The schedules are set and women's football in the 2021 Olympics is ready to kick off on July 21. (Check out the US Women's National Team's Olympic schedule here [1].) It's been a minute since the international football took centre stage in the 2019 Women's World Cup, so allow us to remind you how the USWNT won in iconic fashion [2] and are currently ranked No. 1 in the world, the favourite to take home Olympic gold in Tokyo. But anything can happen in tournament play . . . will the USWNT claim victory [3] or go home disappointed once again?
As a reminder, here are the women's Olympic football groups for Tokyo:
- Group E: Japan, Canada, Great Britain, Chile
- Group F: China, Brazil, Zambia, Netherlands
- Group G: Sweden, USA, Australia, New Zealand
Quick rule refresher: in the group stage, teams earn three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. After all teams in the group have faced each other, the two teams with the most points move on. The two best third-place teams across the groups will also advance, and goal differential is used to break ties.
With some quality matches already on the schedule and more waiting in the knockout rounds, we're taking this time to pick out our medal favourites, spotlight some key matchups to watch, and flag the under-the-radar squads who could play spoiler. Grab your bracket and keep reading for everything you need to know about the tournament in Tokyo!
US vs. Sweden Is the Early Match to Watch
US vs. Sweden is one of the best rivalries in women's football, since these two powerhouses always seem to bring out the best in each other. The USWNT beat Sweden in the World Cup group stage and tied them in a recent international friendly, breaking up a streak of 16 consecutive wins for the Americans. Sweden, of course, famously knocked the US out of contention in Rio 2016, resulting in the USWNT's lowest Olympic finish ever. You can expect the US to come out with a vengeance, and while the Americans are favoured to win, this first group stage match will likely be a close one.
Great Britain Will Be a Force in the Semifinals
Should Great Britain and the US both place first in their group (as they are favoured to do) and make it through the quarterfinals, they'll meet in a semifinal matchup that would be something of a repeat of the tense World Cup semifinals. The US beat England 2-1 in that match, but it was as close of a game as they saw in that World Cup run. While the USWNT are still favoured, this will likely be their most nail-biting game. If both teams play to their potential, it could go either way.
Australia Is a Potential Breakout Team
While Japan, Great Britain, Brazil, and the Netherlands have all been heavyweights on the world stage for some time, No. 9-ranked Australia is a talented team still looking for a statement win in a major tournament. Team captain Sam Kerr is considered one of the top players in the world, so if she has the tournament she's capable of, Australia could break a few hearts in Group G and beyond.
The Netherlands Will Come Out Swinging
The No. 4 team in the world have played with confidence since their surprise run in the 2019 World Cup, where they shut down talented opposition with an airtight defence. Despite being the second-highest ranking squad in the tournament, teams like England and Sweden tend to get a bit more international attention. Does that give the Netherlands an advantage? Potentially — it feels like they'll come out strong but with a sense of still having something to prove, which could be dangerous for their opposition in Group F. If they make it out of group play, this team could get hot.
Brazil Are Prime Competitors to Watch
Brazil have landed near the top of the FIFA world rankings for years, with a fourth-place finish in the Rio 2016 Olympics serving as their their last major result. This proud football country has underperformed in other major international tournaments, including back-to-back round of 16 exits in the last two World Cups. Is this the end of an era in Brazil? Tokyo 2021 could be the determining factor, with stars like Marta (35 years old) and Formiga (43) perhaps approaching the end of their time on the team.
With Home Field Advantage, Japan Could Make a Podium Run
Japan, ranked No. 10 in the world, have their work cut out for them in a strong group that includes Canada, Great Britain, and Chile. But with Tokyo hosting the Games this year, this team has a home field advantage and a burning desire to medal in their own country. Look for them to play with heart and advance into the quarter-finals, perhaps pulling off an upset to get into the semis.
The US Will Make It to the Gold Medal Match
. . . and probably win. Look, tournaments rarely go the way you think they will, but the USWNT has remained on top of the world for four years for good reason. They have not yet lost under head coach Vladko Andonovski and looked deadly confident in their warm-up matches before the Games. Without a doubt, the USWNT are the team to beat, and it's a safe bet that they'll make it to the final match of the tournament. Then again, there's a reason it's so hard to win the World Cup and the Olympics in back-to-back appearances.