FIFA’s organizing committee announced on Monday that Great Britain, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico have been chosen to be the seeded teams for the London 2012 Olympics Men’s Soccer Tournament. These 4 teams will be kept apart for the draw—set that takes place today, Tuesday, April 24th, at Wembley Stadium.
The men’s tournament is comprised of 16 teams and is separated into four groups of four. Each qualified nation will enter a team of 18 national players under 23 years of age. Each team may invite three over-age players to be included in the 18 man roster.
Great Britain, with a men’s team at the Olympics for the first time since 1960, is seeded as hosts and will lead Group A.
Mexico, the top-ranked team among the qualifiers from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and their own CONCACAF region, are top seeded in Group B.
Brazil, the best men’s soccer team in Olympic history despite never winning the gold medal, is the seeded team in Group C.
World champion Spain will be the top seed in Group D.
After Tuesday’s draw, the men’s division shaped up like this:
• Group A: Britain, Senegal, UAE, Uruguay
• Group B: Mexico, S. Korea, Gabon, Switzerland
• Group C: Brazil, Egypt, Belarus, New Zealand
• Group D: Spain, Japan, Honduras, Morocco
Seeds for the 2012 Women’s Olympic Soccer Tournament were also announced on Monday. The women’s tournament is comprised of 12 teams separated into three groups of four. Although the rosters in the women’s tournament also must not exceed 18 national players, there are no age restrictions.
Britain, as the hosts, will be the top seed for group E; Japan, reigning world champions, are the seeded team for group F; and Team USA, the highest ranked and reigning Olympic champions, the top seed for group G.
After the draw, here is how the women’s groups shaped up:
• Group E: Britain, New Zealand, Cameroon, Brazil
• Group F: Japan, Canada, Sweden, South Africa
• Group G: USA, France, Colombia, North Korea
