The United States women’s national team has been drawn in Group B for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they will face tough competition from Australia, Germany, and either Morocco or Zambia. The draw was confirmed by FIFA at the Pulse Building near Paris. This tournament will be the first major competition for Emma Hayes as the head coach of the U.S. women’s national team, following the team’s disappointing finish in the previous World Cup.
Opponents and History
The U.S. women will kick off their tournament play on July 25 in Nice against either Morocco or Zambia, who will be competing in a playoff in April to determine their spot. Interestingly, the U.S. has never faced either of these teams before, adding an element of unpredictability to their matchups. The USWNT has a strong history in women’s soccer, having won four out of the first five Olympic tournaments that featured women’s soccer. However, they are currently seeking their first gold medal since the 2012 London Games, after earning a bronze in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Germany, one of the U.S.’s opponents in the group stage, has a strong record against the American team, with the U.S. holding a 23-5-7 record against them. Both teams have been dominant forces in women’s soccer, having won a combined six out of nine Women’s World Cup titles. Despite their history, the two teams have only met once in Olympic play, back in 2004 when the U.S. came out on top with a 2-1 victory in extra time.
Australia, the other team in USWNT’s group, has only managed to defeat the U.S. once in their 34 meetings. Their matchups have been intense, with the teams playing to a scoreless draw in the group stage of the previous Olympics. The U.S. went on to win the bronze-medal game against Australia with a 4-3 victory. It will be interesting to see how these rivalries play out in the upcoming tournament.
Other Teams and Draw Details
The defending Olympic women’s champion, Canada, has been drawn in Group A alongside Colombia, New Zealand, and host France. Spain, another strong contender in women’s soccer, will face tough competition in Group C, including Japan, Brazil, and the winner of the Nigeria-South Africa playoff.
On the men’s side, the U.S. men’s national team will compete at the Olympics for the first time since 2008, having failed to qualify for the previous three editions. The men’s team has been drawn in Group A alongside host France, New Zealand, and the winner of a playoff between Guinea and the fourth-place team from Asian qualifying. It’s important to note that the men’s Olympic soccer tournament is a U-23 competition, allowing each team to include three overage players.
Overall, the tournament draw for the 2024 Paris Olympics sets the stage for exciting and competitive matchups for both the U.S. women’s and men’s national teams. The teams will have the opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage and strive for success against some of the best teams in the world.
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