Tokyo Handbook
Photography by Luke Stergiou.
This Friday, the world will turn its attention to Tokyo for the Opening Ceremony of the postponed 2020 Summer Olympic Games. But, as is typical of the Olympics, the men’s and women’s soccer competitions will begin two days before the opening ceremony, so the broadcast teams can iron out any streaming kinks. On Wednesday, then, all eyes will be on the USWNT as they face Sweden in their first match of the group stage.
The 2019 FIFA World Cup Champions are looking to become the first team in history to win Olympic Gold immediately following a FIFA Women’s World Cup win. After winning the 2015 World Cup, the USWNT was defeated in the quarterfinals of the Rio 2016 Olympics on penalties - at the hands of Sweden. The defeat became the worst-ever finish in the USWNT’s medal-filled Olympic and World Cup career, and for many players on the team, was the lowest point while playing for the national team. Now, 5 years later, the USWNT will be looking to get revenge on their long-time tournament foe and let the world know that 2016 was not the new norm.
To start their campaign, they will face Sweden, New Zealand, and Australia in the group stage, and they’ll need a Top-2 finish in order to guarantee a spot in the knockout round. Should the USWNT make the knockout round, they could meet several talented teams on their way to the Gold Medal match (August 5, 10 PM ET), all looking to knock the USWNT off their perch.
Team Great Britain boasts some of the hottest players in the world, such as Fran Kirby, Lauren Hemp, and Lucy Bronze. The Netherlands, defending European Champions and World Cup runners-up, will have Vivianne Miedema and Lieke Martens up top to create one of the world’s most lethal attacks. Brazil, who sports some of the best players the women’s game has ever seen in Marta and Debinha, will be coached by Pia Sundhage, who is very familiar with Olympic success. Sundhage coached the USWNT to 2008 and 2012 Olympic Gold and subsequently coached Sweden to victory in that fateful quarterfinal against the USWNT in 2016.
But none of that scares the USWNT, and they have several weapons at their disposal to not only get their revenge on Sweden but also return to the Olympic medal podium. The USWNT will use 6 players who won Gold in 2012 — Sauerbrunn, Rapinoe, Morgan, O’Hara, Heath, and Lloyd — to lead the team by example. Several USWNT stars, such as Lavelle, Horan, Dunn, and Dahlkemper, will be chasing their first-ever Olympic medal. Coupled with Christen Press, Megan Rapinoe, and Sam Mewis being in the best forms of their careers, this team has the perfect blend of experience, talent, and hunger to conquer the Olympic stage. They will just have to trust their bench and adapt to any obstacles thrown their way in this fast-paced, unpredictable tournament.
The Olympic women’s soccer competition is going to be one of the most evenly-matched and exciting events in Tokyo this summer, and it should not be missed. Here is the USWNT’s group stage schedule, and where/how you can watch live:
USWNT vs Sweden: July 21st, 4:30 AM, ET (USA Network, Telemundo)
USWNT vs New Zealand: July 24th, 7:30 AM, ET (NBCSN, Telemundo)
USWNT vs Australia: July 27th, 4:00 AM, ET (USA Network, Telemundo)
