The 2024 Olympic Women’s Tournament is a tournament that could be even tougher than last summer’s Women’s World Cup in many respects. With only 12 teams fighting for a medal, the margin for error is very slim. The tournament includes seven of the top 10 teams in the FIFA world rankings, and that’s not counting the teams that have done well in recent major tournaments who could reasonably contend for the podium.
Group A is one that includes two top 10 teams and two other teams that can be dangerous. Hosts France, Colombia, Canada, and New Zealand will make this a group worth watching, and it will be interesting to see who’s on top when the dust settles at the end of the group stage.
Schedule
Thursday, July 25th
Canada vs. New Zealand
France vs. Colombia
Sunday, July 28th
New Zealand vs. Colombia
France vs. Canada
Wednesday, July 31st
New Zealand vs. France
Colombia vs. Canada
France
France enters the Olympics as the host team and as one of the best teams in the world. They’ve been trying to build themselves back up after losing in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup to be in a position challenge for the gold medal in front of the home fans.
France has been strong for years, but they just haven’t been able to get over the hump in major tournaments. They didn’t qualify for the 2020 Olympics, and have been quarterfinalists in the past 3 Women’s World Cups, including when they hosted in 2019. They hope that this is the year that they can get past that quarterfinal match and reach the podium.
FIFA ranking: 2
Odds of Winning Group: Favorites
One to Watch: Marie-Antoinette Katoto is back on the squad and she is going to be a problem for opponents.
Colombia
Colombia has emerged as one of the more in-form teams in the world over the past year. They shocked everyone with their run to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and they played a dazzling style of soccer that fans really enjoyed. They hope to build upon that success at the Olympics. They won’t shock anyone this time around. The rest of the world is very aware of their abilities at this point, so Colombia will now have to learn how to play without the element of surprise. Their attack is profound, and that could help them through if it’s on during the group stage.
FIFA ranking: 22
Odds of Winning Group: In the running
One to Watch: Linda Caicedo continues to be a star who is poised to make the leap to another level for Colombia.
Canada
The reigning gold medalists are back in the Olympics to defend their title, but they do so while their federation is in a bit of chaos. They have fought their federation for equal payments and resources, and that fight wore on them to the point where they were bounced in the group stage at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. They’re back with a renewed focus and knowing that they have to defend the gold medal they won in Tokyo against a really tough field. They’re in a very difficult group, but they bring a ton of experience to France. Seven players have 100+ caps, and that experience is necessary for Canada to repeat as gold medal winners.
FIFA ranking: 8
Odds of Winning Group: In the running.
One to Watch: Kailen Sheridan’s hot goalkeeping helped lead Canada in Tokyo, and she’ll be counted on again to keep the ball out of the net for Canada.
Aotearoa New Zealand
Aotearoa New Zealand enters this tournament hoping to get out of the group stage and make a run. They have only escaped the group stage once in a major international tournament: the 2012 Olympics, where their run ended in the quarterfinals. Co-hosting the 2023 Women’s World Cup, they fought hard but were not able to get out of their group, and it has motivated the team to do what it can to take their collective game to the next level. They breezed through Oceania Olympic qualifying, but their task is to get results against some of the better teams in the world. New Zealand will have three opportunities in the group stage to do that, and it’s a major test for this team to be in Group A.
FIFA ranking: 28
Odds of Winning Group: Needs Help
One to Watch: Forward Milly Clegg is 18 years old and positioned to make a breakthrough for New Zealand in this tournament.
Who will advance from Group A? What matches are most interesting to you? Let us know in the comments.
