Soccer for National Teams: Olympic Games, Summary and Data

Information about the Olympic Games with the last 10 winners of the competition, the national teams with the most trophies won in the history of the tournment and an index to every final played.

The qualifying tournament, like that for the World Cup, is organised along continental lines. Most continental confederations organise a special Under-23 qualifying tournament, although the European qualifiers are drawn from the finalists of the UEFA Under-21 Championship.

Soccer was not on the original modern Olympic Games programme; perhaps unsurprisingly, as international soccer was still in its infancy in 1896. However an unofficial soccer tournament was organised during the first competition. Demonstration tournaments were also played at the 1900 and 1904 games, as well as at the "Intercalated Games" of 1906, but these were contested by various clubs and scratch teams, and are not considered to be official Olympic events. It was not until the London Games of 1908 that a proper international tournament was organised, featuring just six teams, rising to 11 in 1912.

The idea of youth teams caught favour at both FIFA and the IOC, and since 1992 all players in the Olympics must be under 23 years of age, with three over-23 players allowed per squad. The tournament is now effectively an "Under-23 World Cup", complementing FIFA's own tournaments at Under-20 and Under-17 levels. The new format allows teams from around the world to compete equally.

Finals: 2020 - 2016 - 2012 - 2008 - 2004 - 2000 - 1996 - 1992 - 1988 - 1984 - 1980 - 1976 - 1972 - 1968 - 1964 - 1960 - 1956 - 1952 - 1948 - 1936 - 1932 - 1928 - 1924 - 1920 - 1912 - 1908 - 1904 - 1900 - 1896