USWNT to play France in Olympic group play

The United States will open their quest for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal against New Zealand and will also play France and Colombia in group play. The draw for the Olympic tournament in Rio was made Thursday in Maracana, Brazil.

Jill Ellis’s side will play New Zealand on August 3 followed by France on August 6, and Colombia on August 9 in Group G. The top two teams in the group will advance to the quarterfinals. Additionally, two of three third place finishers in group play will also move on.

Canada, bronze medalists four years ago in London, was drawn into Group F with Australia, Zimbabwe, and Germany. Group E includes Brazil, China, Sweden, and South Africa.

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The United States has won four of the previous five gold medals in Olympic soccer and are the only team in this year’s tournament to have done so. Norway defeated the United States in sudden death extra time to take gold in 2000 but were knocked out of this year’s Games in a playoff for the final European spot.

The quarterfinal matches will take place August 12 followed by the semifinals on August 16. The medal matches will be August 19.

The groups are:

GROUP E:
Brazil
China
Sweden
South Africa

GROUP F:
Canada
Zimbabwe
Australia
Germany

GROUP G:
United States
New Zealand
France
Colombia