The group stages for the Women's Soccer Tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games is set to come to its conclusion on Wednesday, July 31st. Two teams have already secured their places in the knockout rounds with one match to spare, while one team are now on the brisk of elimination despite winning their first two games.
Here's all you need to know heading into matchday three.
Group A
Here's how things look in Group A ahead of matchday three:
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 | WLW | |
| 2 | Canada | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | WWW | |
| 3 | Colombia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | LWL | |
| 4 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 0 | LLL |
At the moment, things are looking very interesting in Group A. Previously, reigning champions Canada had done just enough to secure a spot in the knockout rounds following wins over New Zealand and France. However, following their involvement in an embarrassing spying scandal by using drones, Canada have been docked six points, which now leaves them with zero and needing a miracle to get to the knockout stages.
They'll need to beat Colombia and do so in resounding fashion, plus will need Australia and Brazil - the two other teams currently in the best third placed team group - to also fail to win their own respective matches.
Hosts France currently are almost into the knockout rounds, and will secure their spot with a win over New Zealand. As for Colombia, they will naturally aim to see off Canada to secure a coveted berth.
New Zealand, who are last in the table, will need to both beat hosts France by some margin and hope that Canada fail to beat Colombia in order to have any shot at maybe making it into the best third-placed teams group. In addition, they will also need Spain to beat Brazil.
Group B
Here's how things look in Group B ahead of matchday three:
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 9 | WWW | |
| 2 | Germany | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 | WLW | |
| 3 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 3 | LWL | |
| 4 | Zambia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 13 | -7 | 0 | LLL |
Meanwhile, in Group B, the USWNT have already secured their spot to the knockout rounds following two very convincing wins over Zambia (3-0) and Germany (4-1). The Stars and Stripes will certainly look to beat Australia in their final game in order to make a perfect three wins out of three, but barring a shocking turn of events, the USWNT will head into the round of 16 as Group B's winners.
Germany, who sit on three points, will need a win against Zambia to ensure they secure a spot in the next stage. A draw might be enough for Germany if Australia lose to the USWNT.
Meanwhile, Australia lost their tournament opener to Germany, but successfully saw off Zambia following a highly entertaining 11 goal thriller and now will face the USWNT on matchday three. A win for the Matildas, coupled with a loss or a draw for Germany against Zambia, would see them through to the quarter-finals. If the Matildas win and Germany win, Germany will head through due to their better head to head record. That being said, they will likely still qualify as a best third-placed team if they can earn a win over the USWNT for a total of six points from their group.
If Australia lose to the USWNT, they are still not out - provided that Colombia beat Canada.
Zambia are pretty much out of the competition. Even if they somehow manage to beat Germany to pick up their first three points, they will need Australia to lose to the USWNT and will also have to really beat Germany by a margin that is simply astronomical to have any shot at sneaking into the next stage as one of the best third-placed teams.
Group C
Here's how things look in Group C ahead of matchday three:
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 9 | WWW | |
| 2 | Japan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | WWL | |
| 3 | Brazil | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 | LLW | |
| 4 | Nigeria | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 | LLL |
Spain, who are making their debut appearance at the Olympic Games, have shown no signs of stage fright. The reigning World Cup champions have looked largely in control as they picked up wins over Japan and Nigeria to book their spot in the quarter-finals with a game to spare.
La Roja are already through regardless of whether they win, lose, or draw against Brazil, but it's safe to say that they will want to wrap up their group stage campaign on a good note.
Japan will also join Spain in the quarter-finals if they can beat Nigeria, who now will be in a desperate fight to keep their tournament hopes alive after losing to Brazil and Spain.
As for Brazil, they are currently into the quarter-finals as one of the best third-placed teams. However, this could change depending on their outcome of their match against Spain. A loss for them, coupled with some interesting results from the other groups, including some matches being decided by significant margins could see Brazil miss out. That being said, as things stand, Brazil do look set to join the other teams in the quarter-finals - even if they do end up losing to Spain.
Here is the full schedule of fixtures taking place on matchday three in the 2024 Olympic Games Women's Soccer Tournament:
