The men's and women's football tournaments were among the first events to get going at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The action began on July 24 with Argentina vs. Morocco and Uzbekistan vs. Spain in the men's draw, with a full round of games taking two days before the opening ceremony in the French capital.
Brazil are the reigning men's champions but are not taking part this year, meaning we will see different players on top of the podium. In the women's event, Tokyo gold-medallists Canada are defending their title against main challengers the United States.
Who has won the most gold medals in Olympic football history? Which nations have claimed the most medals in total? All the details are below.
MORE: The full schedule and standings for the 2024 Olympics football tournaments
Who has won the most gold medals in Olympic football?
The most successful teams in men's football at the Olympics are two that are rarely seen in the summer Games these days.
Hungary and Great Britain have each won three gold medals each. Team GB won three of the first four tournaments from 1900 to 1912, while the Hungarians took gold in 1952, 1964, and 1968. Neither nation has medalled in men's football since Hungary claimed silver in 1972.
Reigning men's champions Brazil are one of four sides with two gold medals in their history, the others being Argentina, the Soviet Union, and Uruguay. Brazil's seven medals in total are the most of any nation, but they will not be adding to that haul this time around after failing to qualify for Paris.
In women's football, the United States are the dominant force. They have won four gold medals out of a possible seven since the women's event began in Atlanta in 1996. Germany, Norway, and Canada are the other women's champions.
Who has won the most medals in Olympics football?
In men's football, Brazil have won the most medals, with seven.
Men's Olympic football all-time list of medal winners
Nation | Gold medals | Silver medals | Bronze medals | Total medals |
Brazil | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Hungary | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
Soviet Union | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Yugoslavia | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Argentina | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
Spain | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
Denmark | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Great Britain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Poland | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
East Germany | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Nigeria | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Italy | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Sweden | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Uruguay | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Czechoslovakia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Mexico | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Belgium | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
USA | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Bulgaria | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Canada | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Cameroon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Germany | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Switzerland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Austria | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Paraguay | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Japan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Norway | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
United Team of Germany | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
West Germany | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Ghana | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Chile | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
South Korea | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
For the women, USA's five medals is a record haul.
Women's Olympic football all-time list of medal winners
Nation | Gold medals | Silver medals | Bronze medals | Total medals |
USA | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Germany | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
Canada | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Norway | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Brazil | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Sweden | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Japan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
China | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Olympic football champions by year of Games: Men
Year | Host | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|
1900 | Paris, France | Great Britain | France | Belgium |
1904 | St. Louis, United States | Canada | United States | None awarded |
1908 | London, United Kingdom | Great Britain | Denmark | Netherlands |
1912 | Stockholm, Sweden | Great Britain | Denmark | Netherlands |
1920 | Antwerp, Belgium | Belgium | Spain | Netherlands |
1924 | Paris, France | Uruguay | Switzerland | Sweden |
1928 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Uruguay | Argentina | Italy |
1936 | Berlin, Germany | Italy | Austria | Norway |
1948 | London, United Kingdom | Sweden | Yugoslavia | Denmark |
1952 | Helsinki, Finland | Hungary | Yugoslavia | Sweden |
1956 | Melbourne, Australia | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | Bulgaria |
1960 | Rome, Italy | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | Denmark |
1964 | Tokyo, Japan | Hungary | Czechoslovakia | East Germany |
1968 | Mexico City, Mexico | Hungary | Bulgaria | Japan |
1972 | Munich, West Germany | Poland | Hungary | Soviet Union |
1976 | Montreal, Canada | East Germany | Poland | Soviet Union |
1980 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Czechoslovakia | East Germany | Soviet Union |
1984 | Los Angeles, United States | France | Brazil | Yugoslavia |
1988 | Seoul, South Korea | Soviet Union | Brazil | West Germany |
1992 | Barcelona, Spain | Spain | Poland | Ghana |
1996 | Atlanta, United States | Nigeria | Argentina | Brazil |
2000 | Sydney, Australia | Cameroon | Spain | Chile |
2004 | Athens, Greece | Argentina | Paraguay | Italy |
2008 | Beijing, China | Argentina | Nigeria | Brazil |
2012 | London, United Kingdom | Mexico | Brazil | South Korea |
2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Brazil | Germany | Nigeria |
2020 | Tokyo, Japan | Brazil | Spain | Mexico |
Olympic football champions by year of Games: Women
Year | Host | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Atlanta, United States | USA | China | Norway |
2000 | Sydney, Australia | Norway | USA | Germany |
2004 | Athens, Greece | USA | Brazil | Germany |
2008 | Beijing, China | USA | Brazil | Germany |
2012 | London, United Kingdom | USA | Japan | Canada |
2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Germany | Sweden | Canada |
2020 | Tokyo, Japan | Canada | Sweden | USA |