "It's going to be a great opportunity for people to discover football in Marseille."

And now for the women's draw...

So, with the men's draw complete, it's time to move on to the women's tournament.

The draw assistants for this one will be former Canada goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé, and ex-Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba.

Olympic men's football draw in full

Group A: France, New Zealand, USMNT, AFC-CAF playoff winner
Group B: Argentina, Morocco, AFC qualifier 3, Ukraine
Group C: AFC qualifier 2, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic
Group D: AFC qualifier 1, Paraguay, Mali, Israel

A reminder that the three AFC qualifiers will be the top three finishers as the AFC U-23 Cup in April and May.

The AFC-CAF playoff, meanwhile, will be contested by the fourth-placed team at the AFC U-23 Cup, and Guinea, who came fourth at the 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.

Draw complete!

The Dominican Republic, another team making their debut in the Olympic men's football tournament, are placed in Group C.

They're alongside AFC qualifier 2, Spain and Egypt.

And that's the men's draw done!

Israel complete Group D

Israel, the third pot 4 team out of the hat, go into Group D, with AFC 1, Paraguay and Mali.

Ukraine placed in Group B

Next out are Ukraine, who are drawn into Group B. They're with Argentina, Morocco and AFC 3.

The Ukrainians are making their tournament debut.

AFC-CAF winnner into Group A

The AFC-CAF playoff winner goes into Group A, with France, NZ and the US.

And now for pot 4

So, the draw concludes with pot 4. These four teams are: Dominican Republic, Israel, Ukraine, AFC-CAF playoff winner.

The draw as things stand....

Group A: France, New Zealand, USMNT
Group B: Argentina, Morocco, AFC 3
Group C: AFC 2, Spain, Egypt
Group D: AFC 1, Paraguay, Mali

Mali the final pot 3 team out of the hat

And finally, Mali are placed into Group D, with AFC 1 and Paraguay.

The Africans are competing at only their second ever Olympics, having reached the quarter-finals in 2004.

US get Group A

Now, Saviola pulls the USMNT out of the pot. The Stars and Stripes, who were silver-medallists all the way back in 1904, go into Group A with France and New Zealand.

The US will face France in the hosts' opening game.

Egypt given Group C berth

Next out are Egypt, who are placed into Group C with AFC 2 and Spain.

AFC qualifier 3 into Group B

The third unconfirmed Asian qualifier is the first pot 3 team out of the hat. They go into Group B, with Argentina and Morocco.

Time for pot 3...

Now for pot 3, which contains the following teams: USMNT, Egypt, AFC qualifier 3, Mali.

The draw so far

Group A: France, New Zealand
Group B: Argentina, Morocco
Group C: AFC 2, Spain
Group D: AFC 1, Paraguay

Paraguay go into Group D

Finally, Paraguay come out of pot 2. Silver-medallists in 2004, the South Americans will be placed in Group D, with another as yet unidentified AFC nation.

Spain into Group C

Spain, winners in 1992, are drawn into Group C with an unnamed Asian team.

Moroccans into Group B

Saviola plucks out Morocco next. The North Africans will join Argentina in Group B.

NZ join hosts in Group A

New Zealand are the first to be pulled out of the hat by draw assistant Javier Saviola, so they will go into Group A with France.

Now for pot 2

These four teams are, remember: Spain, New Zealand, Paraguay and Morocco.

AFC qualifiers into Groups C and D

AFC 1 and 2, two of the as yet unconfirmed Asian qualifiers, are next to come out of the pot. 

Those teams - which will be the two highest-ranked of AFC's qualifiers - will go into Groups D and C, respectively.

France and Argentina first out of the hat

France, as hosts, are drawn into Group A. Argentina, the next team out of pot 1, go into Group B.

A last look at the men's pots

Here's a reminder of the four pots:

Pot 1: France, AFC qualifier 1, AFC qualifier 2, Argentina
Pot 2: Spain, NZ, Paraguay, Morocco
Pot 3: USMNT, Egypt, AFC qualifier 3, Mali
Pot 4: Dominican Republic, Israel, Ukraine, AFC-CAF playoff winner

Rules discussed

It really is almost time now. We're going to have the men's draw first.

The pots, groups and competition rules are currently being explained. But as I've already explained that below, I won't bore you with any repetition.

Marie-Jose Perec shares thoughts

A three-time gold-medallist, the former star gives us some encouraging words to players heading into the tournament.

She also explains how important this is as a message for her own children.

Infantino looks forward to "unique taste" of Paris football

Blimey. They're in no hurry to get on with this draw, are they. We are now treated to a message from FIFA's president, Gianni Infantino.

"Some of the very best players in the world, men and women, are going to compete for the glory of an Olympic medal," Infantino says.

"Paris is a unique place in the history of football [...]. It'll give these Olympic tournaments an absolutely unique taste."

Can European men end Olympic hoodoo?

We now watch a video looking back on France's only ever Olympic football gold so far: the men's team's victory in 1984.

The French were followed as Olympic champions by the USSR in 1988 and Spain in 1992 - and no European team has won men's gold since then.

Since 1996, the men's competition has been dominated by African and Latin American teams. 

Nigeria and Cameroon were winners in 1996 and 2000, respectively, before Argentina won consecutive crowns in 2004 and 2008. Mexico took gold in 2012, before Brazil claimed back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2020.

Henry excited by Olympics "dream"

Now, the men's and women's coaches for hosts France - Thierry Henry and Hervé Renard, respectively - are brought on to the stage.

"The Games make us dream," Henry purrs when asked about the prospect of competing at the Olympics.

"In women's football, winning the Olympic title is quite an ask," Renard says. "The best we have managed so far is fourth."

Draw event underway

It is indeed Monsieur Leveque!

He welcomes us all, before introducing us to our four draw assistants. A reminder that they are Javier Saviola, Stephanie Labbé, Didier Drogba and Marie-Jose Perec.

We're now treated to a video of how Brazil and Canada secured gold in Tokyo three years ago.

That means our poor interpreter has to live-translate French match commentary; let's just say he doesn't quite match the raw, visceral emotion of the original commentators.

Almost draw time!

Right, it looks like the draw event is about to get underway. We are being treated to some thoroughly stirring, atmospheric beats and a man in a suit, who I can only assume is our host, Fabien Leveque, is standing on the stage.

PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES

The Olympic Football Draw: how to watch on TV, stream online | Paris Games

Should you be wondering how you can watch the draw, by the way, you might wish to peruse my colleague Andy Restrepo's guide on where to tune in.

No third-place qualifiers in men's tournament

I'm sure you'll have worked it out for yourself, but for the sake of thoroughness: the fact that there are 16 teams in the men's round-robin stage, rather than the 12 in the women's tournament, means there will be no salvation for third-placed finishers. Only the top two teams in each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.

The pots for the men's draw

The four men's tournament pots are:

Pot 1: France, AFC qualifier 1, AFC qualifier 2, Argentina
Pot 2: Spain, NZ, Paraguay, Morocco
Pot 3: USMNT, Egypt, AFC qualifier 3, Mali
Pot 4: Dominican Republic, Israel, Ukraine, AFC-CAF playoff winner

How will the men's football draw work?

Much like the women's, is the short answer. Rather than three pots of four, though, there will be four pots of four, from which four groups of four teams will be drawn.

Also, FIFA's world rankings haven't been used to determine the make-up of the pots; instead, a ranking system based on past performances at the Olympics has been used.

As in the women's competition, France automatically go into Pot 1 as hosts.

No three-peat for Brazil in 2024

You may have noticed that Brazil, the winners of the last two men's Olympic football tournaments, are not on the list.

That's because the South Americans finished third in CONMEBOL's pre-Olympic tournament, behind Paraguay and Argentina.

Who is in the hat for the men's football tournament?

So, on to the field for the men's football tournament.

Thus far, 12 teams have secured their spot at the event: 12 teams qualified so far: Argentina, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Israel, Mali, Morocco, New Zealand, Paraguay, Spain, Ukraine and the USMNT. 

Of the remaining four berths, three will definitely be filled by Asian teams. That trio will be decided at the AFC U-23 Cup in April and May.

The final qualifier will come from an AFC-CAF intercontinental playoff, whose date is TBC.

Which players are eligible for Olympic football?

A reminder, by the way, that player eligibility for the men's and women's football tournaments isn't the same.

While the women's event is played by senior national sides, the men's competition is largely for under-23s. I say largely, because teams can also pick three overage players.

That has led to talk of 25-year-old France star Kylian Mbappé turning out for the hosts...

The pots for the women's football draw

The women's pots will be as follows:

Pot 1: France, Spain, USWNT
Pot 2: Germany, Japan, Canada
Pot 3: Brazil, Australia, Colombia
Pot 4: New Zealand, African qualifier 1, African qualifier 2

How will the women's draw work?

Teams will be split into four pots of three, with the make-up of those pots determined by the FIFA world rankings as of 15 March 2024. As tournament hosts, France automatically go into the top pot. 

Three first-round groups, each containing four teams, will be drawn by placing one nation from each pot in each group.

At this summer's tournament, the top two will qualify for the knockout stages, as will the two best third-place finishers.

Can Canada retain Olympic crown?

The most recent Olympics winner in the women's field is, of course, Canada. The Canucks secured their only gold medal so far by beating Sweden in the final in Tokyo three years ago, having dumped the USWNT out in the semis.

Despite failing to make the gold-medal match at the last two Games, the US remain - far and away - the competition's most decorated nation.

The Stars and Stripes have won the women's football tournament four times since its inception in 1996. After victory at the inaugural event 28 years ago, the US then claimed back-to-back-to-back titles in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

No other country has won the women's tournament more than once.

La Roja set for Olympics bow

The field for the women's tournament includes every OIympic gold-medal winner, and every Women's World Cup winner, but one.

In both cases, the odd one out is Norway. The Scandinavians were Olympic champions in 2000 and world champions in 1995, but haven't reached the Games since 2008.

There is one debutant at the Games - and it's a big one. Spain, the current Women's World Cup holders, have never previously qualified for the Olympics.

Who is in the hat for the women’s tournament?

So far, 10 teams have qualified for the women's tournament. They are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and the USWNT.

The two teams yet to confirm their ticket to Paris will come from Africa’s Olympic qualifying tournament. which is to be played at the start of April. The four teams in contention are Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia.

When are the Olympic football tournaments? How many teams are involved?

That seems like a couple of pretty key bits of info that we ought to pin down right from the get-go.

Paris 2024's men's football tournament will be played from 24 July to 9 August, with 16 teams involved. As for the women's competition, which features 12 nations, that starts and ends a day later, on 25 July and 10 August.

It's the first time that Olympic football will reach its climax with the women's gold-medal match, rather than the men's.

Saviola and Drogba among draw assistants

Today's draw will be hosted by the French TV presenter Fabien Leveque. It'll be conducted by FIFA's director of tournaments, Jaime Yarza, and the body’s chief women's football officer, Sarai Bareman.

As for the famous sporting faces who'll be assisting with the draw, we've got three former football internationals, and one legendary track and field athlete.

Our former footy stars are: Javier Saviola, an Olympic gold medal winner with Argentina in 2004; ex-Canada goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé, a gold medal winner at the Tokyo Games in 2021; and Ivory Coast great Didier Drogba. While the one-time Chelsea favourite never played at the Olympics, he did carry the torch before London Games in 2012. 

Finally, our former athlete is France's Marie-Jose Perec, who was a three-time Olympic gold medallist.

Olympic football draw: welcome!

Hello there! Welcome to our live-text coverage of the draw for this summer's men's and women's Olympic football tournaments.

Held at Le Pulse Building in Saint-Denis, the draw gets underway at 8pm CET - in about an hour's time. In the US, that's 3pm ET/12 noon PT.