Football at the 1992 Summer Olympics

1992 Summer Olympics Football Tournament
Tournament details
Host countrySpain
Dates24 July – 8 August 1992
Teams16 (from 6 confederations)
Venue(s)5 (in 4 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Spain (1st title)
Runners-up Poland
Third place Ghana
Fourth place Australia
Tournament statistics
Matches played32
Goals scored87 (2.72 per match)
Top scorer(s)Poland Andrzej Juskowiak (7 goals)

The football competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics featured 16 national sides from the six continental confederations. The 16 teams were drawn into four groups of four and each group played a round-robin tournament. At the end of the group stage, the top two teams advanced to the knockout stage, beginning with the quarter-finals and culminating with the gold medal match at Camp Nou on 8 August 1992.

For the first time, an age limit has been set for participants under the age of 23 (Under-23), which has been used ever since.

Spain became the first host country to win the gold medal in an Olympic football tournament since Belgium in 1920, an achievement which would not be repeated again until Brazil won it in 2016. As of 2023, Spain is still the last European side that won the gold medal at men's football event in the Summer Olympics.

Notably, these were the first matches played with football's new back-pass rule and was the last Olympic football competition which was open to men only before the introduction of a women’s tournament four years later.

Competition schedule

Legend
G Group stage ¼ Quarterfinals ½ Semifinals B Bronze medal match F Gold medal match
24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu 31 Fri 1 Sat 2 Sun 3 Mon 4 Tue 5 Wed 6 Thu 7 Fri 8 Sat
G G G G G G ¼ ¼ ½ B F

Source:

Qualification

The following 16 teams qualified for the 1992 Olympic men's football tournament:

Means of qualification Berths Qualified
Host nation 1  Spain
1992 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship 4  Italy
 Sweden
 Denmark
 Poland
AFC Preliminary Competition 3  Qatar
 South Korea
 Kuwait
CAF Preliminary Competition 3  Egypt
 Ghana
 Morocco
1992 CONCACAF Pre-Olympic Tournament 2  Mexico
 United States
1992 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament 2  Colombia
 Paraguay
OFC–UEFA play-off 1  Australia
Total 16

Venues

Barcelona Valencia
Camp Nou Estadi de Sarrià Estadio Luis Casanova
Capacity: 100,000 Capacity: 42,000 Capacity: 50,000
Sabadell Football at the 1992 Summer Olympics is located in SpainCamp NouCamp NouEstadi de SarriàEstadi de SarriàEstadi de la Nova Creu AltaEstadi de la Nova Creu AltaEstadio Luis CasanovaEstadio Luis CasanovaEstadio La RomaredaEstadio La Romareda
Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta
Capacity: 16,000
Zaragoza
Estadio La Romareda
Capacity: 43,001

Match officials

Squads

Group stage

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Poland 3 2 1 0 7 2 +5 5
 Italy 3 2 0 1 3 4 −1 4
 United States 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 3
 Kuwait 3 0 0 3 1 6 −5 0
Source: FIFA 24 July 199218:00
Italy 2–1 United States
Melli 15'
Albertini 22'		 Report Moore 65'
Camp Nou, BarcelonaAttendance: 18,000Referee: Manuel Díaz Vega (ESP) 24 July 199220:00
Poland 2–0 Kuwait
Juskowiak 7', 80' Report
Estadio La Romareda, ZaragozaAttendance: 2,000Referee: Juan Francisco Escobar (PAR) 27 July 199219:00
United States 3–1 Kuwait
Brose 56'
Lagos 79'
Snow 85'		 Report Marwi 16'
Estadio La Romareda, ZaragozaAttendance: 4,500Referee: Lim Kee Chong (MRI) 27 July 199221:00
Italy 0–3 Poland
Report Juskowiak 5'
Staniek 48'
Mielcarski 90'
Estadi de Sarrià, BarcelonaAttendance: 15,000Referee: Philip Don (GBR) 29 July 199219:00
United States 2–2 Poland
Imler 20'
Snow 85'		 Report Koźmiński 31'
Juskowiak 40'
Estadio La Romareda, ZaragozaAttendance: 3,000Referee: Lim Kee Chong (MRI) 29 July 199221:00
Italy 1–0 Kuwait
Melli 10' Report
Estadi de Sarrià, BarcelonaAttendance: 8,000Referee: Arturo Brizio Carter (MEX)

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Spain 3 3 0 0 8 0 +8 6
 Qatar 3 1 1 1 2 3 −1 3
 Egypt 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 2
 Colombia 3 0 1 2 4 9 −5 1
Source: FIFA


24 July 1992
21:00
Spain 4–0 Colombia
Guardiola 10'
Kiko 37'
Berges 41'
Enrique 69'		 Report
Estadio Luis Casanova, ValenciaAttendance: 18,000Referee: Markus Merk (GER) 24 July 1992
20:00
Egypt 0–1 Qatar
Report Mustafa 74'
Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta, SabadellAttendance: 2,000Referee: Philip Don (GBR) 27 July 1992
21:00
Spain 2–0 Egypt
Solozábal 55'
Soler 70'		 Report
Estadio Luis Casanova, ValenciaAttendance: 15,000Referee: Marcio Rezende de Freitas (BRA) 27 July 1992
19:00
Colombia 1–1 Qatar
Aristizábal 62' Report Soufi 89'
Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta, SabadellAttendance: 2,000Referee: Arturo Brizio Carter (MEX) 29 July 1992
21:00
Spain 2–0 Qatar
Alfonso 40'
Kiko 60'		 Report
Estadio Luis Casanova, ValenciaAttendance: 19,300Referee: Arturo Angeles (USA) 29 July 1992
19:00
Colombia 3–4 Egypt
Gaviria 9', 84'
Pacheco 14'		 Report Youssef 27'
El-Masry 47'
Khashaba 90+1', 90+4'
Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta, SabadellAttendance: 4,500Referee: Ali Bujsaim (UAE)

Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Sweden 3 1 2 0 5 1 +4 4
 Paraguay 3 1 2 0 3 1 +2 4
 South Korea 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3
 Morocco 3 0 1 2 2 8 −6 1
Source: FIFA 26 July 1992
21:00
Sweden 0–0 Paraguay
Report
Camp Nou, BarcelonaAttendance: 15,000Referee: Lube Spassov (BUL) 26 July 1992
21:00
Morocco 1–1 South Korea
Bahja 64' Report Jung Jae-kwon 73'
Estadio Luis Casanova, ValenciaAttendance: 2,000Referee: Arturo Angeles (USA) 28 July 1992
19:00
Sweden 4–0 Morocco
Brolin 14', 69'
Mild 20'
Rödlund 57'		 Report
Estadio Nova Creu Alta, SabadellAttendance: 5,000Referee: José Torres Cadena (COL) 28 July 1992
21:00
Paraguay 0–0 South Korea
Report
Estadio Luis Casanova, ValenciaAttendance: 2,000Referee: Mohamed Sendid (ALG) 30 July 1992
21:00
Sweden 1–1 South Korea
Rödlund 52' Report Seo Jung-won 28'
Camp Nou, BarcelonaAttendance: 12,000Referee: Manuel Díaz Vega (ESP) 30 July 1992
21:00
Paraguay 3–1 Morocco
Arce 43'
Caballero 57'
Gamarra 70'		 Report Naybet 87'
Estadio Luis Casanova, ValenciaAttendance: 2,000Referee: Markus Merk (GER)

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ghana 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 4
 Australia 3 1 1 1 5 4 +1 3
 Mexico 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3
 Denmark 3 0 2 1 1 4 −3 2
Source: FIFA 26 July 199219:00
Denmark 1–1 Mexico
Thomsen 85' Report Rotllán 39' (pen.)
Estadio La Romareda, ZaragozaAttendance: 8,000Referee: Fabio Baldas (Italy) 26 July 199219:00
Ghana 3–1 Australia
Gargo 12'
Ayew 83', 89'		 Report Vidmar 91'
Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta, SabadellAttendance: 4,000Referee: Ali Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates) 28 July 199219:00
Denmark 0–0 Ghana
Report
Estadio La Romareda, ZaragozaAttendance: 5,000Referee: Juan Francisco Escobar (Paraguay) 28 July 199221:00
Mexico 1–1 Australia
Castañeda 63' Report Arambasic 20'
Estadi de Sarrià, BarcelonaAttendance: 10,000Referee: Kiichiro Tachi (Japan) 30 July 199219:00
Denmark 0–3 Australia
Report Markovski 32'
Mori 60'
Vidmar 75'
Estadio La Romareda, ZaragozaAttendance: 3,000Referee: Fabio Baldas (Italy) 30 July 199219:00
Mexico 1–1 Ghana
Rotllán 30' Report Ayew 79'
Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta, SabadellAttendance: 6,000Referee: José Torres Cadena (Colombia)

Knockout stage

 Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsGold medal match
           
 1 August – Valencia
 
  Spain1
 5 August – Valencia
  Italy0
  Spain2
 2 August – Zaragoza
  Ghana0
  Paraguay2
 8 August – Barcelona (Camp Nou)
  Ghana (a.e.t.)4
  Spain3
 1 August – Barcelona (Camp Nou)
  Poland2
  Poland2
 5 August – Barcelona (Camp Nou)
  Qatar0
  Poland6
 2 August – Barcelona (Camp Nou)
  Australia1 Bronze medal match
  Sweden1
 7 August – Barcelona (Camp Nou)
  Australia2
  Ghana1
 
  Australia0
 

Quarter-finals

1 August 199219:00
Spain 1–0 Italy
Kiko 38' Report
Estadio Luis Casanova, ValenciaAttendance: 28,000Referee: Rezende de Freitas (BRA) 1 August 199221:30
Poland 2–0 Qatar
Kowalczyk 42'
Jałocha 74'		 Report
Camp Nou, BarcelonaAttendance: 25,000Referee: Sendid (ALG) 2 August 199219:00
Paraguay 2–4 (a.e.t.) Ghana
Acheampong 78' (o.g.)
Campos 81'		 Report Ayew 17', 55', 120+1'
Rahman 114'
Estadio La Romareda, ZaragozaAttendance: 5,000Referee: Bujsaim (UAE) 2 August 199221:30
Sweden 1–2 Australia
Andersson 60' Report Markovski 30'
Murphy 53'
Camp Nou, BarcelonaAttendance: 30,000Referee: Brizio Carter (MEX)

Semi-finals

5 August 199219:00
Spain 2–0 Ghana
Abelardo 25'
Berges 55'		 Report
Estadio Luis Casanova, ValenciaAttendance: 36,000Referee: Brizio Carter (MEX) 5 August 199221:30
Poland 6–1 Australia
Kowalczyk 27', 88'
Juskowiak 43', 52', 78'
Murphy 67' (o.g.)		 Report Veart 35'
Camp Nou, BarcelonaAttendance: 45,000Referee: Rezende de Freitas (BRA)

Bronze medal match

7 August 199220:00
Australia 0–1 Ghana
Report Asare 19'
Camp Nou, BarcelonaAttendance: 15,000Referee: Díaz Vega (ESP)

Gold medal match

8 August 199220:00
Poland 2–3 Spain
Kowalczyk 45+1'
Staniek 76'		 Report Abelardo 65'
Kiko 71', 90+1'
Camp Nou, BarcelonaAttendance: 95,000Referee: Torres Cadena (Colombia)

Medal winners

Goalscorers

With seven goals, Poland's Andrzej Juskowiak was the top scorer of the tournament. In total, 87 goals were scored by 57 different players, with two of them credited as own goals.

Andrzej Juskowiak, the tournament's top scorer 7 goals 6 goals 5 goals 4 goals 2 goals 1 goal Own goals

Final ranking

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Spain (ESP) 6 6 0 0 14 2 +12 12
2  Poland (POL) 6 4 1 1 17 6 +11 9
3  Ghana (GHA) 6 3 2 1 9 6 +3 8
4  Australia (AUS) 6 2 1 3 8 12 −4 5
5  Italy (ITA) 4 2 0 2 3 5 −2 4
6  Sweden (SWE) 4 1 2 1 6 3 +3 4
7  Paraguay (PAR) 4 1 2 1 5 5 0 4
8  Qatar (QAT) 4 1 1 2 2 5 −3 3
9  United States (USA) 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 3
10  Mexico (MEX) 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3
11  South Korea (KOR) 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3
12  Egypt (EGY) 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 2
13  Denmark (DEN) 3 0 2 1 1 4 −3 2
14  Colombia (COL) 3 0 1 2 4 9 −5 1
15  Morocco (MAR) 3 0 1 2 2 8 −6 1
16  Kuwait (KUW) 3 0 0 3 1 6 −5 0
Source:

References

  1. ^ "Football at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  2. ^ Miller, Nick (18 February 2015). "Who was the last goalkeeper to legally pick up a backpass?". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Football Tournament 1992 Olympiad".
  4. ^ "Football Tournament 1992 Olympiad". RSSSF.

External links

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Summer Olympics men's football tournament winners
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Football at the Summer Olympics
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Events at the 1992 Summer Olympics (Barcelona)