Despite holding gold medals from the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, Brazil has failed to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. France has surged to the top of the odds board as the favorite, while Team USA has been eliminated after a quarterfinal loss to Morocco.
Coming off gold medals in both the 2016 Olympics in Rio and the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Brazil will not have the opportunity to achieve a three-peat in Paris. The reigning Olympic champions failed to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games, leaving the door open for a new nation to claim the coveted title.
France, on the other hand, has emerged as the favorite to take home the gold medal in Paris. The odds for France have shortened significantly since the start of the Olympics, moving from +230 to +170 after defeating the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) in the group stage. As of August 4, 2024, France sits at the top of the odds board with a -105 price.
Team USA faced a disappointing end to its Olympic campaign, losing 4-0 to Morocco in the quarterfinals. The defeat marked the end of the USMNT's hopes of reaching the podium and extended its medal drought in men's soccer at the Olympics, which now stands at over a century.
Following France, Spain is the second favorite for the gold medal at +225 odds. Morocco, which has never won a medal in men's soccer at the Olympics, has impressed in Tokyo and is now sitting at +500 odds. Egypt, another nation without an Olympic medal in men's soccer, is an outsider at +900 odds.
Each team's roster for the Olympics is restricted to 18 players under the age of 23, with an exception for three players who can be older. This rule creates a unique blend of youth and experience on the pitch.
The men's soccer tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will feature several intriguing storylines. Two of the final four teams – Morocco and Egypt – have never won an Olympic medal in men's soccer, adding an element of unpredictability to the competition. France, on the other hand, will be looking to capture its first Olympic medal in men's soccer since 1984, when it won the gold in Los Angeles.
With Brazil out of the picture, the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will provide a fresh opportunity for a new nation to stand atop the podium in men's soccer. The stage is set for an exciting and competitive tournament where underdogs and established powers alike will vie for Olympic glory.
