U.S. Soccer at the Olympics, A Visual History
The 2024 Olympic Games offer something unique to American soccer fans: an underdog mentality for the women’s game, and a hopeful one for the men’s. To celebrate our team’s success in these Paris Games, we’re taking a look back at U.S. Soccer in past Olympics.
And just as the players change, so does the visual world around them. Using posters, logos, pictograms, and photos, the Olympics offer a unique record of design across the decades. Below is a brief history of the United State’s participation in the Olympic Games, and glimpse into the tournament through designs.
1904
ST. LOUIS, USA
The U.S. first competed in olympic soccer at the 1904 games in St. Louis, which were held as part of the World’s Fair. Only three teams participated in the round-robin style soccer tournament. Galt FC representing Canada, and Christian Brothers College and St. Rose Parish representing the United States. Galt FC easily beat both American sides, taking home the gold for Canada. Christian Brothers took home silver, and winless St. Rose Parish the bronze.
1904 Olympic Program
Above: Galt FC, from Galt (Modern Day Cambridge), Ontario. Galt FC is also famous for drawing with The Pilgrims in a 1905 exhibition match dubbed “Championship of the World”
Above: Silver Medalists Christian Brothers College
In the following decades, the United States made a habit of showing up to Olympic tournaments undertrained and underprepared.
While other countries would prepare 1-6 months in advance of the Games, U.S. soccer organizers would try to accomplish as much in a matter of weeks. They failed to ever form a competitive amateur squad.
1924
Paris, France
Although the Americans had never played a match together, the U.S. beats Estonia in the first round. They were then eliminated by Uruguay 3-0 in the second round.
Results
Gold: Uruguay
Silver: Switzerland
Bronze: Sweden
The U.S. national team toured Europe before returning to the home, winning a friendly against Poland, and losing in this match against Ireland.
1928
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The 1928 Amsterdam games were the last Olympics before the introduction of the World Cup. Several decades of tournaments had shown nations with strong professional programs were at a disadvantage in the Olympic Games under the amateur athlete rule.
The U.S. lost 11-2 in the first round to Argentina. Henry “Razzo” Carrol and hall-of-famer Rudy Kuntner scored goals for the U.S.
Results
Gold: Uruguay
Silver: Argentina
Bronze: Italy
Commemorative postage stamp
Above: 1928 US Mens Team
1936
Berlin, Germany
Funded by just seven thousand dollars and a squad picked three weeks before the games, the U.S. headed to Berlin despite the rocky political situation. They were eliminated in the first round.
The U.S. faced tournament favorites Italy in the first round. During the game, Italian players pinned the referees arms to his sides and covered his mouth with their hands because he had tried to send one of their men off. The ref allowed the offending player to remain. Italy easily knocked the U.S out, and won the tournament.
Results
Gold: Italy
Silver: Austria
Bronze: Norway
1948
London, England
For the second time in a row, Italy knocks the U.S. out in the first round, beating them 9-0. This was the first ever international football tournament to be broadcast on television.
Results
Gold: Sweden
Silver: Yugoslavia
Bronze: Denmark
1952
Helsinki, Finland
Soviet and Eastern European teams begin dominating the Olympics, skirting by the amateur athlete requirement with state-sponsored loopholes.
For the third time, Italy knocks the US out in round one.
Results
Gold: Hungary
Silver: Yugoslavia
Bronze: Sweden
1956
Melbourne, Australia
Record books may show this as being one of the U.S.’s best finishes, when in fact the team had a bye to the quarterfinal round. The U.S. had not even qualified for this olympics, but was added after 5 other teams withdrew. Yugoslavia beat the U.S. 9-1 in their only game.
Results
Gold: Soviet Union
Silver: Yugoslavia
Bronze: Bulgaria
1972
Munich, Germany
The U.S. once again finished at the bottom of its group. After it became clear they wouldn’t make it out of the group stage, their coach let the reserve team play the game against West Germany. The big loss added to national embarrassment, and desire for improvement.
Results
Gold: Poland
Silver: Hungary
Bronze: East German & Soviet Union (shared)
US Soccer takes big strides in the 1980s and 1990s
As publicity around the sport grows in the U.S., so does the effort to assemble a competitive national team. The inclusion of professional athletes in the olympics and the success of the women’s game change the expectation for success in U.S. national soccer.
1984
Los Angeles, U.S.A
First time professionals were allowed to play in games, but the U.S. still fails to prepare a cohesive squad. They are once again eliminated in the group stage. However, at a time when soccer was still considered obscure in the States, the tournament final set an attendance record of 101,799. This record for soccer match attendance in the U.S. was not broken until 2014.
Results
Gold: France
Silver: Brazil
Bronze: Yugoslavia
1988
Seoul, South Korea
The U.S. once again finished at the bottom of their group. However, that summer it was announced that the 1994 World Cup would be held in the United States, a result of the success of the 1984 Olympics.
Results
Gold: Soviet Union
Silver: Brazil
Bronze: West Germany
1992
Barcelona, Spain
The under-23 tournament is introduced at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The U.S. had a great run qualifying for the games, but injuries kept them from achieving much at the actual Olympic tournament. They did not make it out of group stage.
Results
Gold: Spain
Silver: Poland
Bronze: Ghana
1996
Atlanta, Georgia
In 1996, the MLS plays its inaugural season, the US hosts the Olympics once again, and women’s soccer is finally added to the games ( over 100 years after the first modern tournament). The women’s games were scheduled ahead of the men’s to ensure attendance, but proved they could draw crowds on their own. As usual, the men were eliminated in group stage. The U.S. women, with stars Brandi Chastain and Mia Hamm, went on to win gold.
Women’s Results
Gold: United States
Silver: China
Bronze: Norway
Men’s Results
Gold: Nigeria
Silver: Argentina
Bronze: Brazil
2000
Sydney, Australia
With its most experienced squad ever, the men’s team has its best finish ever. With thirteen MLS players and four who played in Europe, the USMNT made it all the way to the bronze medal match, finally losing to Chile.
The women made it out of a group of death and on to the finals against Norway, where they played what some consider their best game ever up and to that point. They came away with silver after a controvercial last minute goal.
Women’s Results
Gold: Norway
Silver: United States
Bronze: Germany
Men’s Results
Gold: Cameroon
Silver: Spain
Bronze: Chile
2004
Athens, Greece
The USMNT fails to qualify for the 2004 games, and the USWNT were seeking redemption for their silver medal finish in 2000. The final match against Brazil was rough, with 47 fouls. The game was won in extra time by the U.S., with a well placed header from Abby Wambach.
Results
Gold: United States
Silver: Brazil
Bronze: Germany
2008
Bejing, China
The USMNT qualify after missing the 2004 games, but fail again to make it out of group stage. The USWNT made it to the final again, a rematch against Norway. A goal by Carli Lloyd in the 96th minute won them the gold. The women ended that season with a 34-1-1 record and three championships.
Women’s Results
Gold: United States
Silver: Norway
Bronze: Germany
Men’s Results
Gold: Argentina
Silver: Nigeria
Bronze: Belgium
2012
London, England
The USMNT once again failed to qualify for the Olympics, and the USWNT once again won Gold.
Results
Gold: United States
Silver: Japan
Bronze: Canada
2016
Rio, Brazil
As usual, the men failed to qualify for the Olympics. Not as usual, the women failed to medal. In their earliest ever exit, Sweden eliminated the USWMNT in the quarterfinals after going to penalties. Alex Morgan, although she had scored an equalizer in the 77th minute, missed her penalty.
Results
Gold: Germany
Silver: Sweden
Bronze: Canada
2020
Tokyo, Japan
Once again, the USMNT do not qualify for the Olympics. The women, on the other hand, have a lot to prove. As the women’s game develops up around the world, the USWNT has bigger and better competition than before. Coming off of their 2019 World Cup Win, they were confident but not invincible, placing third in the Olympic games.
Results
Gold: Canada
Silver: Sweden
Bronze: United States
2024
Paris, France
For the first time since 2008, the USMNT qualifies for the Olympic Games, and for the first time since 2000 advances past the group stage. With two wins, they also break break their record for most wins in a single tournament. The USWNT has a lot to prove, after a terrible finish at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, but look good under new manager Emma Hayes.
