For the first time in almost 20 years, Team USA will have both Men’s and Women’s soccer teams at the Olympic Games! Paris 2024 will be here before we know it, and US Soccer is readying itself to help the nation go for gold at the summer games!
US Soccer is ready for Paris 2024
The USA has long been seen as the perennial powerhouse at the Olympics. Paris 2024 will be no different. This time however we will see both a Men’s and Women’s Soccer team compete for the first time since 2008! The Women’s team has been carrying the soccer load for far too long, and now both teams will have the opportunity to play for national pride!
For the men’s tournament, 16 nations compete in the group stage, while 12 nations on the women’s tournament play at Paris 2024. Each tournament has a group stage, followed by knockout rounds starting in the quarterfinals. The top two teams in the group stage from the men’s side advance to the knockout rounds; the top two teams from the group stage plus the two best third-place teams from the women’s side make up their knockout rounds!
For these tournaments, the men’s teams will be comprised of rosters of mostly Under-23 (U-23) players. Each team is only allotted three roster spots for players above the age of 23. The women’s tournament has no age restrictions; meaning, it is played by full senior national teams!
Just yesterday, the draw for the groups was conducted! Both the US Men’s Olympic Team (USMOT) and the US Women’s Olympic Team (USWOT) now know when they’ll play their matches in Paris 2024!
USMOT takes on France, New Zealand, and the winner of an Asia-Africa playoff
The USMOT has been placed in Group A at Paris 2024. Their group includes hosts France, New Zealand, and the winner of an Asia vs Africa playoff. This will be difficult for what will likely be a young/inexperienced USA side.
Head coach, Marko Mitrović will need to have his team ready to perform well on their return to the tournament. They have some tune-up matches this coming weekend/next week against Guinea and France to do just that!
As for the three players, we will see over the age of 23, we won’t know until much closer to the start of the tournament. This will likely have to do with, which senior players clubs allow to play at Paris 2024.
No matter who is representing the red, white, and blue, it is nice to see the men’s team back in the competition after 16 years of being on the outside looking in!
USWOT takes on Germany, Australia, and the winner of Morocco vs Zambia!
The USWOT will be in Group B of the Women’s tournament at Paris 2024. They will play matches against the winner of the playoff between Morocco and Zambia, Germany, and Australia! While the USA is still one of the best teams in Women’s World Football, these matches will be a real measuring stick.
Emma Hayes will finally be at the helm of the USWNT as they turn into the USWOT! She will inherit a team that got back to their winning ways in the Concacaf W Gold Cup this past February. They won the competition that mimics the style of tournament that Paris 2024 will present without their manager!
This team might be well off come Olympics time, they will just need to remember who they are and rely on their skill on and off the pitch that has carried them forward for generations!
If the USA can reclaim the gold medal at this Olympics it will be a major achievement, and solidify them as the team to beat still!
Can Team USA go for Gold at Paris 2024?
So will either USA team be able to come to Paris 2024 and win the gold medal for the country? We will have to wait and see, but now that we know the groups that each team has been dealt we can start theorizing just how far the teams can go.
The Men’s team will play their matches on July 24 vs France at 3 pm EST, July 27 vs New Zealand at 1 pm EST, and the winner of the Asia vs Africa playoff on July 30 at 1 pm EST!
The Women’s team will play their group matches on July 25 vs the winner of the playoff between Morocco and Zambia at 3 pm EST, on July 28 vs Germany at 3 pm EST, and on July 31 vs Australia at 1 pm EST!
Be sure to return to Philly Sports Network for more Philadelphia Union and other soccer content!
Follow our Union team on Twitter:
Tim Lovenguth | Jimmy King | Paul Frenzel
Eric Frysinger | Liam Jenkins | Regina Ham
Steve Beavon | Zach LoBasso
Doop on Union fans!
Mandatory Credit: Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire
