Brazil, the holders, will face Spain for the men’s football Olympic gold medal on Saturday after these heavyweight nations of South American and European football saw off the best of Central America and Asia in Tuesday’s semi-finals.
The progress of a strong Spanish side meant heartbreak for the hosts, Japan, beaten by a stunning Marco Asensio goal late in extra-time.
There were 114 goalless minutes on the clock at that stage, and Asensio, with an elegant turn onto his favoured left foot and a curling finish, brought to an end a long day of tense and sometimes attritional duelling.
Brazil and Mexico had earlier cancelled one another through 90 minutes and then extra time without scoring in Kashima, Brazil edging that tie 4-1 on penalties.
Spain, including six of the players who lost last month’s European Championship semi-final in a shoot-out to Italy, at least spared themselves the agony of another lottery from 12 metres and believe they deserve their crack at claiming the top step of the podium.
Japan had weathered some intense pressure towards the end of normal time in Saitama; Spain had most of the possession, and they had been galvanised by Asensio’s introduction as a second half substitute.
But the disappointment for Japan was intense. Captain Maya Yoshida lay flat out on the pitch at the end. On the bench, Takefusa Kubo looked stunned. The winger has been a star of the Olympic run, and was exhausted by the time he was withdrawn, with extra time beckoning. Kubo, a Real Madrid player - though he is usually out on loan - could have warned of the dangers of allowing Madrid’s Asensio to pirouette onto that marvellous left foot.
His was a goal worth waiting for. The wait had been long. This Olympics has not been short of them overall, with some thrilling see-saw matches such as the seven-goal South Africa-France game, the five-goal Saudi Arabia-Germany meeting and some emphatic scorelines in the group phase.
The quarter-finals then gave us Spain 5, Ivory Coast 2, after extra time, and South Korea and Mexico serving up nine goals. But the semis is where tension really rises, even without spectators in the stadiums, and there were symptoms of risk-avoidance.
In the end, experience told. Asensio is only 25 but has two Liga titles and two Champions League wins to his name. He also has points to make after two years where injury and inconsistent form diminished his status both at Madrid and in the senior Spain squad, which did not include him at the Euros.
As for Brazil, they have, wearing the skipper’s armband in Japan, the most worldly of contemporary footballers. Dani Alves won his first senior silverware in 2002, before some of the players taking part at the Games were born. The regulation that allows each Olympic squad three footballers over 24 means the likes of Alves, who accumulated 43 club trophies with Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and others, and Asensio can impose their sense of hierarchy.
It counted on Tuesday, Asensio smoothing Spain’s path to the Yokohama final, Dani Alves giving Brazil a lead in the penalty shoot-out that seemed to crush Mexico’s confidence.
Both finalists must now combat fatigue. Brazil toiled at times against Mexico and the longer the sides stayed on level teams, with Richarlison heading against the post late in normal time, the more the gold medal holders were made anxious. After all, at the London 2012 Games, Mexico beat Brazil in the final; in senior regional tournaments, they have a modern habit of disrupting the progress of the more celebrated football nation.
More than that, this Mexico team had until Tuesday festooned the competition with goals - four against France and three against South Africa in the group phase; six in that wild quarter-final against South Korea.
In the end it came down to relative coolness in a shoot-out, several generations of Brazilian talent up against the veteran Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. The 36-year-old has a sound reputation facing spot-kicks. Then again, Dani Alves, 38, has an impeccable reputation facing pressure. Having converted the first penalty he was a picture of focussed ambition, rallying his younger team-mates when his goalkeeper, Santos, saved the first Mexican penalty.
The lead in the shoot-out grew to 3-0 after Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli converted, Johan Vasquez hit the post with Mexico’s second spot-kick and Bruno Guimaraes scored for the reigning champions. Reinier, the teenager who is half Dani Alves’ age, confirmed Brazil’s place in the final by completing a flawless set of spot-kicks.
Mexico and Japan will now contest the bronze medal on Friday. The following day Dani Alves will seek gold medal number 44 in his career, his first at an Olympic Games.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
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Previous men's records
- 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
- 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
- 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
- 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
- 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
- 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
- 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
- 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
- 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
- 2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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