Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics

The 1960 football tournament was the first one since World War II that did away with the purely single-elimination tournament, and it would never be used again at the Olympics. Sixteen (16) teams competed, separated into four four-team groups, with only the winner of each group to advance to the semi-finals.

The 16 teams qualified as follows – Italy as host nation; seven teams from a European Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Poland, Yugoslavia); three teams from an Asian-Oceanian Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Chinese Taipei, India, Turkey); three teams from an American Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Argentina, Brazil, Peru); and two teams from an African Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Tunisia, United Arab Republic [former Egypt]).

The matches were played at seven stadia around Italy, as follows – Stadio Flaminio, Roma; Stadio Fuorigrotta, Napoli; Stadio Adriatico, Pescara; Stadio Olimpico Comunale, Grosseto; Stadio Comunale, L’Aquila; Stadio Comunale, Firenze; and Stadio Ardenza, Livorno.

After three consecutive silver medals, Yugoslavia finally won Olympic gold, defeating Denmark, 3-1, in the final. Hungary defeated host Italy for the bronze medal.