The 2004 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament began on 7 January 2004, and is the 12th CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament. This was the 4th tournament is open to players under the age of 23 without any other restriction. There is no qualification stage and all 10 member of CONMEBOL automatic qualified. The winner and the runner-up qualified for 2004 Summer Olympics. Players born on or after 1 January 1981 were eligible to play in this competition.
Host nation and venues
On 16 July 2002, during a meeting of the CONMEBOL Executive Committee, Chile was named as the host country of the tournament at the request of the Football Federation of Chile.[1] This decision was ratified a year later, on 7 August 2003.[2][3][4] It was the first time that Chile hosted the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament.
On 22 August 2003, the Football Federation of Chile proposed five host cities, with Concepción (Group A), La Serena and Coquimbo (both of Group B) as host cities of the first stage matches, while Viña del Mar and Valparaíso would host the final stage matches.[5][6]
The groups were composed according to the proposal presented by Reinaldo Sanchez, president of the Football Federation of Chile, on 22 August 2003. The proposal was unanimously approved by the CONMEBOL Executive Committee and the groups were formed as follows:[5]
