Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification

The men's qualification for football tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics. FIFA restricted entry to players born after January 1, 1985.

Qualifications

A total of sixteen teams participated in the finals of the Olympic tournament for men. These finals were ^[1]

• The host nation (automatically qualified)
  •  China
• Four teams from Europe
  •  Netherlands
  •  Serbia
  •  Belgium
  •  Italy
• Two teams from South America
  •  Brazil
  •  Argentina
• Two teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean
  •  Honduras
  •  United States
• Three teams from Africa
  •  Cameroon
  •  Ivory Coast
  •  Nigeria
• Three teams from Asia
  •  Australia
  •  Japan
  •  South Korea
• One team from Oceania
  •  New Zealand

UEFA (Europe)

UEFA announced that the

The Netherlands was the first European country to qualify for the Olympics as winner of their group, it will be their first appearance since 1952. Serbia was the second European country to qualify for the Olympics as winner of the other group while Belgium qualified after reaching the semi-finals. The fourth semi-finalist was England; however, because England competes at the Olympic Games as part of Great Britain which does not compete in football, the next two highest ranked teams in the tournament, Italy and Portugal, contested a playoff for the final place, which was won by Italy.

CONMEBOL (South America)

The

CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean)

CAF (Africa)

AFC (Asia)

 Australia,  Japan, and  South Korea qualified.

OFC (Oceania)

References