Gold in Rio, Gold in Tokyo but why is Brazil not playing at Paris Olympics 2024?

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris promise a vibrant display of athletic prowess across 32 sports, with football being a major crowd-puller. Just like every edition, the Summer Games will see competitions for both men’s and women’s football teams, with 16 nations playing in men’s and the number is 12 for women’s. The men’s football tournament at the Olympics consists of under-23 sides, with a maximum of three overage players allowed.

Back-to-back Gold medalists Brazil didn’t qualify!

However, there’s a surprising absence – Brazil, the two-time defending champion in the men’s category, won’t be gracing the French Capital. Let’s delve into why Brazil, along with another powerhouse Germany, missed out on qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

Brazil’s dominance in men’s Olympic football seemed unshakeable after their back-to-back victories in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. But their dreams of a historic three-peat were dashed at the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament. A single goal defeat to Argentina put them out of contention, with Argentina and Paraguay securing the qualifying spots. This unexpected development highlights the competitive nature of Olympic qualifiers, where even the most decorated teams can face setbacks.

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What about Germany?

Germany, the silver medalists from Tokyo 2020, also suffered a similar fate. Their struggles began at the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where they finished last in their group, failing to qualify for the knockout stages. The German U-23’s were in the group involving England, Israel, and Czech Republic but finished last! This underwhelming performance meant they wouldn’t even have a chance to compete for a spot in Paris. Regardless, all is not lost for these teams as both Brazil and Germany’s women’s team will play the Paris Olympics 2024.