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<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/uswnt-chelsea-emma-hayes-perfect-coach-womens-world-cup-disaster/bltd88189d6519f5f79" target="_blank">Emma Hayes' long-awaited takeover of the United States women's national team</a> might be the big story going into this summer's Olympic women's football tournament, but will the pair get off to a successful start in France?Only 12 nations qualify for the Games, which is a senior tournament for the women as opposed to the men's Under-23 format, so the lineup is absolutely stacked with top teams, featuring <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/spain-queens-world-football-winners-losers-aitana-bonmati-england-lioneeses-lucy-bronze-world-cup-final/blt04b557c79149dd42" target="_blank">World Cup winners Spain</a>, South American champions Brazil, and Canada, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/canada-defeat-sweden-to-win-countrys-first-ever-olympic-gold-medal-in-womens-football/fcfndlgunb7j1xuh1ledgfskc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">who claimed the gold medal in Tokyo in 2021</a>.With the start of the tournament just a month away now, excitement is growing. So who will stand at the top of that podium in Paris? GOAL ranks the contenders for the gold medal...Previous update: April 10, 2024.<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Paris 2024 Olympic women's football tournament power rankings: USWNT climb after Emma Hayes makes perfect start

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/new-zealand-hannah-wilkinson-historic-win-norway-womens-world-cup-opener/blt3dca8fb5e46b01bd" target="_blank">New Zealand made history at their home World Cup last summer when they won a match at the tournament for the very first time</a>, prompting heart-warming scenes in Auckland just hours after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/auckland-shooting-two-dead-multiple-injured-new-zealand-opening-womens-world-cup-game-gunman-opens-fire/bltd61192629d9b43f0" target="_blank">tragedy hit the city when two people were shot dead</a>.The island nation is a regular at these big tournaments, but they've struggled to translate that experience into success. In fact, that World Cup win was one of just two New Zealand registered in 2023, the only other coming against Vietnam in a pre-tournament friendly, as opposed to the seven defeats from their 12 fixtures across the year.After cruising through OFC Olympic qualifying, conceding just twice as they racked up the goals in wins over Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands, New Zealand did the smart thing in booking friendlies against some tougher opposition before the Olympics. However, only time will tell how much they learned in back-to-back defeats to Japan this past week and whether or not those lessons will help improve their fortunes in France.

New Zealand ↔️

Zambia are one of the most interesting nations in women's football. After reaching their first international tournament at the Olympics in 2021, the Copper Queens have since recorded a best-ever finish of third at the Africa Women's Cup of the Nations, qualified for a maiden World Cup, and this summer they'll be back at the Games.They don't lack star power. After all, just this year, the two gems of their team became the two most expensive players in women's football history, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/the-nwsl-is-back-how-america-top-flight-has-fought-back-against-europe-big-spenders/blt095517da66f2d9e7" target="_blank">with Racheal Kundananji and Barbra Banda both landing in the United States' NWSL for £685,000 ($862,000) and £582,000 ($740,000) fees, respectively</a>.Though they've gained plenty of major tournament experience in recent years, have match-winning talent and have attracted plenty of attention from some impressive results - such as the friendly win over Germany last year and the extra-time triumph in Morocco to come through the Olympic play-offs - last year's World Cup showed that they are still struggling to lay a glove on the elite when it really matters. A lack of ideal preparation for this tournament, with no games played in the May-June window, won't help.

Zambia ↔️

In a tournament of shocks, Nigeria's run to the last 16 of last year's World Cup was a pleasant surprise and saw the Super Falcons earn a lot of respect for their tactical nous, resilience in defence and ability to create opportunities against elite opposition. Indeed, only the woodwork prevented them from beating eventual finalists England in the knockout rounds.Nigeria got out of a really tough and open group in Australia and they'll have to do the same in France, having been pooled with Spain, Japan and Brazil. But their four clean sheets in four Olympic qualifying games was a reminder that they are always tough to break down, and head coach Randy Waldrum is excellent at utilising that in his game plans.With their year to date having consisted only of Olympic qualifiers, seeing what friendlies they lined up before the Games was a point of intrigue but, like Zambia, a lack of action during the May-June window wasn't ideal in their preparation.

Nigeria ⬇️

At last year's World Cup, Colombia were the exciting surprise package that many hoped they could be, reaching an historic quarter-final and troubling England plenty in it. That was a look at their talent and potential, so will we see it again in France?In the Gold Cup in February, Colombia were swept aside easily by top sides, albeit while missing Chelsea star Mayra Ramirez. In April, she was back to lead the attack, but Linda Caicedo and Leicy Santos were absent for a narrow 1-0 win over Mexico and a 3-0 hammering of Guatemala. And when everyone was available in June, there was only so much to take from two expectedly comfortable wins against Venezuela.If Colombia organise games against tougher opposition in the final window before the Olympics, we might learn a bit more, as most of their positive displays since the World Cup have come when playing teams they should be beating. Otherwise, we'll have to wait for the Games to kick off to see what they are capable of.

Colombia ⬇️

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/embarrassment-brazil-crash-out-womens-world-cup-jamaica-upset/blt2abeb0093a6dd4b3" target="_blank">After a disastrous World Cup campaign in which they crashed out in the group stages for the first time</a>, Brazil made a coaching change in September that saw Arthur Elias replace Pia Sundhage. Since then, the Selecao have won 10 of their 15 games, reaching the CONCACAF W Gold Cup final in March as a result. There have been positive signs as Elias tries to get this extremely talented squad to fulfil its potential, but everything is not quite there yet.Their three defeats to Canada, Japan and the United States all came to nil, with there still work to do on the attacking front despite all the stars Brazil have in that area of the pitch. On their day, the South American champions are such a dangerous opponent and they have been good at beating the teams they are expected to. But will they be able to step it up against elite opposition at the Olympics?Indeed, April's SheBelieves Cup, which consisted of 1-1 draws with Canada and Japan, showed flaws against similarly-ranked teams, and that is concerning for their Olympic hopes, especially with the race for second-place in Group C, between themselves, Japan and Nigeria, looking incredibly open and even. In that sense, it's debatable how much was really learned from two 4-0 wins over Jamaica in June.

Brazil ⬆️

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/germany-went-from-women-s-world-cup-favourites-group-stage-embarrassment/blt7e060d081dc43ab0" target="_blank">Germany's group-stage exit at last year's World Cup was one of the biggest shocks in tournament history</a>. Favourites to win the whole thing, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/shock-germany-out-womens-world-cup-group-stages-south-korea/bltb2277dcbc1244f38" target="_blank">a draw with South Korea in their final group game sent them home incredibly prematurely</a> and forced a coaching change, with Martina Voss-Tecklenburg leaving her role just six months after she had signed a new contract.The team are now in a rather weird stage. Horst Hrubesch has been in interim charge since October and will lead the team at the Olympics <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lea-schuller-germany-olympic-qualification-netherlands-nations-league/bltaa3408924dbc4fd0" target="_blank">after guiding them there</a>, before Christian Wuck takes over as the new head coach in August. Hrubesch's only goal is to win, then, and he has a talented squad with which to do so.However, it feels like he doesn't know what his best XI is or the best combinations in certain areas. As time passes, he hardly feels closer to figuring that out, with Germany not convincing in two comeback wins this past window over a Poland team that has never been to a major tournament. They need to improve before taking on an Olympic group that features the U.S., Australia and Zambia.

Germany ⬇️

Canada are one of several top nations in these rankings who had a truly terrible World Cup last summer, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/canada-olympic-champions-womens-world-cup-embarrassment/blt7b634cdd04c16c0b" target="_blank">crashing out in the group stages just two years after winning an Olympic gold medal</a>. But the federation kept its trust in head coach Bev Priestman, and she and her team bounced back from that disappointment to beat Jamaica in an Olympic playoff in September.In fact, since the World Cup, the only losses Canada have suffered in 15 matches have been on penalties to the United States (twice), and a 1-0 defeat to Brazil. The group's confidence is certainly back, then, though there are not many of their nine victories that were not expected.As the Olympics near, it feels like there are still more questions than answers over Canada. They're tough to beat, which was the key to winning gold in Japan three years ago, and they should get out of a group featuring France, Colombia and New Zealand. But do they still have that ability to grind out wins against top teams in the latter stages?

Canada ⬆️

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/pain-spain-ruthless-japan-expose-flaws-la-roja-ranks-hinata-miyazawa-steals-spotlight-alexia-putellas-4-0-win/blt4f7b6866bb728520" target="_blank">Japan caused a real stir at last year's World Cup when they dismantled Spain in a shocking 4-0 win in the group stages</a>. It wasn't a surprise that they could compete with La Roja, as the Nadeshiko have always been a delightful team to watch with bags of talent, but the ruthless and efficient manner in which they dispatched one of the tournament favourites was certainly eye-catching.Sadly for Japan, that was the high point of their World Cup. They crashed out in the quarter-finals and that incredible group-stage fixture ended up being a mere footnote <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/spain-queens-world-football-winners-losers-aitana-bonmati-england-lioneeses-lucy-bronze-world-cup-final/blt04b557c79149dd42" target="_blank">in a tournament which Spain ultimately won</a>.It is in those latter stages where the questions are. There are not many who doubt Japan's ability to perform, with them strutting their stuff in two recent friendlies against New Zealand. But do they have the winning mentality to get over the line in pressure moments? An underwhelming SheBelieves Cup suggests they are still developing that ability to get through the tight games.

Japan ↔️

France underwhelmed at last year's World Cup, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/australia-triumph-20-penalty-shootout-matildas-france-packing-womens-world-cup/blt0d6be8f9e53329b8" target="_blank">a penalty shootout defeat to Australia dealing them a third successive quarter-final exit</a>, but an outstanding run was always going to be a tough ask given Herve Renard only took over the team four months before the World Cup began.Things have improved since then, as evidenced by Les Bleues' run to the Nations League final, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/spain-world-cup-aitana-bonmati-mariona-caldentey-nations-league-france/blt36923efb8cd81ee1" target="_blank">but France still feel a step off the world's elite and never really showed up in that 2-0 defeat to Spain</a>.Renard has plenty of quality throughout his squad, but he is yet to maximise it, with them often somewhere in between impressive grinding out results and failing to finish games off. The manner in which they beat England away from home and then lost to the Lionesses on their own patch four days later in this recent international window sums up just how hot and cold they can blow. That inconsistency won't win a gold medal.

France ↔️

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/simple-innocuous-how-chelsea-star-sam-kerr-suffered-acl-damage-emma-hayes-reacts-wsl-season-ending-injury/blt91b8dc56ac9952cc" target="_blank">Australia will be without Sam Kerr at the Olympics,</a> but there is evidence to show they can still have a successful summer without her. You only have to go back to last year's World Cup for that, as the Matildas able to reach the semi-finals for the first time despite the Chelsea star only playing limited minutes due to injury.Having the experience of playing without their best player is so important from a tactical perspective, but also mentally, as her absence will not be as deflating after what they achieved last summer. Moreover, Australia still have a lot of top-level talent and match-winning characters in their squad, and if head coach Tony Gustavsson can manage the squad well, following criticisms last year for a lack of rotation, their chances of a medal feel strong, especially if they can secure a top-two group-stage finish that is likely to keep them on the opposite side of the draw to Spain.

Australia ⬇️

After everything that happened at last year's World Cup, the USWNT still come into this Olympics as one of the favourites to win gold. That's down to a few reasons.One is how well the team has bounced back from that shocking tournament, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/alex-morgan-golden-ball-winner-jaedyn-shaw-winners-and-losers-of-uswnt-gold-cup-triumph/bltfcaeeb6f32b421bf" target="_blank">winning the Gold Cup in February</a> and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/uswnt-winners-losers-shebelieves-cup-jaedyn-shaw-korbin-albert/blt9464699f72d691da" target="_blank">the SheBelieves Cup in April</a>. Another is the incredible talent that exists on the roster, with a number of young players breaking through in the past 12 months, such as Jaedyn Shaw, while the electric Mallory Swanson is back from injury. There is also the mass of top-level experience throughout the U.S. team and, as seen in this most recent window, the impact of Hayes' arrival.The former Chelsea boss has been drilling her ideas into her new players during these last few weeks and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/uswnt-emma-hayes-era-perfect-start-alex-morgan-fearing-olympics-winners-losers-south-korea/blt648eeffd760ca071" target="_blank">that work resulted in some impressive displays against South Korea in June</a>, though it should be noted that the USWNT were expected to beat the Asian nation. Spain would still be predicted to come out on top if the two were to battle it out for gold, but despite everything, the U.S. is right up there with a big medal chance.

United States ⬆️

Anything can happen in football, but Spain genuinely feel like they are on another planet to all other women's national teams at this moment. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/spain-queens-world-football-winners-losers-aitana-bonmati-england-lioneeses-lucy-bronze-world-cup-final/blt04b557c79149dd42" target="_blank">The World Cup winners</a> backed that triumph up with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/spain-world-cup-aitana-bonmati-mariona-caldentey-nations-league-france/blt36923efb8cd81ee1" target="_blank">success in the Nations League</a> in February, as they were hardly challenged in the finals by the Netherlands or France, and have started their Women's Euro qualifying campaign in strong form, winning all four games so far.A 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Japan at last year's World Cup showed Spain are not unbeatable and they were 2-0 down at home to Denmark in the 72nd minute this week, until mounting an incredible late comeback to win. La Roja, then, are not flawless.Yet, these moments of concern are so few and far between and can often be caveated. For example, the defeat to Japan was a group-stage match in a tournament they won and they were without Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati for the Denmark game. All in all, it still feels unlikely that anyone will be able to stop them at the Olympics.

Spain ↔️

Paris 2024 Olympic women's football tournament power rankings: USWNT climb after Emma Hayes makes perfect start | Goal.com United Arab Emirates

Featuring Emma Hayes&apos; United States, World Cup winners Spain and South American champions Brazil, the 2024 Olympic women&apos;s football tournament line-up is stacked with quality...