If you’re looking for something to fill your soccer fix between the end of Euro 2020 and the start of the new soccer season, then the Olympic soccer schedule is here to save you.
Football at the Olympics is certainly not considered the greatest sport of the Games, but it does offer younger players – and some of the game’s legends – an excellent platform to showcase themselves on the international stage.
While Team GB will not compete for a men’s team this year, Hege Riise’s team will fight for gold in the women.
Tokyo 2020
Man United’s Bailly equalized Spain with a catastrophic mistake in the Olympic quarter-finals
BEFORE AN HOUR
Unsurprisingly, many of the male players who participated in Euro 2020 will not be attending the Olympics as the players need a well-deserved break before their national campaigns begin next month.
It can be difficult to fit a grueling 32-game plan into two weeks, which is why the Tokyo soccer tournament begins the day before the official opening ceremony.
Here you can find out everything about the teams, groups, game dates and kick-off times of the men’s Olympic football tournament.
groups
The 16 participating nations were divided into four groups, with the first two going into the knockout phase.
Group A: Japan, Mexico, France, South Africa
Group B: Honduras, South Korea, New Zealand, Romania
Group C: Argentina, Australia, Egypt, Spain
Group D: Brazil, Germany, Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia
equipment
Thursday July 22nd
Egypt – Spain – 8:30 AM BST
Mexico – France – 09:00 BST
New Zealand – South Korea – 09:00 BST
Ivory Coast – Saudi Arabia – 09:30 BST
Argentina – Australia – 11:30 am BST
Honduras – Romania – 12:00 PM BST
Japan – South Africa – 12:00 BST
Brazil – Germany – 12:30 BST
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo will represent Ivory Coast at Tokyo 2020
Photo credit: Getty Images
Sunday 25th July
Egypt – Argentina – 8:30 AM BST
France – South Africa – 09:00 BST
New Zealand v Honduras – 9:00 AM BST
Brazil – Ivory Coast – 09:30 BST
Australia – Spain – 11:30 am BST
Romania – South Korea – 12:00 BST
Japan – Mexico – 12:00 PM BST
Saudi Arabia – Germany – 12:30 PM BST
Wednesday July 28th
Saudi Arabia – Brazil – 09:00 BST
Germany – Ivory Coast – 09:00 BST
Romania – New Zealand – 09:30 BST
South Korea – Honduras – 09:30 BST
Spain – Argentina – 12:00 BST
Australia – Egypt – 12:00 BST
France – Japan – 12:30 BST
South Africa – Mexico – 12:30 pm BST
Saturday July 31st
QF1: Winner of group A against the runner-up in group B
QF2: Winner of Group C – Second in Group D
QF3: Group B winner – Group A runner-up
QF4: Group D winner – Group C runner-up
Tuesday 3rd August
SF1: QF1 winner versus QF2 winner
SF2: QF3 winner versus QF4 winner
Friday 6th August
Bronze medal game
Saturday 7th August
Gold medal match
Dani Alves has already made 118 appearances for Brazil
Photo credit: Getty Images
Venues
The games of the men’s tournament take place in six cities at the following venues:
- Kashima Stadium – Kashima
- Miyagi Stadium – Rifu
- Saitama Stadium 2002 – Saitama
- Sapporo Dome – Sapporo
- Tokyo Stadium – Tokyo
- Yokohama International Stadium – Yokohama
Keep an eye on players
Winning gold in Rio 2016 on home soil and determined to defend their crown in Tokyo, Brazil have a squad with Barcelona legend Dani Alves as one of their aging players.
Everton striker Richarlison, Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz and Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli have also been named to a talented Brazilian squad.
Manchester United fans will be keeping an eye on winger Amad Diallo and defender Eric Bailly, both of whom are part of the Ivory Coast squad.
Veteran defender Winston Reid is another name that Premier League fans will recognize. The 33-year-old has not played a game for West Ham since 2018, but is one of New Zealand’s over 23-year-old players along with Burnley striker Chris Wood.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has named six players in his Olympic squad who took part in Euro 2020; Pedri, Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo, Unai Simon, Mikel Oyarzabal and Pau Torres, while Dani Ceballos and Marco Asensio are also listed as obsolete players.
Transfers
Man City makes Jack Grealish a £ 100 million offer
YESTERDAY AT 12:14 PM
Premier League
Rashford is out for 12 weeks after shoulder surgery
Yesterday at 11:55 am
