The Colombia women’s football team confirmed their place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by finishing second in Women’s Copa América on Sunday (28 September). Brazil won the tournament in Ecuador, for their sixth South American title, but already had their Olympic place guaranteed, as the host nation. Both teams also confirmed their places at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup and Pan-American Games, which will both be staged in Canada.

After a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Brazil in the final match on Sunday, the Colombians finished with four points in the four-team final round, three points behind Brazil. Hosts Ecuador finished third and Argentina were fourth. 

Two months after Colombia’s men recorded their country’s best yet World Cup finish by reaching the quarter-finals in Brazil, their women kept their flag flying high by reaching their second consecutive Olympic Games.  

Colombia were the only unbeaten team in the tournament and had the best defence, conceding just two times in seven matches. Coach Felipe Taborda was proud of his charges after they kept another clean sheet in the final. “It was a tough game and the most successful team in the history of the Copa América did not manage to beat us. We are happy, now it’s time to celebrate,” he said.

Brazil forward Cristiane finished top scorer in Ecuador with six goals.

The women’s football tournament at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be contested by 12 teams. In addition to Brazil and Colombia, there will be three European teams, two from Africa, two from Asia, two from North and Central America and one from Oceania. Places will be allocated according to the results of continental qualifying competitions.

Brazil's Cristiane poses with the Copa America 2014 and the top scorer's trophy (Photo: Conmebol)

Rio2016.com is not an absolute authority on qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is an ongoing process. Final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). The qualification systems are defined by each sport’s respective International Federation and the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and are subject to change. When an athlete or team wins a quota place for their nation, the final decision on whether this ‘slot’ is used and which athletes are sent is taken by the respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee (NOC or NPC). Even when athletes win a ‘nominal’ place for themselves, NOCs/NPCs may have to decide who to send if the number of qualified athletes from one country exceeds the quota.