Football at the 1924 Summer Olympics — 1924 edition of the association football tournament during the Olympic Summer Games
The 1924 Olympic football tournament was the first official open FIFA World Championship, permitting professional players and expanding to 22 nations across four confederations.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 6th Olympic football tournament
- Participating nations
- 22 countries
- Confederations represented
- 4
- Gold medalist
- Uruguay
- First time allowed
- Professional player participation
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The growth of association football internationally and FIFA's desire to establish a global championship led to an expansion of the Olympic football tournament in 1924. For the first time, professional players were permitted to compete, and the field grew to 22 nations spanning Africa, Asia, South America, North America, and Europe.
The football tournament at the 1924 Paris Summer Olympics featured 22 countries competing across four confederations. Uruguay made their Olympic football debut and went through the tournament undefeated, claiming the gold medal in what was designated the first official open FIFA World Championship in history.
Uruguay's gold medal victory launched their reputation as a dominant footballing nation, earning the first of four stars on their national crest. The success of the expanded, professional-inclusive tournament helped lay the groundwork for the establishment of the FIFA World Cup, which Uruguay also won in 1930.
Result
at Paris, France