As the world gears up for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, soccer fans are eagerly anticipating one of the most thrilling events on the Olympic calendar. The Olympic football tournaments promise to be an exciting showcase of emerging talent and established stars, with Brazil defending their men’s title and Canada’s women aiming to replicate their gold medal success from Tokyo 2020. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into how you can catch all the Olympic soccer action from anywhere in the world.
Overview of Olympic Soccer 2024
The 2024 Olympic football tournaments will unfold across seven prestigious venues in France, culminating in the gold medal matches at Paris’ iconic Parc des Princes. The men’s tournament, traditionally a platform for rising stars rather than seasoned professionals, features exciting prospects such as France’s Michael Olise, Argentina’s Julian Alvarez, and Spain’s Juan Miranda. With former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry leading the French squad as coach, the men’s tournament is set to be a thrilling contest.
In contrast, the women’s tournament will showcase more familiar faces, with teams allowed to field more than three players over the age of 23. Expect to see prominent figures like Spain’s Ballon d’Or winner Aitana BonmatÃ, Brazilian forward Marta, and the USA’s rising star Sophia Smith in action. Defending World Cup champions Spain enter the tournament as strong contenders, while the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) will be under the new leadership of English coach Emma Hayes.
How to Watch the Olympic Football Events
For those in the United States looking to stream the 2024 Olympic soccer tournaments, Peacock is your go-to service. Despite a recent price increase to $8 per month, Peacock remains one of the most cost-effective streaming options available. Subscribers will have access to live streaming of every event, including all 329 medal events and crucially, every match of both the men’s and women’s football tournaments.
Peacock will also feature a dedicated whip-around show, Gold Zone, running daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET (4 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT). This show provides continuous coverage of multiple events, allowing viewers to switch seamlessly between different matches and highlights. Additionally, Peacock offers Live Action on-screen prompts to help you stay with your chosen event even if Gold Zone shifts focus. Four multiview options are available, enabling viewers to watch up to four events simultaneously.
Where to Watch the Matches
The 2024 Olympic football matches will be held at six distinguished stadiums across France:
- Stade de Marseille
- Stade de Lyon
- Stade de Bordeaux
- Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne
- Stade de Nice
- Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes
- Parc des Princes in Paris, hosting both gold medal matches
These venues are spread across key cities, offering a diverse array of settings for the Olympic soccer events.
Schedule of Olympic Football Events
The men’s football tournament will commence a few days before the official Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympics. The initial fixtures, including notable matchups like Argentina vs. Morocco and Uzbekistan vs. Spain, begin on Wednesday, July 24. The tournament will reach its climax with the gold medal match on Friday, August 9.
For the women’s football tournament, the first-round fixtures kick off on Thursday, July 25. The tournament will conclude with the final in Paris scheduled for Saturday, August 10. A detailed fixture list for both the men’s and women’s tournaments can be found at the end of this guide.
Time Difference and Viewing Times
Paris operates on Central European Time (CET), which is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET), 7 hours ahead of Central Time (CT), 8 hours ahead of Mountain Time (MT), and 9 hours ahead of Pacific Time (PT). This time difference means that most Olympic soccer events will be broadcast live during the morning and afternoon hours for viewers in the US.
Alternative Viewing Options
While Peacock is the best way to stream every Olympic soccer fixture in the US, it is possible to watch selected matches on TV. For comprehensive coverage, including team sports like soccer, viewers will need access to five key TV channels: NBC, USA Network, E!, CNBC, and Golf Channel.
USA Network will focus on US team sports, including soccer, while NBC will broadcast its Primetime in Paris show, hosted by Mike Tirico and featuring reports from Snoop Dogg.
Best Live TV Streaming Services for the Olympics
For those considering live TV streaming services to watch the 2024 Olympics, Sling TV offers the most affordable option where available. YouTube TV provides a robust alternative, including all five necessary channels for $73 per month. Hulu with Live TV, priced slightly higher at $77 per month, also includes all required channels and is a solid option for comprehensive Olympic coverage.
In summary, the 2024 Olympic soccer tournaments promise to deliver high-stakes, thrilling football action. Whether you choose to stream through Peacock or access coverage via live TV streaming services, you’ll have ample opportunities to follow the matches and witness some of the best talents in soccer compete on the world stage.
