- The Brazilian and Colombian teams qualified for the Paris Games through CONMEBOL Women's Copa America 2022™.
- Caicedo and Marta represent different generations on the field in search of an unprecedented gold medal.
The women's football tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games kicks off this Thursday, July 25, with Brazil and Colombia taking the field in search of a medal in Paris. The quality of South American players has the continent dreaming of an unprecedented Olympic gold after good results in the recent past.
The qualification of both teams for the Olympics was achieved through their campaigns at CONMEBOL Women's Copa America 2022™: the tournament ended with Brazil's 8th title, where they defeated host Colombia, who also stamped its passport to the big event in France. The Brazilians have never failed to participate in the Olympic competition in eight editions held since 1996, while the Colombians represent their nation for the 3rd time on this occasion.
Here are additional details on Women's Football at these 2024 Olympic Games:
Match schedule
- Group stage matches: July 25, 28 and 31
- Quarterfinals: Saturday, August 3
- Semifinals: Tuesday, August 6
- Bronze Medal Match: Friday, August 9
- Gold Medal Match (Final): Saturday, August 10
Groups
- Group A: Colombia, France, Canada, New Zealand
- Group B: United States, Zambia, Germany, Australia
- Group C: Brazil, Spain, Japan, Nigeria
Brazil and Colombia fixtures
- Nigeria vs. Brazil – 7/25 at 7 pm local time in Bordeaux (1st round)
- France vs. Colombia – 7/25 at 9 pm local time in Décines-Charpieu (1st round)
- New Zealand vs. Colombia – 7/28 at 5 p.m. local time in Décines-Charpieu (Round 2)
- Brazil vs. Japan – 7/28 at 5 pm local time in Paris (2nd round)
- Brazil vs. Spain – 7/31 at 5 pm local time in Bordeaux (3rd round)
- Colombia vs. Canada – 7/31 at 9 p.m. local time in Nice (Round 3)
All times are France local (GMT+2)
Tournament format
The group stage of the women's football tournament is played in three groups of four teams each, with all teams playing each other once. The top two finishers in each group and two of the three best third-placed teams qualify for the knockout rounds of the tournament. The quarterfinal crossovers depend on which teams advance among the best third place finishers, since opponents from the same group do not face each other in the first round of the knockouts.
In the quarterfinals until the gold medal match, an overtime with two halves of 15 minutes each will be played in case of a tie in normal time. If the tie remains, the decision will be resolved in a penalty shootout.
Brazil and Colombia Key Players
Marta, for Brazil, and Linda Caicedo, for Colombia, are some of the South American highlights in the battle for an unprecedented gold medal in Paris 2024.
The 'Queen' Marta hopes to end an impressive history at the Olympic Games with a beautiful final chapter this year. An Olympic medalist on two occasions (silver in 2004 and 2008), the legendary striker missed the victorious campaign at the last CONMEBOL Women'™ s Copa America (where they have three titles) due to an injury and goes to Paris to captain the next generation of her country in search of the highest place on the podium. By her side will be renowned players such as left back Tamires, multi-champion for Corinthians, and striker Ludmila, from Atlético de Madrid.
In Colombia, hopes are placed on Linda Caicedo. Runner-up and named Best Player of CONMEBOL Women's Copa America 2022™, the young star impressed the world with her talent and ability to score goals. So much so that she left Deportivo Cali for Real Madrid, of Spain, at the beginning of the following year, setting the tone for what she would show at the Women's World Cup months later. She was involved in 3 goals (2 goals scored, 1 assist) in the best campaign in Los Cafeteras history of the competition, reaching the quarterfinals.
But the 19-year-old striker is not alone: alongside Caicedo will be Catalina Usme, the player with the most appearances and the all-time top scorer of the Colombian national team (50 goals in 79 matches), who now wears the colors of Pachuca (Mexico), and defender Jorelyn Carabalí, who has played for the English side, Brighton & Hove Albion, m since 2023.
What is the best result for Brazil and Colombia in Women's Football?
With Marta on the field, Brazil has twice won the silver medal in women's soccer at the Olympics – Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 – and are the only nation to have a team compete in in all eight editions held to date.
Colombia, on the other hand, played in the group stage of the Olympic tournament on two previous occasions – London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 – and also qualified through the CONMEBOL Women'™ s Copa America for the Games on Brazilian soil.
