World Cup 2.0 – Why you must watch women’s Olympic soccer at Paris 2024 | Paris Olympics 2024

Less than a year after the global success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia, many of the tournament’s key players are back, this time as 12 teams compete for gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the epicentre of world football.

World champions Spain are among the favourites to taste glory even if they make their Olympic debut in the French capital, while perennial powerhouses the United States will be looking for redemption after their worst World Cup performance.

Team USA’s neighbors Canada achieved the unthinkable at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, becoming Olympic champions after defeating the powerful Sweden in the gold medal match. Disappointingly, Sweden will not be participating in the Paris 2024 Olympics after failing to qualify.

The only country on the absentee list is Great Britain, which failed to secure an Olympic spot through its first women’s national federation.

The 12-team women’s Olympic football competition is comprised of professional and official players, making it the world’s top football tournament with a star-studded field compared to the 16-team men’s competition, which is restricted to players under the age of 23 and allows only three age-appropriate professional players.

Thanks to the success of the 2023 World Cup, fan interest in the women’s Olympic soccer tournament, which has already achieved the highest viewership ratings in history, is expected to be higher than ever.

USA: A team in transition

With a new coach and a roster filled with rising stars, a new-look Team USA will compete in the Olympics.

England’s Emma Hayes has been hired to turn the team’s fortunes around, and the experienced coach could provide a breath of fresh air to U.S. women’s soccer.

Hayes, who led Chelsea to seven Women’s Super League titles, took over just before the Olympics but her appointment was announced late last year after Vlatko Andonovski resigned following the side’s embarrassing exit from the World Cup.

The United States, having won back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2019, were expected to make it three straight titles in 2023, but they were eliminated in the round of 16, losing to Sweden on penalties.

Hayes is under pressure as she manages a team that is trying to get back to the top of the world rankings. She has fallen to her lowest ranking ever (No. 5). The four-time world champion also has pride on the line.

“We all know the core ingredients of America’s DNA, and that won’t change under my leadership,” Hayes said at his first news conference as head coach in June.

U.S. captain Lindsey Horan, who was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the Tokyo Olympics, said the team is looking to overcome its World Cup setback and go for gold in Paris.

“After the World Cup, we really regrouped,” Horan told reporters this month.

“When you see the young players and leaders coming into this team, [a] “The big picture of what we have. I think you’re going to see and what’s coming to us is incredible.”

Team USA’s 18-player Olympic roster features new talent including forward Sophia Smith and defenseman Naomi Girma, while veterans Horan, Alyssa Naeher and Crystal Dunn add depth to the squad.

Surprisingly, Alex Morgan, one of the last remaining members of the great U.S. women’s soccer dynasty, was left out by Hayes. It’s the first time since the 2008 Olympics that the famed forward has not played for the national team in a major tournament.

The U.S. team has medaled in all but one of the seven Olympics in which women’s soccer has competed, winning four gold medals, the last of which came in London in 2012.

Goalkeeper Naeher said the Paris Olympics would be an opportunity to start a new chapter for the team as they look to regain their dominance on the world stage.

“We’ve talked all year about looking to the future, turning the page and moving forward with a new identity,” Naeher told reporters.

“This is just the beginning,” she said.

“With Emma here, and the new staff and roster set, I think it’s time to officially move forward. And this is the first tournament of that. You can feel the energy.”

The United States is in Group B alongside 2016 Olympic champions Germany, Asia’s representative Australia and Zambia, which includes the world’s most expensive female athlete, Rahel Kundanangji.

Can Spain achieve the double?

Spain emerged as the 2023 FIFA World Champions in Australia and New Zealand despite off-field problems, including an ugly player mutiny. Their title triumph was later marred by a scandal sparked by former Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales.

Rubiales sparked outrage around the world after kissing star player Jenni Hermoso without her consent during a medal ceremony after the World Cup final. The disgraced former referee is due to stand trial in February 2025, while his close colleague Jorge Vildad has also been sacked as manager by the Spanish Football Federation.

Unlike the World Cup, Spain will go into the Olympics unmolested and have the chance to become the first team to achieve an Olympic gold-World Cup double.

The Olympics will be a new experience for the world number one Spanish players, but having won the World Cup and Nations League last year, they know what it takes to succeed at a major tournament.

Their squad is packed with world-class talent, including 2023 Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bommati, all-time leading scorer Hermoso, veteran midfielder Alexia Putellas and promising winger Salma Paraluelo.

“We are an ambitious team and I am an ambitious person who never tires of winning,” said Bonmatti, who won Liga F and the Champions League with Barcelona last season.

“The most important thing right now is to focus on the gold medal.”

Spain, under new coach Monse Tomé, are in Group C alongside 2011 World Championship winners Japan, two-time Olympic silver medallists Brazil and top-ranked African nation Nigeria.

Marta, representing Brazil… Canada, confident

Brazil will be looking to win the gold medal it missed out on at the 2024 Paris Olympics after winning silver at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

Head coach Arthur Elias’ squad includes one of the greatest players of all time, Marta. The 38-year-old is set to play her sixth and final match before retiring from international football later this year, and the legendary forward is keen to finally add a gold medal to her long list of career achievements.

“She brings a lot. She is the best player of all time,” Elias said of Brazil’s all-time leading scorer Marta.

Canada retained key players from its gold-medal-winning squad, with coach Bev Priestman recalling 13 players who enjoyed success at the Tokyo Olympics.

Captain Jessie Fleming, one of six women on the 18-member squad competing in a third consecutive Olympics, said she was confident the eighth-placed team could do well.

Canada is the only team to have won the women’s soccer event at each of the last three Olympic Games.

“We grew a lot as a team last year and we are confident we can repeat our historic success at this tournament,” said Fleming, who took over as captain after long-time captain Christine Sinclair retired late last year.

Canada is in Group A along with hosts France, Colombia and New Zealand.

⚽ Stay up to date with the latest news:

Al Jazeera’s dedicated Paris 2024 Olympic Games page has all the news and articles, as well as live text commentary of the events and selected football, basketball, tennis and boxing matches.