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Matildas Olympics group, draw: Who are Australian women’s football team playing at 2024 Games in Paris? | Sporting News Australia

Matildas Olympics group, draw: Who are Australian women’s football team playing at 2024 Games in Paris? | Sporting News Australia

After multiple rounds of qualifying, the Matildas have officially booked their ticket to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games.

The team’s path to a potential medal has now been revealed, and it won’t be easy.

The Sporting News has all the key details.

MORE: 2024 Olympic football draw for men’s and women’s tournaments in Paris

Matildas Olympics draw: Which teams are in Australia’s group?

The Matildas have been drawn in Group B.

This will see them play Germany, the USA and Zambia.

As a juggernaut in women’s football, facing the United States will be a big challenge for Australia.

They have won the most gold medals at the Olympics (4) and will be looking for their fifth triumph in Paris.

However, the USA have dropped to No. 4 in the FIFA rankings, partly due to their Round of 16 exit in last year’s World Cup.

Tony Gustavsson’s side will also have their work cut out for them against Germany, who are ranked as the No. 5 team in the world.

They scored Olympic gold in 2016 and were runners-up at the UEFA Women’s Championship in 2022.

Zambia – qualifiers for last year’s World Cup – are also not pushovers.

When do the Matildas play at the Olympics? Schedule, fixtures, games for Paris 2024

Australia will begin their Olympic group campaign with a match against Germany on Friday, July 26.

They will play either Zambia or Morocco three days later on Monday, July 29.

A potentially crucial final group game against the USA is scheduled for Thursday, August 1.

Despite the Games taking place in Paris, the Matildas will play two matches in Marseille and one in Nice.

Group B fixtures, schedule

Date Time (AEST) Match Location
Fri, Jul. 26 3 a.m. Germany vs. Australia Orange Velodrome
(Marseille, France)
Fri, Jul. 26 5 a.m. USA vs. Zambia Allianz Riviera
(Nice, France)
Mon, Jul. 29 3 a.m. Australia vs. Zambia Allianz Riviera
(Nice, France)
Mon, Jul. 29 5 a.m. USA vs. Germany Orange Velodrome
(Marseille, France)
Thu, Aug. 1 3 a.m. Zambia vs. Germany Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
(Saint-Etienne, France)
Thu, Aug. 1 3 a.m. Australia vs. USA Orange Velodrome
(Marseille, France)

Which teams have qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games?

Twelve nations will contest the women’s 2024 Summer Olympics football tournament in Paris. Alongside the host nation, all confederations were allotted two places in the competition, except for Oceania which received one.

Zambia and Nigeria took the final two spots at the tournament, winning the African qualifiers over Morocco and South Africa respectively.

A notable absentee is England, who are ranked second in the world by FIFA but did not qualify for the Olympics. The Lionesses finished second in their UEFA Nations League group, meaning they did not even reach the final stage to have a shot at reaching the Olympics.

Nation Confederation FIFA rank Qualified via
France UEFA 3 Host nation
Spain UEFA 1 2024 UEFA Women’s Nations League winner
Germany UEFA 5 2024 UEFA Women’s Nations League third place
United States CONCACAF 4 2022 CONCACAF W Championship winners
Canada CONCACAF 9 CONCACAF Olympic playoff winner
Japan AFC 7 2024 AFC Olympic qualifiers
Australia AFC 12 2024 AFC Olympic qualifiers
New Zealand OFC 28 2024 OFC Olympic qualifying winners
Zambia CAF 65 2024 CAF Olympic qualifiers
Nigeria CAF 36 2024 CAF Olympic qualifiers

What is the Matildas’ best result at the Olympics?

The Matildas are yet to win a medal at the Olympics.

They are currently trending upwards, though, finishing fourth – their best result yet – at the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

Australia narrowly missed out on a medal that year, falling 4-3 to the USA in the bronze medal match.

Matildas 18-player squad for Paris Olympics

Each squad participating in the football tournament at the Olympics is allowed to name an 18-player squad, with four additional players to be selected on a ‘stand by’ basis in case any of the 18 players is unable to play in the tournament.

Note all caps and goals are correct as of 4th June 2024.

*Denotes reserve player

Name Position Caps Goals Club
Mackenzie Arnold Goalkeeper 49 0 West Ham United (ENG)
Teegan Micah Goalkeeper 17 0 Liverpool (ENG)
Steph Catley Defender 126 5 Arsenal (ENG)
Clare Hunt Defender 20 0 Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Alannah Kennedy Defender 124 9 Manchester City (ENG)
Ellie Carpenter Defender 77 4 Olympique Lyon (FRA)
Clare Polkinghorne Defender 167 16 Kristianstads DFF (SWE)
Kaitlyn Torpey Defender 5 1 San Diego Wave (USA)
Katrina Gorry Midfielder 107 17 West Ham United (ENG)
Kyra Cooney-Cross Midfielder 45 0 Arsenal (ENG)
Mary Fowler Midfielder 53 15 Manchester City (ENG)
Clare Wheeler Midfielder 21 2 Everton (ENG)
Tameka Yallop Midfielder 123 13 Brisbane Roar (AUS)
Emily van Egmond Midfielder 144 31 San Diego Wave (USA)
Caitlin Foord Forward 123 36 Arsenal (ENG)
Hayley Raso Forward 87 18 Real Madrid (ESP)
Michelle Heyman Forward 66 26 Canberra United (AUS)
Cortnee Vine Forward 29 3 Sydney FC (AUS)
Sharn Freier* Forward 2 0 Brisbane Roar (AUS)
Charli Grant* Defender 25 1 Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Courtney Nevin* Defender 27 0 Leicester City (ENG)
Lydia Williams* Goalkeeper 104 0 Melbourne Victory (AUS)