The Matildas are gearing up to kick some goals at the Summer Olympics 2024. Hot off an incredible 2023 World Cup run and coming just short of a medal in the 2020 Games in Tokyo, they’re ready to take home the gold.
Whether you have a front-row seat to the action or will be streaming from home, here’s everything you need to know about the Matildas at the Paris Olympic Games.
WHAT GROUP ARE THE MATILDAS IN FOR THE PARIS OLYMPICS?
Altogether, there are 12 female soccer teams in the Olympics 2024. They are broken into three separate groups – A, B, C. And the Matildas are in Group B. That means, they’ll be up against the USA, Germany and either Zambia/Morocco (to be confirmed in June).
The Group breakdown is as follows:
- GROUP A: France, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand
- GROUP B: USA, CAF 2 (Zambia/Morocco), Germany, Australia
- GROUP C: Spain, Japan, CAF 1, Brazil
The Matildas are up against some fierce competition. Currently, the Aussie women’s team is ranked 12th in the world – the USA is ranked fourth and Germany is fifth.
Yet, despite their higher rankings, USA and Germany’s underwhelming performances in the last FIFA Women’s World Cup pale against the Matildas’ epic fourth-place finish.
And the Matildas’ narrow 4-3 loss to USA at the Tokyo Olympics is undoubtedly driving them to push harder, with redemption on their minds.
WHAT IS THE MATCH SCHEDULE?
The Matildas are set to play their group stage matches in Marseille and Nice, opening their Olympic campaign against Germany on July 25th at the Stade de Marseille, Marseille.
On July 28th, they will take on the winner of April’s Confederation of African Football play-off between Zambia and Morocco at the Stade de Nice, Nice.
Then, just like they did at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Matildas will conclude their group stage action battling it out against the US on July 31st back at the Stade de Marseille, Marseille.
All matches will be held at 7.00pm local time and 3.00am AEST.
WHO IS ON THE OLYMPIC TEAM FOR THE MATILDAS?
The full 18-player squad has been announced by the Australian Olympic Committee at Sydney Olympic Park. Captained by Steph Catley, the Matildas team includes eight athletes who will become the first Australian footballers to compete at a trio of Olympic Games.
Steph, vice-captain Emily Van Egmond, Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop will all become three-time Olympians in Paris.
Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Michelle Heyman, Teagan Micah and Hayley Raso all return for their second Games. And Clare Hunt, Kaitlyn Torpey, Cortnee Vine and Clare Wheeler have been selected to make their Olympic debut.
The full 18-player squad headed to the Paris Olympics at a glance:
- Steph Catley, captain
- Emily Van Egmond, vice-captain
- Mackenzie Arnold
- Ellie Carpenter
- Caitlin Foord
- Alanna Kennedy
- Hayley Raso
- Clare Polkinghorne
- Tameka Yallop
- Clare Hunt
- Kaitlyn Torpey
- Cortnee Vine
- Clare Wheeler
- Kyra Cooney-Cross
- Mary Fowler
- Katrina Gorry
- Michelle Heyman
- Teagan Micah
Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares said: “I am thrilled to announce the Matildas team for Paris 2024. This team is already full of trailblazers and record breakers, with eight players set to become the first three-time football Olympians for Australia.
“Thank you to the team at Football Australia, and everyone who has helped these 18 players grow from their first time having a go at football to becoming Paris Olympians.”
The Matildas Head Coach Tony Gustavsson said, “This has been an incredibly challenging squad to select with so many quality players competing fiercely for limited spots.
“It has been a methodical process over the past couple of years to reach to this point, and each of the players selected bring unique and beneficial qualities to our team that will be vital for our Paris 2024 campaign.”
“I would like to congratulate all the players selected and the teammates, coaches, family and friends that have brought them to this moment. I know that this team will give everything for the coat of arms and will represent Australia to the best of their ability in the true Aussie way.”
Before the official squad was released, Coach Tony warned that “some very good players” won’t make the cut for the Olympic team.
WHO ARE THE MATILDAS TRAVELLING RESERVES?
Sharn Freier, Charlotte Grant, Courtney Nevin and Lydia Williams have been named as the travelling reserves. This is also known as Ap athletes under Games accreditation. The travelling reserves can be selected as a replacement athlete onto the Australian Olympic Team in case of injury or other withdrawal of one of the selected 18 athletes.
WILL MATILDAS SAM KERR PLAY IN THE PARIS OLYMPICS?
No, it has been confirmed that Sam Kerr will not be competing in the 2024 Olympics. Unfortunately, Australia’s favourite women’s team captain is still recovering from a ruptured ACL, which she hurt at the start of the year.
Sam’s father, a former professional AFL player, was also adamant that she wouldn’t be competing in an interview earlier this year.
As for the star shooter herself, who’s revered for putting the team and their fans first, there’s no doubt that she’d love to represent the green and gold at the Olympics. However, she already had a feeling it wouldn’t be in the cards for her this year. She previously mentioned that the “Olympics probably isn’t there”, but she’s going to keep pushing every day to get back to playing her best football.
HAVE THE MATILDAS EVER WON THE OLYMPIC GAMES?
Not yet! The Aussie women’s team has represented Australia at the Olympic Games on four occasions and the FIFA Women’s World Cup on eight. However, the Matildas haven’t won either tournament.
WHERE TO WATCH THE MATILDAS COMPETE IN THE OLYMPICS FROM AUSTRALIA
Fans can get their Matildas Olympics fix on Nine Network, which will be providing around-the-clock coverage of the Games on more than 40 free-to-air channels. That includes metropolitan and regional TV, streaming, audio, publishing and online.
- The Wide World of Sports team is set to run dedicated Olympics channels on Channel 9 and 9Gem, 24 hours a day.
- Stan will debut an all-Olympics channel.
- The Today Show will be broadcasting live from the French capital, bringing the Olympics – and therefore, the Matildas – straight into Australian homes.
WHICH MATILDAS TEAMMATE IS RETIRING AFTER THE PARIS OLYMPICS?
Goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who was quite vocal when the team went on strike over ‘disrespectful’ pay and conditions, announced that she will hang up her Matildas shirt after the 2024 Olympic Games. The Matildas icon’s impressive career has spanned five World Cups, six Asian Cups, 103 caps and just under two decades, playing for the Matildas. She’ll be 36 years old when the Olympic Games begin in late July.
