Football at the 1928 Summer Olympics — 1928 edition of the association football tournament during the Olympic Summer Games
Uruguay's 1928 Olympic football victory was the last such tournament before FIFA established the World Cup in 1930.
Key Facts
- Winner
- Uruguay
- Runner-up
- Argentina
- Host Games
- 1928 Summer Olympics
- First FIFA World Cup
- 1930 (two years later)
- Tournament status debate
- Equivalence to World Cup disputed
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Association football had been included in the Olympic Games as the premier international competition for the sport. By 1928, FIFA and the IOC were navigating tensions over amateurism rules and the growing ambition to create a standalone global football championship, setting the stage for this tournament to be the last of its kind.
The football tournament at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam was contested among national teams, culminating in Uruguay defeating Argentina to claim the gold medal. The event drew international attention and showcased South American dominance in the sport during this era.
Uruguay's victory reinforced its footballing prestige and preceded its hosting and winning of the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930. The 1928 tournament became the last Olympic football competition before the World Cup era began, sparking an ongoing debate about whether these early Olympic gold medals carry equivalent historical weight to World Cup titles.
Result
at Amsterdam, Netherlands