The qualification will be contested in a Group B, which brings together two previous winners of the competition, Germany and the USA, revenge after a failed World Cup, an Australia looking to continue its momentum and a Zambia looking to spring a surprise.
Germany
The 2016 Olympic champion team qualified by finishing third in the Nations League, beating the Netherlands in the qualifier 2-0. Germany finished top of their Euro 2025 qualifying group in a group that included Austria, Iceland and Poland. If it had a string of successes with the exception of a defeat against Iceland, it did little to reassure defensively. In a fairly tough group, she must show her best face as soon as she enters the competition.
A year after a historic elimination in the group stage at last year’s World Cup, Germany are looking to place themselves back among the best nations in the world. She is no longer as intimidating, losing Lena Oberdorf to injury just before the competition, an absence that adds to the likes of Sara Däbritz, Lina Magull, Linda Dallmann and Svenja Huth, who recently retired. That’s a lot less experience for a rebuilding team that will be led by the indestructible Alex Popp and the prolific Lea Schüller in attack.
Matches in 2024: 1_2 From NLSF, 2-0 PB NL3P, 3-2 Aut QE, 3-1 Isl QE, 4-1 Pol QE, 3-1 Pol QE, 0-3 Isl, 4-0 Aut
Olympic history: sixth participation. Gold medal in 2016, bronze medal in 2000, 2004, 2008.
Australia
The new qualification format offered an easy ticket for Australia, who in two rounds had to beat the Philippines, Iran, Taiwan last year and then Uzbekistan in the decisive play-off at the start of the year (13 -0 cumulatively). Semi-finalist in the World Cup last year and fourth in the last Olympic Games, Australia wants to go on and do better, logically. An achievable goal on paper, with an experienced group that provides continuity, but we already have to leave a strong group before looking further. Australia lost the only friendly played against an Olympic team, against Canada (1–2) after facing Mexico (2–0) or China (1–1, 2–0).
The Matildas will try to claim a first Olympic medal without Sam Kerr, injured in May and out for several months. A tough blow, sure, but the team showed it could be solid without her last year. Several managers also arrive with minor physical issues to deal with, but the Matildas are optimistic and looking to make their mark with one of the most experienced teams in the competition.
Matches in 2024: 3-0 Uzb, 10- Uzb QJO, 2-0 Mex, 1-1 China, 2-0 China, 1-2 Can
UNITED STATES
Qualified thanks to its victory in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship in 2022, the choice of the United States, four titles and two additional podiums at the Olympics is a reference coming out of a failed World Cup. She won the Gold Cup (1-0 against Brazil in the final) and the SheBelieves Cup (on penalties against Canada) this year, but has since had a new coach, former Chelsea coach Emma Hayes, at the helm of the team game. Its goal is to put the election back at the top of the world hierarchy, and if it can do it from these games, it will.
With opponents like Germany and Australia starting this group stage, the team will be tested quickly. Rose Lavelle and her creativity remain crucial to a selection that may be short of ideas in addition to having shown a glaring ineffectiveness in the face of opposing goals that could play a trick if it continues. Hayes seems to want to install the Rodman/Swanson/Smith trio in attack, a formidable trio especially in transition phases.
Matches in 2024: GC 5-0 RepD, 4-0 Arg, 0-2 Mex, 3-0 Col, 2-2 Can, 1-0 Bré, SBC 2-1 Jap, 2-2 Can, 4-0 CDS , 3-0 CDS, 1_0 Mex, 0-0 CRC
Olympic history: eighth participation. Four gold medals (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012), one silver medal (2000), one bronze medal (2020).
The American Committee with Emma Hayes at the helm
Zambia
It is probably the committee that had the hardest time getting its ticket to the tournament. After benefiting from Mali’s package, Barbra Banda was decisive against Ghana (4-3 on aggregate) and then Morocco (3-2 ap.) to take Zambia to Paris. The squad played only one game against New Zealand to prepare for the Olympics (1-1). She will have nothing to lose against three heavyweights in the discipline and should look to ignite the fights to spring a surprise.
Unsurprisingly, the selection will be led by Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, whose goals and pressure on the opposite goals will determine the team’s results, although other players such as Grace Chanda will bring their experience. Note that despite the allegations against him, Bruce Mwape is still leading the selection.
Matches in 2024: 1-0, 3-3 Ghana, 1-2 March, 2-0 AP, 1-1 NZ
Olympic history: other participation. Elimination from the group stage (2020).
