(ATR) Football teams qualified for the Olympic Games now know their group stage opponents.
On April 14, Rio 2016 and FIFA held the Olympic football tournament draw at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. Sixteen men’s teams and 12 women’s teams participated in the draw. The master of ceremonies for the event was Fernanda Gentil, while World Cup winner Ronaldinho helped with the draw. Ronaldinho was joined by Brazilian sporting stars Aline Pellegrino, football star, Maurren Maggi, gold medalist in long jump from Beijing 2008, and Janeth Arcain, two time Olympic medalist in basketball.
Host Brazil was drawn into Groups A and E for the men and women’s teams respectively. The men’s team will play their group stage matches in Brasilia and Salvador, while the women’s team will play their group stage matches in Rio de Janeiro and Manaus.
The first match of the Olympic football tournament will be a women's game between Sweden and South Africa in Belo Horizonte.
Brazil is looking to win their first gold medal in Olympic football on home soil. The men’s football team has won five World Cup championships, but never an Olympic gold medal. A full summary of the draw can be found here.
Click here to view a photodesk from the event.
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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