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The 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics are chugging along and medals are being handed out starting on Saturday, July 24. For the women’s soccer tournaments, the first step toward awarding gold, silver, and bronze is to complete group stage play.
The 12 women’s teams were divided into three groups of four. Eight teams qualify for the knockout stage. That includes the top two in each group and the two best third-placed teams. There will then be quarterfinals and semifinals, followed by a bronze medal match and a gold medal match. The eight-team quarterfinal will begin on Friday, July 30.
We’re tracking every team that has made the knockout bracket here.
Sweden — July 24
The Swedes thumped the USWNT in the Olympic opener rematch of their 2016 quarterfinal match. Sweden followed up the 3-0 win with a 4-2 win over Australia. Fridolina Rolfö scored goals in the 20th and 63rd minute. Australia had a penalty shot to tie the match at 3, but Sam Kerr couldn’t put it in goal in the 70th minute. Sweden clinched because the US and Australia face off and thus only one can match Sweden atop the group. The Swedes have not officially clinched the group, but even with a loss in their finale against New Zealand, their +5 goal differential right now means the US or Australia would need to outscore the other by a somewhat sizable margin to secure the goal differential tiebreaker.
UPDATE: Sweden won the group and will face Japan in the quarterfinals.
Great Britain — July 24
England won their first two games and a 1-0 win over Japan secured advancement to the knockout stage. They controlled possession at 59% and Ellen White converted a goal in the 74th minute. England and Canada face off on the 27th and England wins the group with a win or tie.
UPDATE: England won the group with a tie against Canada and will face Australia in the quarterfinals.
USA — July 27
It wasn’t pretty, but the USWNT advanced with a scoreless tie against Australia. The team thumped New Zealand, but its first and third games have not been inspiring performances. The team will need to head back to the drawing board before it faces likely either Brazil or the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
UPDATE: The US will face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
Canada — July 27
Canada tied Great Britain 1-1 in the third group match to secure second place just ahead of Japan. Great Britain managed an 85th minute goal to equalize and clinch first place in the group.
UPDATE: Canada will face Brazil in the quarterfinals.
Japan — July 27
Japan beat Chile 1-0 in the group finale and secured one of the two best third place team berths in the knockout stage. Japan tied Canada and lost to Great Britain. They will face Sweden in the quarterfinals,
Netherlands — July 27
The Dutch crushed China 8-2 to close group play and beat Brazil on the goal differential tiebreaker. They will face the USWNT in the quarterfinals.
Brazil — July 27
Brazil beat Zambia 1-0 in the group stage finale. They tied the Dutch in record, but lost out on the goal differential tiebreaker. Brazil will face Canada in the quarterfinals.
Australia — July 27
The Aussies salvaged a scoreless tie with the USA to clinch one of the two spots reserved for the best third-place finishers. Australia beat New Zealand and lost to Sweden, and will face Great Britain in the quarterfinals.