Pre-Olímpico - South-American Olympic Qualifying Tournament


For the 1960 Olympic Games qualifying continental tournaments started to be played in South America; prior to the 1960 Olympic Games, the Pan-American Games were the qualifying tournament. In the 1960 tournament teams from North and Central America entered; that's the reason why Mexico finished in 4th place.

Until 1984 only junior or non-professional players were allowed to participate. In 1987 the competion was open to any player bar those already having played in World Cup matches (whether a qualifier or at the final tournament). Since 1992 the competition is open to U-23 players without any other restriction.

The tournament was discontinued after 2004 because since 2007 the olympic teams for Conmebol qualified through the Juventud de América (the South American Youth Championship).


Pre-Olímpico - South-American Olympic Qualifying Tournament

 YEAR   VENUE         CHAMPIONS              RUNNERS-UP

Pre-Olímpico

 1960   Peru          ARGENTINA              Peru
 1964   Peru          ARGENTINA              Brazil
 1968   Colombia      BRAZIL                 Colombia
 1971   Colombia      BRAZIL                 Colombia
 1976   Brazil        BRAZIL                 Uruguay
 1980   Colombia      ARGENTINA              Colombia
 1984   Ecuador       BRAZIL                 Chile
 1987   Bolivia       BRAZIL                 Argentina
 1992   Paraguay      PARAGUAY               Colombia
 1996   Argentina     BRAZIL                 Argentina
 2000   Brazil        BRAZIL                 Chile    
 2004   Chile         ARGENTINA              Paraguay
 2020   Colombia      ARGENTINA              Brazil

Juventud de América (doubling as olympic qualifying tournament)

 YEAR   VENUE         CHAMPIONS              RUNNERS-UP

 2007   Ecuador       BRAZIL                 Argentina
 2011   Peru          BRAZIL                 Uruguay
 2015   Uruguay       ARGENTINA              Colombia

Winners 1960-2020

Brazil                7

Argentina             5

Paraguay              1

U-23 Championship Winners 1992-2020

Argentina             2
Brazil                2

Paraguay              1

Ranking by Places 1960-2020

               1    2    3    4

Brazil         7    2    2     
Argentina      5    2    3     
Paraguay       1    1    1    1
Colombia            4         4
Chile               2         1
Uruguay             1    4    1
Peru                1    2    1 
Bolivia                  1     
Ecuador                       2
Venezuela                     2
Mexico                        1

U-23 Ranking by Places 1992-2020

               1    2    3    4

Argentina      2    1    1     
Brazil         2    1    1     
Paraguay       1    1          
Colombia            1         1 
Chile               1         1
Uruguay                  3    1
Ecuador                       1
Venezuela                     1




About this document

Prepared and maintained by José Luis Pierrend and José Batalha for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Authors: José Luis Pierrend (josepie@hotmail.com) and José Batalha (jose.batalha@netvisao.pt)
Last updated: 12 Feb 2020

(C) Copyright José Luis Pierrend, José Batalha and RSSSF 1998/2020
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All rights reserved.