Paris 2024: Who are the favourites to win gold at men’s Olympic football?

Men’s football has been a regular fixture in every Olympic Games edition, except in 1896 and 1932.
As the 2024 Olympics kicks off in Paris, Al Jazeera tells you everything you need to know about the men’s football event:
A total of 16 countries have qualified for men’s football at Paris 2024.
Group A: France, United States, Guinea, New Zealand
Group B: Argentina, Morocco, Ukraine, Iraq
Group C: Uzbekistan, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic
Group D: Japan, Paraguay, Mali, Israel
Unlike the women’s football tournament, which is a full senior-level tournament, the men’s Olympic football event is restricted to players under 23 years old, with a maximum of three over-age players allowed.
The 16 men’s teams are divided into four groups of four teams each. The top two from each group progress to the quarterfinals, followed by the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals meet in the gold medal match, while the losers play in the bronze medal match.
With a mix of emerging talent and some experienced players, hosts France are the top contenders at the Paris Games. Coached by Thierry Henry, France are looking to secure their second-ever Olympic gold medal, having first won at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
Twice gold medallists Argentina also have a stacked team with Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez and Major League Soccer (MLS) midfield sensation Thiago Almada.
Spain are among the favourites, with Euro 2024 players Fermin Lopez and Alex Baena also representing their country at the Olympics.
Other top players at the Paris Olympics include France’s Michael Olise and Alexandre Lacazette, Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi and Guinea’s Naby Keita.
The men’s football matches will be held across seven stadiums in France.
If a match is level at the end of normal playing time, extra time of two 15 minutes each will be played. If still tied, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout.
The participating countries can name a squad of 18 players, including a maximum of three over-age players. They are also allowed to name four reserve players.
Hungary and Great Britain have won the most gold medals – three each – in men’s football at the Olympics while Brazil, Argentina, the former Soviet Union and Uruguay have won two times each.
Brazil have the most medals (seven) including back-to-back golds in 2020 and 2016. However, the Brazilians will not be defending their title at the Paris Games after they failed to qualify for the first time since 2004.
You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated Paris 2024 Olympics tournament page with all the news and features, as well as event build-up and live text commentary on selected football, basketball, tennis and boxing fixtures.