New Zealand to face Indonesia or Guinea in opening game at Paris Olympics

New Zealand’s OlyWhites will face Indonesia or Guinea as their first opponents at the Paris Olympics.

Indonesia have finished fourth at the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup to earn an intercontinental play-off against Africa’s Guinea on May 9.

The winners will join New Zealand, France and the United States in Group A at the Summer Olympics, starting on July 25, 2024.

Iraq beat Indonesia in the play-off for third place at the U-23 Asian Cup, meaning they go into Group B.

Japan beat Uzbekistan 1-0 in the final at the Asian tournament on Saturday May 4 to take a berth in Group D while Uzbekistan go into Group C.

New Zealand’s opening match at the Olympics will be against Indonesia or Guinea at the Stade de Nice, Nice, in southern France, on Thursday July 25, 2024,with a kick-off time of 3am (NZT).

The tournament will be held from July 24 – August 10, 2024.

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About the teams

France

Head coach: Thierry Henry

How they qualified: As hosts

Previous tournaments: 13 (Paris 1900, London 1908, Antwerp 1920, Paris 1924, Amsterdam 1928, London 1948, Helsinki 1952, Rome 1960, Mexico 1968, Montreal 1976, Los Angeles 1984, Atlanta 1996, Tokyo 2020)

Best result: Gold medal (Los Angeles 1984)

United States

Head coach: Marko Mitrovic

How they qualified: Won the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship

Previous tournaments: 14 (St. Louis 1904, Paris 1924, Amsterdam 1928, Berlin 1936, London 1948, Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956, Munich 1972, Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008)

Best result: Silver medal (St. Louis 1904)

New Zealand

Head coach: Darren Bazeley

How they qualified: Won the 2023 OFC Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Previous tournaments: 3 (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Tokyo 2020)

Best result: Quarter-final (Tokyo 2020)

Fixtures

Games to be played on Thursday July 25, 2024 (NZT)

France v United States
Stade de Marseille, Marseille, 7am (NZT)

Indonesia or Guinea v New Zealand
Stade de Nice, Nice, 3am (NZT)

Games to be played on Sunday July 28, 2024 (NZT)

New Zealand v United States
Stade de Marseille, Marseille, 5am (NZT)

France v Indonesia or Guinea
Stade de Nice, Nice, 7am (NZT)

Games to be played on Wednesday July 31, 2024 (NZT)

New Zealand v France
Stade de Marseille, Marseille, 5am (NZT)

United States v Indonesia or Guinea
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, 5am (NZT)

The men’s football tournament at the Olympics

Men’s football at the Olympics is restricted to under-23 players (born on or after January 1, 2000), though each team can select up to three overage players.

Match venues for the tournament are Paris, Bordeaux, Décines-Charpieu (near Lyon), Marseille, Nantes, Nice and Saint-Étienne.

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