15 Apr 2016

Sport: Fiji footballers draw defending champs for Olympic debut

8:32 am on 15 April 2016

Fiji have been drawn with defending champions Mexico, Germany and South Korea for their Olympic football debut in Rio.

Fiji qualified for the Olympics after winning the Oceania regional tournament in Papua New Guinea last year.

The team completed a six-game tour of Spain in January and head to Brazil later this month for another series of build-up matches.

The Fiji Olympic football team takes on Spanish side Levante.

Fiji toured Spain in January as part of their Olympic preparations. Photo: Fiji FA Media

Three players over the age of 23 are permitted to take part for each team at the Olympics, with Wellington Phoenix frontman Roy Krishna a certainty for Fiji.

However the 28 year says he will skip the upcoming Brazil trip to have a break before the Oceania Nations Cup event in May, which doubles as a World Cup qualifier.

Phoenix striker Roy Krishna

Roy Krishna is a key member of the Fijian team. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Fiji will make their Olympic football debut against South Korea in Salvador on August 4 before taking on defending champions Mexico at the same venue three days later and play their final group match against Germany on August 10 in Belo Horizonte.

Fiji have been drawn to face South Korea, Mexico and Germany in their Olympic football debut.

Fiji have been drawn to face South Korea, Mexico and Germany in their Olympic football debut. Photo: AFP

In the women's tournament, Oceania champions New Zealand have been drawn against France, Colombia and the United States, who have won four of the five Olympic titles.

Men's Olympic Football Draw:

Group A

Brazil

South Africa

Iraq

Denmark

Group B

Sweden

Colombia

Nigeria

Japan

Group C

Fiji

Korea Republic

Mexico

Germany

Group D

Honduras

Algeria

Portugal

Argentina

Women's Olympic Football Draw:

Group E

Brazil

China

Sweden

South Africa

Group F

Canada

Australia

Zimbabwe

Germany

Group G

USA

New Zealand

France

Colombia