Soccer Odds: USWNT Olympic Betting Guide & Women’s Tournament Predictions

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Written By Evan Scrimshaw | Last Updated
Credit: Associated Press

One of the most exciting Olympics betting opportunities is for the women’s soccer tournament. With Tokyo Gold Medalists Canada under investigation for spying on opponents and the U.S. Women’s National Team finally moving on from the last generation, this tournament is more wide open than usual. The USWNT hiring of Emma Hayes to her first international job after a wildly successful tenure at Chelsea will be fascinating to watch. USA soccer odds are a tough handicap with all these developments. Let’s dive in.

The USWNT’s first game is against Zambia on Thursday, July 25th at 3 p.m. ET. That match will be available on USA Network and Peacock. Make sure to browse the latest promos from the best sports betting sites before making bets on any USWNT Olympic odds.

USA SOCCER Odds: Olympic Women’s Tournament

To Win Gold Medal

Not listed: Zambia +6600, New Zealand +10000

Last Updated on 07.25.2024

To Win Group B

Can THE USWNT Win Gold?

The U.S. Soccer Federation has finally given the USWNT the makeover it has desperately needed for years. After the disaster that was the Women’s World Cup, the U.S. have hired the premier club coach, Emma Hayes. They have also given Hayes a roster free from program legends who have long passed their utility on the global stage.

The USWNT only has one loss this year, but they have been taken to penalties twice against Canada, in the Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. Being taken to penalties and conceding four goals to Canada in those two games is concerning. Being unable to score in a final tune-up friendly against Costa Rica is also mildly worrying, although they didn’t concede a goal in four pre-tournament friendlies.

Group Stage

The trouble for the Americans is they’re in the closest thing to a Group of Death. Germany failed to get out of their group at the World Cup, but were runners-up at the 2022 Euros. Australia made it to the semifinals at the World Cup, albeit at home.

Group AGroup BGroup C
FranceUnited StatesSpain
ColombiaGermanyJapan
CanadaAustraliaNigeria
New ZealandZambiaBrazil

Knockout Stage Bracket Format

It is far easier to advance, though, in the Olympics versus the World Cup. While it is the case that eight of the 12 teams reach the Knockout Stage, winning the group would set up the USWNT to get the runner-up of Group C.

That would be an easier matchup for the Americans than if they come second and get the runners-up of Group A, almost assuredly Canada. Canada knocked them out in 2021, and if any team knows how to beat the USWNT, it’ll be the Canucks.

Knockout Bracket Schedule

QUARTERFINALS: Saturday, Aug. 3

Match 20: B1 vs. C2 (9 a.m. ET)
Match 22: A2 vs. B2 (1 p.m. ET)

Match 19: A1 vs. B3/C3 (3 p.m. ET)
Match 21: C1 vs. A3/B3 (11 a.m. ET)

SEMIFINALS: Tuesday, Aug. 6

Match 24: Winners of Match 20 vs. Winners of Match 22 (12 p.m. ET)
Match 23: Winners of Match 19 vs. Winners of Match 21 (3 p.m. ET)

BRONZE MEDAL MATCH: Friday, Aug. 9

Losers of Match 23 vs. Losers of Match 24 (11 a.m. ET)

GOLD MEDAL MATCH: Saturday, Aug. 10

Winners of Match 23 vs. Winners of Match 24 (11 a.m. ET)

Other Women’s Olympic Soccer Contenders

France is my bet to win this. They’re playing at home, they lost to eventual champions England in the Euros semifinal (who aren’t competing at the Olympics), and they’ve beaten both Germany and England this year. Group A is the easiest group, clearly, and so long as the USWNT comes in the top two in Group B, they’re on the other side of the bracket from the Americans if France wins their group. 

O Canada, We Stand On Guard For Thee

… on guard for thee drones.

France’s best competition in Group A is now completely distracted by a cheating scandal. The Canadians have been caught flying drones over New Zealand’s practice, a scandal that has Bev Priestman not coaching the New Zealand game and has brought a mass unwanted distraction over the Canadian camp.

Given that Canada managed to score two goals at the World Cup, it’s not exactly a great time for a crisis. This could open the door for Colombia to get into the Group A top two, especially if Canada struggles. The fact that Bev Priestman refused to deny she had knowledge of the drone operation could bring Canada’s place in this tournament under even more scrutiny.

Group C

The most wide open Group, Group C, delivers the reigning World Cup Champions in Spain, the South American Champions in Brazil, and perennial middle power Japan. Brazil made it to the Finals of the Gold Cup this year, showing strength against the North American powers. Japan made it to the Quarters of the World Cup last year, including a 3-0 victory over eventual champions Spain.

Spain is overvalued in market because they’re the reigning World Cup Champions. No team has pulled off the World Cup-Olympic double this century, and I doubt they’ll be the first to do so.

Predictions For USA Soccer Odds And Olympic WOmen’s Soccer

As I’ve said, I’ve bet France to win.

I’ll be shorting the Canadian team due in part to the drone controversy and, more importantly, their stunning lack of offense. Even in their run to Olympic gold, they needed a (frankly soft) penalty to score the only goal of the semi-final victory over the United States. They scored one Knockout Stage goal from the run of play in 2021. It’s just not good enough.

My other strong bet is Germany To Win Group B.

The Americans made a lot of good decisions for the future of the program by hiring Hayes and dropping aging players. That doesn’t change the fact that this is the first time Hayes will coach an international squad in a non-friendly. +450 is too good a price to pass up on the Germans at bet365.

Best of luck with USA Soccer odds!

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