HistoryData
sports1912

Football at the 1912 Summer Olympics — 1912 edition of the association football tournament during the Olympic Games

January 1, 1912

The 1912 Olympic football tournament was the fourth appearance of the sport at the Games, with Great Britain claiming gold for the second consecutive time.

Quick Facts

Year
1912
Category
sports

Key Facts

Gold medalist
Great Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)
Silver medalist
Denmark
Bronze medalist
Netherlands
Total matches played
17 (11 main + 6 consolation)
Tournament dates
29 June – 5 July 1912
Consolation tournament winner
Hungary

Location

Map of Stockholm, SwedenMap of Stockholm, SwedenStockholm, Sweden

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Football had been included in the Olympic programme since 1900, growing in international participation with each edition. By 1912, the Swedish Football Association was tasked with organising the tournament in Stockholm, continuing the tradition established by the English FA at the 1908 Games, and eleven nations were expected to compete across three stadiums in the Swedish capital.

Event

The 1912 Olympic football tournament was held from 29 June to 5 July across three Stockholm-area stadiums: Tranebergs Idrottsplats, Råsunda Idrottsplats, and the Olympiastadion. Eleven main-tournament matches determined medals, while six consolation matches ran concurrently for eliminated sides. Great Britain defeated Denmark in the final, with the Netherlands taking bronze, replicating the exact podium order of the 1908 Games.

Consequence

Great Britain's back-to-back Olympic football gold medals reinforced British football's prestige internationally. Hungary's victory in the consolation tournament demonstrated the growing strength of continental European football. The structured consolation format ensured all competing nations received additional competitive matches, a model that influenced future tournament organisation.

Result

Great Britain (Gold)
vs
Denmark (Silver)

at Olympiastadion (final); Råsunda Idrottsplats; Tranebergs Idrottsplats, Stockholm, Sweden

Great Britain won Olympic football gold for the second consecutive time (also won in 1908)

Timeline Context

Timeline around 191219121909191019111913191419151912 Summer Olympics medal tableGymnastics at the 1912 Summer Olympics — overview of gymnastics at the 1912 Olympic GamesWater polo at the 1912 Summer Olympics — water polo at the OlympicsSwimming at the 1912 Summer Olympics — swimming at the OlympicsAthletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics — Athletics at the OlympicsFencing at the 1912 Summer Olympics — Fencing at the OlympicsTennis at the 1912 Summer Olympics — Combined men/women tournament in StockholmCycling at the 1912 Summer Olympics — cycling at the Olympicsfootball-at-the-1912-summer-olympics-1912-edition-of-the-a-1912