THUR, MAR 21 2024-theGBJournal| The Women’s Olympic football tournament moved one giant step closer to kick off with the completion of the official draw for the women’s Olympic football tournament, which took place Wednesday at Le Pulse Building in Saint-Denis, Paris.
World champions Spain, appearing at the Olympic Games for the first time in their history, will go up against two-time silver medallists Brazil in Group C, which also includes London 2012 silver medallists Japan.
This group will also feature a rematch of the Spain-Japan 2023 Women’s World Cup group-stage match where Japan ran out 4-0 winners.
The group will be rounded out with either Nigeria or South Africa, depending on which team obtains a quota during the CAF 2 African Qualifiers to be contested from 1 to 9 April.
Group A will see hosts France face off against Colombia in their first match of the tournament.
The French team will be aiming to become only the second host nation to triumph in women’s football at the Olympics after the USA’s victory at Atlanta 1996.
Tokyo 2020 reigning gold medalists Canada, along with New Zealand, making their fifth successive appearance, complete the group.
In the Group B opener, four-time champions, the USA will meet either Morocco or Zambia (based on which team secures a quota during the CAF 2 African Qualifiers).
Fans will also be looking forward to the match between USA and Rio 2016 gold medallists Germany, with Australia’s Matildas the final team in the group.
PARIS 2024 WOMEN’S OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT GROUPS
Group A: France, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand
Group B: USA, CAF 2, Germany, Australia
Group C: Spain, Japan, CAF 1, Brazil
Meanwhile, France will kick-off Paris 2024 against the USA, result of the highly-anticipated draw for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament.
Paris 2024 host nation France will play their first game of the tournament against the United States on 24 July after both nations were drawn in Group A. The match will take place two days before the Opening Ceremony.
France’s only Olympic football title was won on U.S. soil 40 years ago at Los Angeles 1984.
Two-time Olympic champions Argentina were drawn in Group B where they will face off against Morocco, Ukraine and the third-placed finisher in the upcoming 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.
Barcelona 1992 champions Spain will play in Group C while Paraguay, Mali and Israel will meet the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup champions in Group D.
The draw began at 20:00 CET on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024 and was conducted by FIFA Director of Tournaments Jamie Yarza and Chief Women’s Football Officer Sarai Bareman, alongside former Côte d’Ivoire striker Didier Drogba, ex-Canada goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, Olympic gold medallist for Argentina Javier Saviola and three-time Olympic gold medallist for France Marie-Jose Perec.
The 12 teams that already have secured an Olympic quota, along with the four teams still to qualify, were separated into four groups-Viz:
Group A: France, USA, ICP AFC-CAF, New Zealand
Group B: Argentina, Morocco, AFC3, Ukraine
Group C: AFC2, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic
Group D: AFC1, Paraguay, Mali, Israel
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