Don't underestimate Japan (or Canada)
MOST LIKELY TO WIN GOLD Women's international soccer has long been dominated by the United States, who are heavily favoured to win gold for the fifth time since the sport was introduced as an Olympic event in 1996. Along with five gold medals, the U.S. also won a record four FIFA Women's World Cup titles. A massive talent pool, combined with an unmatched development system through its more than 200 Division 1 NCAA college programs, the Americans have set the bar when it comes to women's soccer. The rest of the world is trying to catch up, and have narrowed the gap, but the U.S. is always the team to beat, regardless of the tournament.
CANADA'S CHANCES
Canada still does not have its own women's professional league, but piggybacks on the U.S. college system to develop world class players. Christine Sinclair was a star at the University of Oregon before moving on to the professional ranks, where she became the greatest international scorer of all time. Recently, some of Canada's top players are heading to play in Europe for clubs who began investing resources in developing the women's game.
Canada has the talent to compete against the best in the world, as two bronze medals can attest. For the team to improve on its third-place finish in London in 2012 and in Brazil in 2016, it is going to need a bit of luck. On any given day, Canada can beat any team in the world. If that day happens to see them in the gold medal final against the United States, they are capable of pulling off an upset, like they almost did in the semifinals in 2012.
BEWARE THE HOST
Japan has been a power in women's soccer for many years, defeating the United States in 2011 to win the World Cup title. The Americans avenged the loss four years later at the World
Cup in Canada, but since then Japan has been building for these Olympics.
Japan has a new breed of young stars, who have been granted an extra year because of COVID-19 to develop in order to take a run at a gold medal. There will be pressure on the team to perform at home, but in the lead-up to the Games, Japan has been blasting opponents.
Led by striker Mana Iwabuchi, who plays in England for Arsenal, Japan is a dynamic team to watch and they open the tournament against Canada on July 21, before the Games officially open. How Japan fares in this first game will set the mood for the host country.
PLAYER TO WATCH
At 35, United States forward Megan Rapinoe is approaching the twilight of an illustrious career, yet she still has plenty of game left and will want to put on a show in likely her final Olympics.
The 2019 Ballon d'or winner as the best player in women's soccer, Rapinoe is the most talented member of a loaded United States team.
Outspoken, Rapinoe is considered by some to be a polarizing character, but also a role model to both female and male players around the world. She talks a good game, but can back it up as well. When in form, she is one of the best to ever take the field.