WEMBLEY, England — Two days before the opening ceremony, the London Olympics will begin 250 kilometers (155 miles) away in Cardiff with Britain and New Zealand kicking off the women's football tournament.
"We are really excited by the prospect of it being the opening event," Britain coach Hope Powell said.
The match at Millennium Stadium will be one of five on July 25, before the men’s football starts the following day when Brazil will also be playing in the Welsh capital against Egypt.
The Brazilian men have never won Olympic gold, but former striker Ronaldo drew them into a favorable group on April 24 at Wembley Stadium. In Group C, they will also play Belarus at Old Trafford on July 29 and New Zealand in Newcastle on Aug. 1.
In Group D, Spain will start against Japan at Hampden Park in Glasgow on July 26, followed by a trip to St. James’ Park to face Honduras on July 29 and to Old Trafford to play Morocco on Aug. 1.
Britain, which will have a football team at the Olympics for the first time since 1960, will start against Senegal in Group A at Old Trafford on July 26. The hosts, who are set to include David Beckham in the squad, will also play the United Arab Emirates three days later at Wembley and Uruguay on Aug. 1 at the Millennium Stadium.
Britain has not fielded an Olympic football team since 1960 because Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland feared losing their independence within FIFA. The world body has assured the federations that their status won’t be affected by participating in the 16-team competition at the London Games.
"There might not be another Great Britain football team in our lifetime," Britain men’s coach Stuart Pearce said. "It might be a one-off."
In Group B, Mexico will play South Korea in Newcastle on July 26, Gabon on July 29 and Switzerland on Aug. 1.
In the women’s draw, after facing New Zealand, Britain will play Cameroon and Brazil. The United States, which won the gold medal four years ago in Beijing, was drawn with France, Colombia and North Korea in Group G.
In Group F, World Cup champion Japan was drawn with Canada, Sweden and South Africa.
