Women’s Olympic football at Paris 2024: Final preview

In the women’s football tournament in Paris, there has been no easy route to the gold medal match, as both of these sides have found out.

After making it into the knockout rounds, the USWNT had to overcome long-time rivals Japan before getting the better of European giants Germany.

For Brazil, with their legendary No.10 Marta suspended, they reached new heights to beat both France and Spain on their way to Saturday’s final.

Heading into this unmissable showdown, the narratives are just too good on both sides.

Two months after taking the reigns of the USWNT, decorated manager Emma Hayes is now on the brink of returning them to glory and adding her first international trophy to her long list of accolades.

On the other side, the South Americans have the chance to win their first-ever gold medal and send Marta out on the ultimate high.

The 38-year-old has already announced their retirement at the end of 2024, but this – her sixth Olympic Games – will be her last major tournament on the international stage.

These two sides are not new to each other, either. Saturday will mark the 41st meeting in a long history that has seen the Americans on the winning side 32 times. Five draws have been contested, while the Brazilians have won just three.

This weekend’s meeting is a fitting finale to a thoroughly enthralling tournament.