Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics – men's tournament — 27th edition of the men's Olympic football tournament
Brazil successfully defended their men's Olympic football title at the postponed 2020 Games, held in Japan in 2021 under modified age rules due to the COVID-19 delay.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 27th men's Olympic football tournament
- Dates held
- 22 July – 7 August 2021
- Stadiums used
- 6 stadiums across 6 cities in Japan
- Player age restriction
- Under-24 (born on or after 1 January 1997)
- Overage players allowed
- Maximum of 3 per team
- Defending champion
- Brazil (retained title)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 2020 Summer Olympics were postponed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. FIFA decided to maintain the original player eligibility cutoff of 1 January 1997 rather than adjust it, effectively raising the age limit from under-23 to under-24 for this edition of the tournament.
The men's football tournament was contested across six stadiums in six Japanese cities from 22 July to 7 August 2021. Teams fielded squads composed mainly of under-24 players with up to three overage players permitted. The final was played at the International Stadium in Yokohama.
Brazil, the defending champions from the 2016 Rio Olympics, successfully retained their gold medal. The tournament marked the first time the men's Olympic football age restriction was applied at the under-24 level, a direct result of the pandemic-driven postponement.
Result
at International Stadium, Yokohama