Asian football teams drawn into Tokyo 2020 groups

China’s Steel Roses will play Brazil, Zambia and the Netherlands in Group F of the women’s football tournament at Tokyo 2020. © imago images
China’s Steel Roses will play Brazil, Zambia and the Netherlands in Group F of the women’s football tournament at Tokyo 2020. © imago images

Tokyo, Japan, April 21, 2021: The draw has been made for the men’s and women’s football tournaments at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

In the women’s event, Olympic hosts and seeds Japan have been drawn in Group E alongside Canada - bronze medallists at the last two Olympic Games - Great Britain and debutants Chile.

Making their sixth appearance of the Olympic Games, recently-qualified China will take on Brazil, Olympic debutants Zambia and the Netherlands in Group F.

Group E: Japan, Canada, Great Britain, Chile.

Group F: China PR, Brazil, Zambia, Netherlands.

Group G: Sweden, USA, Australia, New Zealand.

The women’s football tournament will run from July 21 to August 6 across seven venues in six Japanese cities.

From the original field of 12, the top two teams and the two best third-place finishers will move on to the knockout stage.

The games will be played among the venue cities of Kashima, Saitama, Sapporo, Sendai, and Yokohama. The semi-finals will take place at the Ibaraki Kashima Stadium and Saitama Stadium, while the final will be played at the Olympic Stadium.

*In the men’s event, 16 teams were drawn into four groups, with top seeds that included hosts Japan, Korea, Argentina and Brazil.

Korea won the Asian under-23 qualifying tournament for Tokyo 2020 and will play in Group B, while fellow Asian qualifiers Saudi Arabia will face reigning Olympic champions Brazil as well as Germany and Cote d’Ivoire in a tough Group D.

Group A: Japan, South Africa, Mexico, France.

Group B: New Zealand, Korea, Honduras, Romania.

Group C: Egypt, Spain, Argentina, Australia.

Group D: Brazil, Germany, Côte d'Ivoire, Saudi Arabia.

The men’s football tournament will take place from July 22 to August 7 across six Japanese cities.