How to qualify for football at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained
Popular across the world, football is also one of the oldest sports on the Olympic programme. Find out everything you need to know about the number of teams, stars to watch and pathway to Paris below.
Football is one of the oldest sports on the Olympic programme, having been a fixture at the Games since 1900, with the exception of Los Angeles 1932. The women’s game was added to the programme at Atlanta 1996 and has been a mainstay ever since.
Paris 2024 marks a return of the sport to the city where football debuted at the Games. The competition begins on 24 July, two days before the Opening Ceremony. In all, there will be 28 teams competing (12 in the women’s tournament and 16 in the men’s) - the same number as Tokyo 2020, and the matches will played across six venues:
Learn more about the football qualification system for Paris 2024.
Number of teams
Women
There will be 12 teams in the women's tournament, with a total of 216 athletes (18 per team). One quota place will be given to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) team of the host country (France), while the other 11 will be disputed by National Olympic Committees from around the world, through qualification tournaments.
Men
There will be 16 teams in the men's tournament, with a total of 288 athletes (18 per team). One quota place will ve given to the National Olympic Committee (CON) team of the host country (France), while the other 15 will be disputed by National Olympic Committees from around the world, through qualification tournaments.
Age limit
There is no age limit in the women's tournament at Paris 2024, nor the competitions that qualify National Olympic Committee teams for the upcoming Games.
In the men's tournament, athletes born on or after 1 January 2001 (aged 23 at the time of Paris 2024) are eligible to play in the qualifiers and competition matches of the upcoming Games. However, three (3) footballers born before the mentioned date, above the age limit, can be included in the squad list (18 players per team).
Qualification system
Qualifying tournaments for Paris 2024 must be organised by FIFA in collaboration with the respective regional confederations:
- Africa (CAF - African Football Confederation)
- North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF - Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Football)
- South America (CONMEBOL - South American Football Confederation)
- Asia (AFC - Asian Football Confederation)
- Europe (UEFA - European Union of Football Associations)
- Oceania (OFC - Oceania Football Confederation)
Distribution of quota places and schedule
Women
The 12 quota places for the Paris 2024 Games women's football competition will be distributed through qualification tournaments as follows:
- Africa: 2 quota places - tournament TBD (to be decided).
- North, Central America and the Caribbean: 1 quota place decided through the Women's Concacaf Championship in Mexico (July 4th to 18th, 2022): USA. Canada lost the CONCACAF final and therefore have a playoff with Jamaica next year to book a spot at Paris 2024.
- South America: 2 quota places - Copa America femenina. Brazil and Colombia
- Asia: 2 quota places - tournament TBD.
- Europe: 2 quota places - UEFA Women’s Nations League (Autumn 2023 - Spring 2024). The two finalists earn a quota.
- Oceania: 1 quota place - tournament TBD.
- Host country (France): 1 quota place.
Men
The 16 quota places for the Paris 2024 Games men's football competition will be distributed through qualification tournaments as follows:
- Africa: 3.5 quota places (a 4th place can be obtained through play-off match against an Asian NOC) - tournament TBD.
- North, Central America and the Caribbean: 2 quota places that defined through the Concacaf Under 20 Championship in Honduras (June 18th and July 4th, 2022): USA and Dominican Rep.
- South America: 2 quota places - tournament TBD.
- Asia: 3.5 quota places (a 4th place can be obtained through play-off match against an African NOC) - tournament TBD.
- Europe: 3 quota places - tournament TBD.
- Oceania: 1 quota place - tournament TBD.
- Host country (France): 1 quota place.
Africa and Asia will compete in a play-off match to determine which of the two confederations is allocated a fourth quota place.
Footballers to keep an eye on
In the women’s competition, four-time Olympic champions the USA will always be among the favourites. Megan Rapinoe, one of the biggest names in world football, will be 39 by the time of Paris 2024 and in search of a second gold medal at the Games.
Canada are the reigning Olympic champions and will be aiming to defend their title at the next Games, while Brazil will be without legends of the past such as Formiga - an ever-present at the Games since Atlanta 1996 - but will still have strength in their ranks, including forwards Bia Zaneratto and Debinha.
In Europe, Tokyo silver medallists Sweden are second in the FIFA rankings and will count on the leadership of Emma Blackstenius as they aim to qualify for another edition of the Games. Spain have Alexia Putellas, the 2021 UEFA European Women’s Football of the Year among their roster, while third-ranked France will have the support of a nation behind them as they play in their home Olympic Games.
In the men’s competition, Brazil are reigning Fifa Under 17 World Champions and will be aiming for a third consecutive Olympic triumph. Host nation France’s Arnaud Kalimuendo also starred in the Under 17 tournament scoring five goals which he followed up with 12 goals for his club side Lens last season. And who can forget Kylian Mbappe, the global superstar who has professed his wish to play in the Paris Games.
For Italy, keep an eye on Wilfried Gnonto who scored three times at the Under 17 World Cup. He also scored five goals from 10 games in a championship run with club side Zurich and was part of the squad during the UEFA Nations League tournament, assisting a goal against Germany.
Football qualification timeline for Paris 2024
Women
- TBD: Asian qualifying tournament (AFC).
- TBD: qualifying tournament in Africa (CAF).
- July 4-18, 2022: North, Central America and Caribbean Women's Championship (CONCACAF) in Mexico.
- TBD: qualifying tournament in South America (CONMEBOL).
- TBD: Oceania qualifying tournament (OFC).
- Autumn 2023 - Spring 2024: UEFA Women’s Nations League (Europe).
- September 2023: CONCACAF play-off for the Olympic tournament (format to be decided).
Men
- June 18-July 4, 2022: CONCACAF Men's Under-20 Championship in Honduras.
- TBD: Asian qualifying tournament (AFC).
- TBD: qualifying tournament in Africa (CAF).
- TBD: qualifying tournament in South America (CONMEBOL).
- TBD: Oceania qualifying tournament (OFC).
- TBD: European qualifying tournament (UEFA).
- TBD: Intercontinental play-off between Africa and Asia.
- Date TBD: FIFA will send the acceptance form to all National Olympic Committees, qualified for Paris 2024, two weeks after the end of the last qualifying match for Paris 2024.
- Date TBD: deadline for the National Olympic Committees, which had their teams qualified for Paris 2024, to confirm the use of the quota places.
- Date TBD: FIFA relocates those quota places that are eventually not confirmed.
- 8 July 2024: Deadline for sports entries for Paris 2024.
- 24 July - 9 August 2024: Olympic football tournaments for women and men are held.
- 26 July to 11 August 2024: Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Find out more about the qualification system for other sports that will feature at Paris 2024.