This week sees the official opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. However, before that magical ceremony, the Olympics will officially begin for a number of teams or individuals competing in sports that need a little extra time to be completed.
Two of those are the men’s and women’s football tournaments and they will start this week with the first set of games in both competitions before the opening ceremony.
In this post, we are going to preview both tournaments. Take a look at the history of the football tournaments at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and review the format and teams competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics football tournaments.
Finally, we will give you our tips on which are the teams to back to win gold in this event, as well as a couple of others that are genuine medal prospects.
All odds shown in this article were correct at the time of writing and were taken from the Olympic markets available at bet365 Sport. They may well have changed since the publication of this article.
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Firstly, we are going to take a look at the seven different venues that will host all the matches in the men’s and women’s tournaments in the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer—Even if just one of those is actually in the French capital!
2024 Paris Olympics Football Tournament Venues
The men’s and women’s tournaments will take place at seven venues across France, one of which is in the host city of Paris.
- Marseille – Stade de Marseille (67,394)
- Lyon – Stade de Lyon (59,186)
- Paris – Parc des Princes (47,929)
- Bordeaux – Stade de Bordeaux (42,115)
- Saint-Etienne – Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (41.965)
- Nice – Stade de Nice (36,178)
- Nantes – Stade de la Beaujoire (35,322)
Both finals will take place at the Parc des Princes in Paris. The men’s final will be held on the 9th August, with the women’s final a day later on the 10th August.
Each tournament will also include a bronze medal match. The men’s bronze medal match will take place in Nantes on August 8th. The women’s takes place in Lyon on the 9th August.
2024 Paris Olympics Football – Men’s Tournament
The men’s tournament will feature 16 teams competing for gold.
Brazil are the current holders but will not be in France to defend their gold medal after failing to qualify.
Here’s a potted history of men’s football at the Olympics.
History of Men’s Football at the Olympics
Football has been part of the Olympic games for male competitors on every occasion, bar two. 1896 and 1932.
Great Britain and Hungary have the most gold medals in the event with three apiece. However, Brazil have earned the most medals in football with seven in total (2 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze).
Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and the Soviet Union have two gold medals apiece.
A number of teams have landed one gold in Olympic mens football: Yugoslavia, Spain, Poland, East Germany, Nigeria, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Sweden, Mexico, Belgium, Canada and Cameroon.
Men’s Football Previous Olympic Winners
- 3 wins – Hungary, Great Britain
- 2 wins – Brazil, Argentina, Soviet Union, Uruguay
- 1 win – Yugoslavia, Spain, Poland, East Germany, Nigeria, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Sweden, Mexico, Belgium, Canada and Cameroon.
Brazil have claimed the most medals in mens Olympic football with two golds, three silvers and two bronzes for a total of seven medals.
2024 Paris Olympics Football – Men’s Tournament Organisation
A total of 16 teams qualified for the men’s tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
They have been drawn into four groups of four as shown in the section below.
The group stage fixtures take place on the 24th, 27th and 30th July for all groups.
The top two teams from each group will progress into the knockout phase as one of the eight quarterfinalists.
From then on the tournament is a straight knockout to decide who wins the gold, silver and bronze medals.
2024 Paris Olympics Football – Group Draw & Fixtures
The draw and fixtures for the groups in the men’s tournament is as follows:
- Group A – France, United States, Guinea, New Zealand
Fixtures
24th July – Guinea v New Zealand, France v United States
27th July – New Zealand v United States, France v Guinea
30th July – New Zealand v France, United States v Guinea
- Group B – Argentina, Morocco, Iraq, Ukraine
Fixtures
24th July – Argentina v Morocco, Iraq v Ukraine
27th July – Argentina v Iraq, Ukraine v Morocco
30th July – Ukraine v Argentina, Morocco v Iraq
- Group C – Uzbekistan, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic
Fixtures
24th July – Uzbekistan v Spain, Egypt v Dominican Republic
27th July – Dominican Republic v Spain, Uzbekistan v Egypt
30th July – Dominican Republic v Uzbekistan, Spain v Egypt
- Group D – Japan, Paraguay, Mali, Israel
Fixtures
24th July – Japan v Paraguay, Mali v Israel
27th July – Israel v Paraguay, Mali v Japan
30th July – Japan v Israel, Paraguay v Mali
Latest Bet365 Sport Betting Odds To Win Men’s Football Gold at 2024 Paris Olympics
The current odds for all 16 teams to win the Mens Football Gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics are as follows: (All odds from bet365 Sport).
- 3.25 favourites – France
- 3.50 – Spain
- 4.00 – Argentina
- 11.00 – Morocco
- 21.00 – Paraguay
- 23.00 – Egypt, United States
- 26.00 – Ukraine
- 34.00 – Japan, Mali
- 41.00 – Israel
- 51.00 – Guinea
- 67.00 – Uzbekistan
- 101.00 – Iraq
- 126.00 – New Zealand
- 251.00 – Dominican Republic
Our 2024 Paris Olympic Men’s Football Betting Tip
While Morocco have a solid team and Paraguay some good players, this to me looks a three-way race. Spain, Argentina and France will battle it out for gold and the medals and for me, France at 3.25 look the best value bet with a strong squad and, crucially, home advantage.
2024 Paris Olympics Football – Women’s Tournament
A total of twelve teams have qualified to compete for the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics women’s football tournament.
Canada are the current gold medalists and are back to defend the trophy they won in Japan.
Let’s briefly examine the history of women’s football at the Olympics.
History of Women’s Football at the Olympics
Women’s football was only added to the Olympics from the 1996 games in Atlanta. However, it has remained a key part of the Olympics for female footballers ever since.
Unlike the men’s event, which is generally an Under 23 event (with a maximum of three overage players per squad), the women’s tournament is a full international tournament. It is on a par with other major women’s international tournaments such as the World Cup, Copa America Feminina and the Women’s Euros.
Women’s Football Previous Olympic Winners
The United States have dominated the gold medal in this event, winning four of the seven Olympics contested.
- 1996 – Atlanta – United States
- 2000 – Sydney – Norway
- 2004 – Athens – United States
- 2008 – Beijing – United States
- 2012 – London – United States
- 2016 – Rio de Janeiro – Germany
- 2020 – Tokyo – Canada
2024 Paris Olympics Football – Women’s Tournament Organisation
The 12 qualifiers for the Women’s Olympics Football tournament have been drawn into three groups of four.
The teams play each other once in the group stage. The top two teams in each group, plus the two best third-placed teams in each group qualify for the quarterfinals.
2024 Paris Olympics Football – Group Draw & Fixtures
The three groups were drawn as follows for the 2024 Paris Olympics Football Women’s Tournament. A full set of group stage fixtures is shown for each group too.
- Group A – France, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand
Fixtures
25th July – Canada v New Zealand, France v Colombia
28th July – New Zealand v Colombia, France v Canada
31st July – New Zealand v France, Colombia v Canada
- Group B – United States, Zambia, Germany, Australia
Fixtures
25th July – Germany v Australia, United States v Zambia
28th July – Australia v Zambia, Germany v United States
31st July – Australia v United States, Germany v Zambia
- Group C – Spain, Japan, Nigeria, Brazil
Fixtures
25th July – Japan v Spain, Nigeria v Brazil
28th July – Nigeria v Spain, Brazil v Japan
31st July – Japan v Nigeria, Spain v Brazil
Latest Bet365 Sport Betting Odds To Win Women’s Football Gold at 2024 Paris Olympics
Bet365 Sport is offering the current odds on the women’s Football Gold medalist market: –
- 2.75 favourites – The United States
- 3.00 – Spain
- 6.00 – France
- 13.00 – Germany
- 15.00 – Brazil, Japan
- 17.00 – Australia
- 21.00 – Canada
- 26.00 – Colombia
- 67.00 – Nigeria, Zambia
- 101.00 – New Zealand
Our 2024 Paris Olympic Women’s Football Betting Tip
Emma Hayes coming in as the USA Women’s team manager is a big boost for the four-time winners, but I don’t think it is enough to catch the best team in the world at present. That is Spain and at 3.00 to land the win, they are the outstanding value bet here.