2008 Men's Olympic Soccer Tournament

Competition Format:

• Stage 1 - 16 teams, split into 4 groups of four play round robin within their pools. Top 2 teams in each pool advance to the knockout stage.
  
• Stage 2 - 8 teams, knockout format.

Qualified Teams:

• 4 Teams from Europe (Top four teams in UEFA U-21 Championships)
• Netherlands
• Serbia
• Belgium
  
• Italy
• 3 Teams from Asia (Top 3 from AFC Preliminary Competition)
• Australia
• South Korea
• Japan
• 3 Teams from Africa (Top 3 from CAF Preliminary Competition)
• Cameroon
• Ivory Coast
• Nigeria
• 2 Teams from South America (top 2 from South American Youth Championship)
• Brazil
• Argentina
• 2 Teams from North America (top 2 from CONCACAF Preliminary Competition
• United States
• Honduras
• 1 Team from Oceania (champion of the OFC Preliminary Competition)
• New Zealand
• The Host Nation (China)

All 16 teams are set, the draw for the tournament will be held on April 20th.

How the draw will be conducted is not clear, but its fair to say that there will be an Asian team and a European team in each group, since there are 4 of each.

That means the United States will likely be in a pool of:
- United States
- China, Japan, South Korea OR Australia
- Netherlands, Serbia, Belgium OR Italy
- New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, Cameroon, Ivory Coast OR Nigeria

Here's hoping for Belgium, China and New Zealand....

more will be posted here after the draw