The Olympics have gotten off to a chaotic start as all 12 national teams have now played two group matches. Spain, Canada, and the United States are a perfect two for two, but only the USWNT and Spain have clinched a spot in the knockout rounds thanks to the six-point penalty leveled against Canada for their spygate scandal. Both squads need a final group result to determine their respective paths. That means six more spots are up for grabs in the quarterfinals.
But where have squads separated themselves in our power rankings? The margins are narrow, and even more complex when you factor in Canada’s drone scandal, so how do things look in our power rankings heading into the final group stage:
| Rank | Team | Change | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
1. | Spain | — | The current 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup winners had an obvious target on their backs heading into the Olympics and their group rivals have brought their A games. La Roja haven’t had any blowout wins, but Spain has been tested by Japan and Nigeria with slim scorelines — and are now on a two game win streak heading into the final match day. |
2. | United States | +4 | Ranked fifth in the World and started out sixth on our power rankings, the Emma Hayes era is in full effect after two dominant performances in the group stage against Zambia and Germany. The attacking trio of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson are emerging as a three-headed monster sending nightmares to everyone else’s Olympic dreams. |
3. | Canada | -1 | The Tokyo gold medalists have found themselves in the middle of a cheating scandal, with multiple coaches sent home and suspended. Also docked six points, the players are responding with valiant efforts to get the math, and luck, back on their side. Two wins against New Zealand and France would have them through the knockouts already, and probably No. 1 in our rankings, but they still have work to do for now. |
4 | France | -1 | The tournament hosts nearly dropped their opening game against Colombia and then followed that up with an actual loss against Canada that they suffered in late stoppage time. Marie Antoinette Katoto has been the bright sport in the nervy moments for France, but the squad needs to ride the momentum of a complete game if they reach the knockouts. |
5. | Japan | -1 | Japan seemt to be getting stronger as the tournament goes on and that’s dangerous for other squads who will have to face them as the games go on. It seems like Aoba Fujino is constantly in dangerous spaces, and the veteran Saki Kumagai is reminding everyone this Japan has it all — technicality, ability, and experience. |
6. | Germany | -1 | The Germans made a statement in their opening 3-0 win against Australia that they would be fine without Lena Oberdorf during the tournament. Jule Brand answered the call and was a key player. However, Matchday 2 adjustments by the coaching staff to push veteran forward Alex Popp lower brought back some doubts when the USWNT handed them a three-goal loss. They’ll have to bounce back against a do-or-die Zambia side, if they want to ensure they advance to the knockouts. |
7. | Colombia | +1 | Las Cafeteras made things interesting during their Olympic opener against France, and nabbed three points against New Zealand to shuffle their way to the top of the group ahead of the final matchday where Mayra Ramirez will be back after a red card suspension. Plenty of eyes will be on her and Linda Caicedo, but Pavi Manuela is making a name for herself this tournament. Multiple attacking threats is only a good problem for Colombia to have right now. |
8. | Brazil | -1 | A roster full of exciting technical players who have only managed to score one goal per game came back to haunt them on matchday 2. Despite a successful Olympic opener against Nigeria, the Brazilians were unable to hang on to their game against Japan, beaten by a long-range stunner with the keeper off the line. Now they’ll need to put up a fight against Spain to determine their Olympic fate. |
9. | Australia | +1 | A wild 6-5 victory against Zambia has kept the door open to the knockouts but now will face the USWNT. The Matildas have allowed eight goals in two games and with so many tiebreakers at play for third place finishes, they will need to have a massive game against a soaring U.S. attack. |
10. | Nigeria | — | The Super Falcons just weren’t able to convert as many attacks as they should have and with it have zero goals scored through two games. Chiamaka Nnadozie is tough to get past in goal, but they’ll need to figure out how to be clinical and help in other phases if they can even get out the preliminary stage. |
11. | Zambia | — | Barbra Banda made history when she scored her third Olympic hattrick against Australia, but the defense has conceded a tournament-leading nine goals. Germany won’t be an easy task. |
12. | New Zealand | — | The Football Ferns rightfully feel hard done after getting spied on by Canada, and may want points awarded to them, but after that controversial opening loss, they had no answers against Colombia during their 2-0 defeat. Now they’ll need to find some against Olympic host France. |
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