FOOTBALL
Football has been included in every Summer Olympic Games as a men’s competition sport, except 1896 and 1932.
Women’s football was added to the official program at the 1996 Atlanta Games. It played by approximately 250 million players in over 200 countries, making it the world’s most popular sport.
The main difference between Football at the Olympic Games and other major events is that in the Men’s’ event players most players must be less than 23 years old, with a maximum of three over-23 year old players allowed per squad.
Because of the compact nature of the Olympic Programme, footballers start their competition before the Opening Ceremony to allow time for all the matches to be played.
Germany won the Women’s’ gold medal at the most recent Games in Rio, but much to the delight of the home fan’s Brazil won the Men’s event beating Germany in the Final.
The 1948 Games in London was the last time Ireland compete in the Olympic football tournament.
National Federation: Football Association of Ireland
International Federation: Fédération Internationale de Football Association
FOOTBALL NEWS
Team Ireland EYOF Medallists 1991 – 2023
In the 22 years of Team Ireland competing at the European Youth Olympic Festival – Ireland has had significant success. There have been 70 medals won by Irish athletes in that time, and the most successful Games for Team Ireland was in Tibilisi in 2015, with a total of ten medals being spread across athletics […]
Team Ireland at EYOF – the medallists
FROM 1991 – 2022 In the 21 years of Team Ireland competing at the European Youth Olympic Festival – Ireland has had significant success. There have been 69 medals won by Irish athletes in that time, and the most successful Games for Team Ireland was in Tibilisi in 2015, with a total of ten medals […]
RIP Brendan O’Kelly Olympian (Football)
RIP Brendan O’Kelly Olympian It is with sad regret we have learned about the passing of Olympian Brendan O’Kelly (Football). Brendan represented Team Ireland at the 1948 Olympics in London scoring Ireland’s goal. Ireland returned to the Olympics in football during the 1948 Games after a 24 year absence. Ireland’s amateur team was made up […]
Introduction to Football
Modern football has evolved from a game played in streets and schools in the mid 1800s to the most widely played game on earth played in almost every town and village in the world, from youngsters kicking a ball about in the streets and local league teams playing for local honour to vast stadiums where the multi million pound clubs draw up to 100,000 fans each week. For contact details of Football Association of Ireland please click on Full story