Football at the 1908 Summer Olympics — 1908 edition of the association football tournament during the Olympic Games
The 1908 London Olympics hosted the first official international football tournament between national representative teams, replacing earlier club-based competitions.
Key Facts
- Gold medal winner
- Great Britain (all players from England)
- Silver medal winner
- Denmark
- Record goals in one match
- 10 goals by Sophus Nielsen (Denmark vs France A, 17–1)
- Teams entered
- 8 entries, 6 competed after Hungary and Bohemia withdrew
- France entries
- Two teams (main team and B team)
- Notable player
- Harald Bohr (mathematician, brother of Niels Bohr) played for Denmark
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Football had been contested at the 1900 and 1904 Games using club teams rather than national selections. By 1908, organizers moved to an official format requiring national representative sides, marking a significant step toward standardized international competition.
Six nations competed at the 1908 London Olympics after Hungary and Bohemia withdrew. Great Britain claimed the gold medal, with Denmark winning silver. Sophus Nielsen of Denmark set an individual record by scoring 10 goals in a 17–1 victory over France A, and mathematician Harald Bohr also represented Denmark.
The 1908 tournament established the precedent for national-team football at the Olympics. Great Britain's dominance reflected England's early influence on the global sport, while Denmark's strong performance highlighted emerging European football talent. The format laid groundwork for subsequent Olympic football competitions.
Result
at London, England