2008 Women's Olympic Tournament

Competition Format:

• Stage 1 - 12 teams, split into 3 groups of four play round robin within their pools. Top 2 teams in each pool plus the top 2 third place teams advance to the knockout stage.
  
• Stage 2 - 8 teams, knockout format.

Qualified Teams:

• 3 Teams from Europe (Top 3 European teams from 2007 Women's World Cup excluding England)
• Germany
• Norway
• Sweden
  
• 2 Teams from Asia (Top 2 from AFC Preliminary Competition)
• North Korea
• Japan
• 1 Team from Africa (Winner of CAF Preliminary Competition)
• Nigeria
• 1 Team from South America (Winner of 2006 Sudamericano Femenino)
• Argentina
• 2 Teams from North America (top 2 from CONCACAF Preliminary Competition)
• United States
• Canada
  
• 1 Team from Oceania (champion of the OFC Preliminary Competition)
• New Zealand
• Winner of a playoff between Ghana and Brazil
• TBD April 19, 2008
• The Host Nation (China)

The Draw:

The draw will be held on Sunday, April 20th, 2008.

Since there are 3 Asian and 3 European teams, its safe to say the United States will be in a group with one asian and one european team, and either Argentina, Nigeria, or the Ghana/Brazil winner.

CONCACAF Preliminary Competition:
Format:
Stage 1 - 6 teams in 2 groups of three. Teams play round robin within their group, top 2 in each group advance
Stage 2 - 4 teams, knockout format. Semifinal winners advance directly to the 2008 Summer Olympics.






Knockout Stage: