Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
The conclusion of the Asian qualifiers for the Women’s Football Tournament at the 2016 Olympics saw Australia and China, silver medalists at the inaugural competition in 1996, taking their place in next month’s draw for the 12-team tournament in Brazil.
An impressive display in the qualifiers in Osaka saw Alen Stajcic’s side win their first four games to guarantee Australia’s return to the Olympics for the first time since the 2004 games in Athens before a 1-1 draw with China in the final round of fixtures saw the Matildas finish top of the six-team table.
The Steel Roses went into the last match of the qualifiers having also booked their place at the Rio Olympics in the penultimate round, with their 1-0 defeat of Korea Republic coupled with Australia’s 2-1 victory over DPR Korea, ensuring China would finish in the top two when the curtain came down on a thrilling competition.
Asia’s representatives will learn their group stage opponents on April 14 when the official draw takes place at the iconic Maracana Stadium, venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics and scene of the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.
Participating teams
ASIA:
Australia, China
AFRICA:
South Africa, Zimbabwe
EUROPE:
France, Germany, Sweden
NORTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, CARIBBEAN:
Canada, USA
OCEANIA:
New Zealand
SOUTH AMERICA:
Brazil (hosts), Colombia
Key Dates
14/04/16: Tournament draw - Rio de Janeiro
03/08/16: Opening matches - Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
12/08/16: Quarter-finals - Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Salvador, Sao Paulo
16/08/16: Semi-finals - Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro
19/08/16: Bronze medal match - Sao Paulo
19/08/16: Gold medal match - Rio de Janeiro
Photo: Lagardère Sports