Another day, another victory for USWNT! Days after clinching an easy 3-0 victory against Zambia, Emma Hayes and Co. continued with their winning spree, demolishing another Group B rival Germany 4-1. With the final group stage match remaining vs Australia, stars already look aligned for the American ladies to qualify for the quarter-finals, which raises the question of who their possible rivals could be.

Speaking of the four knockout stage fixtures, the first match sees the winner of Group B vs. the runner-up of Group C. Match two sees the winner of Group C vs. third in Group A or B, runner-up of Group A vs. runner-up of Group B is match 3 while winner of Group A vs. third in Group B or C stands out to be the fourth match.

Now there’s no doubt that USWNT will finish the group stage as leaders of Group B. Therefore, they will be facing the team that finishes second in Group C, where the current scenario sees Spain at the top with 6 points, Japan at second and Brazil at third with both sides sharing 3 points each, and Nigeria at the bottom with nil points. This suggests that USWNT will either face Japan or Brazil in the quarterfinals.

Notably, Team USA faces Australia in the next fixture. This makes it difficult for the Aussies to retain their case for the next stage of the competition while Germany can at least do their part against Zambia. As for Hayes and Co., they will be looking to conclude a perfect group stage with yet another win. Even beyond that, there might be a chance for them to end the campaign with a gold!

Can the USWNT fight till the end for Paris Olympics 2024 glory?

It’s been just two matches, but it already feels like the USWNT might be heading home with a gold medal. This would be a dream come true for the American women, especially considering the lingering disappointment from their poor World Cup campaign. Similarly, winning the tournament is something Emma Hayes has set her sights on. The former Chelsea boss would love to lead her team to glory in her debut international competition.

If they succeed this year, it would mark their fifth gold medal, following wins in 1996, 2004, 2008, and 2012. However, it’s too early to declare them champions. The formidable teams in the other two groups are quite impressive, and it remains to be seen how the USWNT will handle the upcoming challenges they may face.