The Brazilian football team will not be defending its Olympic titles from the previous two editions of the Olympic Games. The Selecao team failed to qualify for the upcoming tournament this summer after losing 1-0 to Argentina on Sunday. The defeat puts a dent in the country’s aim for an unprecedented 3rd consecutive title, after Selecao’s triumphs on home turf in Rio in 2016 and in Tokyo in 2021. Brazil last failed to qualify for the Olympic tournament in 2004 but has since won medals in each of the following four editions.
🚨 NO BRAZIL ⚽️ AT THE 2024 OLYMPICS 🚨
After losing 1-0 to Argentina in the final CONMEBOL Olympic qualifying match, the defending Gold medalists finish third in the group and are eliminated from Olympic contention while Argentina qualify for Paris 😳 pic.twitter.com/V2AKI56o4u
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 11, 2024
A draw would have seen Selecao qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but Luciano Gondou headed a 77th-minute winner for Argentina. The defeat sees Brazil finish in 3rd place in a group consisted of Argentina, Paraguay, and Venezuela.
By securing its tickets for the global event, Argentina also preserved its chances of winning a 3rd Olympic football title and becoming one of the most successful teams in the tournament, equaling Hungary’s and Great Britain’s 3 Olympic football titles.