Maracanã to host men's and women's 2016 Olympic gold medal games
The Maracanã will host both the men's and women's 2016 Olympic gold medal games, FIFA announced on Tuesday.
The famed venue, which also hosted the men's 2014 World Cup final, will play host to the women's final on Aug. 19, 2016 and the men's final the following day.
Other 2014 World Cup venues that will be used during the Olympic soccer tournament include stadiums in Salvador, Manaus, Brasilia, Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte, as the entire match schedule was unveiled. Key dates and locations include:
Men's Olympic tournament
Opening Match (August 4): Brasilia
Quarterfinals (August 13): Brasilia, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Sao Paulo
Semifinals (August 17): Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro (Maracanã Stadium)
Bronze medal match (August 20): Belo Horizonte
Gold medal match (August 20): Rio de Janeiro (Maracanã Stadium)
Women's Olympic tournament
Opening Match (August 3): Rio de Janeiro (Olympic Stadium)
Quarterfinals (August 12): Brasilia, Salvador, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte
Semifinals (August 16): Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro (Maracanã Stadium)
Bronze medal match (August 19): Sao Paulo
Gold medal match (August 19): Rio de Janeiro (Maracanã Stadium)
Mexico, the defending men's gold-medal winner, has already qualified for Rio by virtue of winning the CONCACAF men's qualifying tournament. The U.S. is the defending women's champion and will aim to qualify for the summer tournament in January, with CONCACAF qualifiers taking place in Dallas and Houston from Feb. 10-21.
The U.S. men can still qualify for the Olympics, but they'll need to beat Colombia in a two-game playoff in March for a final berth in Rio.
