5 favorites to win gold in women's soccer at 2024 Paris Olympics
- Canada embark on their gold medal defense this summer in Paris
- Spain will compete in Olympic women's soccer for the first time in history
- USWNT is unbeaten under new manager, Emma Hayes
The favorites to win gold in women's soccer at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games just so happen to be competing at their first ever Olympics.
Unlike men's soccer at the Olympics, women's soccer features the best players and competition in the world. From the four-time gold medalist USWNT to the most recent winners, Canada, the tournament guarantees exciting clashes from the group stage all the way to the finals. Plus, for the first time, Spain, the reigning Women's World Cup champions, qualified for the Olympic Games.
Here's a breakdown of the five favorites to leave the French capital with a gold medal in women's soccer.
5 favorites to win gold in women's soccer at 2024 Paris Olympics
5. Brazil
Ever since Arthur Elias became the head coach for Brazil, the team turned the corner from their group stage exit at the 2023 Women's World Cup. Brazil's impressive second-place finish at the 2024 Women's Gold Cup announced their return to the world stage, and now, they have a chance to prove it in Paris.
Led by Marta, an icon for the Selecao, Brazil will look to claim their first ever gold medal at the Olympics. They will have an uphill battle, though, as they come against squads with the best players in the world, like Spain and the USWNT.
4. Canada
Canada took home their first ever gold medal in women's soccer at the Tokyo Olympics, but then crashed out of the 2023 Women's World Cup in the group stage. Bev Priestman's squad have bounced back from their disappointing performances last summer, though, and are coming into the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in great form.
In fact, the only losses Canada have suffered in 2024 have come to the USWNT, including one in the SheBelieves Cup final back in April. On paper, the Canadians might not have enough firepower to get past the top three teams in the competition, but as they proved three years ago, anything can happen at the Olympics.
3. France
France easily has one of top squads at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Led by captain Wendie Renard at the back and Eugenie Le Sommer and Marie-Antoinette Katoto up top, the host nation have plenty of experience, talent, and goalscorers to take them far at the Olympics.
The home crowds will also give Herve Renard's squad a boost, especially in the knockout rounds, but their recent inability to get past Spain in the Women's Nations League makes a gold medal hard to imagine for France.
2. USA
The USWNT are the most successful side of all time in women's soccer at the Olympics. The USA is currently unbeaten under new manager, Emma Hayes, and has yet to concede a goal. They also have talent across the entire pitch, including Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Rose Lavelle, and Sophia Smith, that will propel them very far this summer.
On paper, the USWNT look almost impossible to beat, yet they have mightily struggled up front. In their final two warmup matches before heading to Paris, the USA only scored one goal in 180 minutes, and missed a handful of glorious chances.
If they want to win gold, then Emma Hayes' squad will have to fix their problems in front of goal.
1. Spain
If Spain play to their potential, it is hard to see any other squad besting the reigning World Cup champions. Two of the best women's soccer players in the world (and Barcelona teammates), Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas are both healthy and ready to lead La Roja in their first ever Olympics appearance.
Spain are also coming off winning the inaugural Women's Nations League back in February, where they comfortably defeated the Netherlands in the semi-finals and France in the finals, conceding zero goals in both matches.
On their current run of form, no one will be able to best them in Paris this summer.