Football at the 1912 Summer Olympics
The Swedish Football Association managed the entire football tournament at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. Three distinct stadiums hosted all eleven matches of the main competition between June 29 and the 4th of July 1912. Two games took place at Tranebergs Idrottsplats, a venue located in a suburb of Stockholm. Five matches occurred at Råsunda Idrottsplats, which also sat outside the city center. Four matches including the final were held at the Olympiastadion. The Olympic stadium had a capacity of 33,000 spectators for these events.
Fourteen European teams entered the tournament, marking a record number of participants for that era. Bohemia faced rejection because their association had been voted out of FIFA in 1908. Belgium withdrew two weeks before the draw due to player availability issues preventing travel. France pulled out three days after the initial draw was made. Norway received a 2, 0 victory by forfeit against the French team. All fourteen teams originated from Europe, with no international representation from other continents.
Vivian Woodward captained the Great Britain squad as a record-scoring centre-forward from Chelsea. Harold Walden scored six goals during the second round match against Hungary. Great Britain defeated Hungary 7, 0 at the Olympiastadion on the 4th of July 1912. Walden scored all four goals when Great Britain beat Finland 4, 0 in the semi-final. Denmark won their semi-final 4, 1 against the Netherlands. The final matched Great Britain against Denmark again, replicating the 1908 Olympic pairing. Charles Buchwald left the pitch on a stretcher after thirty minutes due to injury. Denmark played with ten men for the remainder of the match while losing 1, 0.
Seven teams eliminated in the first and second rounds entered a consolation tournament starting July 1. This secondary competition ran concurrently with the main event through July 5. Six matches took place across the same three stadiums used for the primary bracket. Hungary emerged as the winner of this consolation structure. No medals were awarded to the top three finishers in that specific tournament. The format paired losers of early elimination rounds together for additional play.
German player Gottfried Fuchs scored ten goals during the tournament against Russia. He equalled the record set by Dane Sophus Nielsen in the 1908 Olympics. That goal tally stood unbroken until 2001. Harold Walden from Great Britain followed closely with nine goals. Jan Vos of the Netherlands scored eight goals. Anthon Olsen from Denmark netted seven goals. Fritz Förderer added five goals for Germany. Imre Schlosser contributed four goals for Hungary. Leopold Grundwald scored three goals for Austria. Nico Bouvy also reached three goals for the Dutch team.
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Common questions
Who managed the football tournament at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm?
The Swedish Football Association managed the entire football tournament at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. Three distinct stadiums hosted all eleven matches of the main competition between June 29 and the 4th of July 1912.
Which teams participated in the football event at the 1912 Summer Olympics?
Fourteen European teams entered the tournament, marking a record number of participants for that era. All fourteen teams originated from Europe, with no international representation from other continents.
What was the result of the final match in the football tournament at the 1912 Summer Olympics?
Great Britain defeated Denmark 1, 0 to win the gold medal on the 4th of July 1912. Charles Buchwald left the pitch on a stretcher after thirty minutes due to injury while Denmark played with ten men for the remainder of the match.
How many goals did Gottfried Fuchs score during the 1912 Summer Olympics football tournament?
German player Gottfried Fuchs scored ten goals during the tournament against Russia. He equalled the record set by Dane Sophus Nielsen in the 1908 Olympics and his goal tally stood unbroken until 2001.
When did the consolation tournament run during the 1912 Summer Olympics football competition?
Seven teams eliminated in the first and second rounds entered a consolation tournament starting July 1. This secondary competition ran concurrently with the main event through July 5.