Our Olympic football representatives kick-off on Wednesday 21 July - here's a reminder of how it will all works...

Women’s football at the 2020 Olympic Games kicks off on Wednesday 21 July and City will have 12 representatives at the tournament, across three teams.

The Games were due to take place last year but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unusually, the footballing schedule kicks off before the Opening Ceremony with Great Britain, the USA and Canada all in action a fortnight today.

Here’s everything you need to know about City’s involvement in the Games...

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City representatives

Originally, all teams were limited to 18 players but their chosen four ‘reserve’ players may now also be able to participate with FIFA set to extend the squads to 22 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, only 18 players may be named in a matchday squad.

TEAM GB

An impressive 10 City players make up Team GB’s squad. 

The original squad list saw 11 named but an unfortunate injury to Karen Bardsley meant the shot-stopper, who competed in the 2012 Games, was forced to withdraw.

Fellow goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck made the cut, alongside England’s Steph Houghton, Demi Stokes, Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp and Ellen White.

Houghton starred in 2012, scoring three goals at the tournament, while Bardsley, Scott and White were also selected.

Caroline Weir is one of just three non-English players selected for the 2020 team, alongside Scotland teammate Kim Little and Welsh international Sophie Ingle.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City and England), Carly Telford (Chelsea and England)

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea and England), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City and England), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash and England), Steph Houghton (Manchester City and England), Demi Stokes (Manchester City and England); Leah Williamson (Arsenal and England)

Midfielders: Sophie Ingle (Chelsea and Wales); Kim Little (Arsenal and Scotland), Jill Scott (Manchester City and England), Keira Walsh (Manchester City and England), Caroline Weir (Manchester City and Scotland)

Forwards: Lauren Hemp (Manchester City and England), Fran Kirby (Chelsea and England), Nikita Parris (Olympique Lyonnais and England), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City and England), Ellen White (Manchester City and England)

Reserves: Sandy MacIver (Everton and England), Lotte Wubben Moy (Arsenal and England), Niamh Charles (Chelsea and England), Ella Toone (Manchester United and England)

USA

Defender Abby Dahlkemper has been selected in Vlatko Andonovski’s roster for her Olympic debut.

The 28-year-old, who played the most minutes for her country in 2019 and 2020, will line up alongside former City stars Sam Mewis, Rose Lavelle and Carli Lloyd for the Stars and Stripes.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

Defenders: Abby Dahlkemper (Manchester City), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit)

Midfielders: Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (North Carolina Courage)

Forwards: Tobin Heath (Unattached), Carli Lloyd (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Unattached), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign)

Alternates: Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyonnais), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage)

CANADA

Janine Beckie will try to help Canada better their bronze medal finishes from the previous two Games.

The forward scored three times in the tournament in Rio and will be competing at her second Olympics this time around.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Stephanie Labbe (FC Rosengard), Kailen Sheridan (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Erin McLeod (Orlando Pride)

Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan (Olympique Lyonnais), Vanessa GIlles (Girondins Bordeaux), Shelina Zadorsky (Tottenham Hotspur (ENG), Allysha Chapman (Houston Dash), Ashley Lawrence (Paris Saint-Germain), Jayde Riviere (University of Michigan), Gabrielle Carle (Florida State Seminoles)

Midfielders: Jessie Fleming (Chelsea FC), Julia Grosso (University of Texas-Austin), Quinn (OL Reign), Desiree Scott (Kansas City), Sophie Schmidt (Houston Dash)

Forwards: Janine Beckie (Manchester City), Adriana Leon (West Ham), Nichelle Prince (Houston Dash), Deanne Rose (University of Florida), Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns), Evelyne Viens (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Jordyn Huitema (Paris Saint-Germain)

Familiar faces

United States legend and former City star Carli Lloyd will be competing in her fourth Games, having won the tournament in 2008 and 2012.

The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year scored in the 2008 and 2012 Finals - twice at Wembley.

Meanwhile, fellow American duo Mewis and Lavelle, who spent the 2020/21 season at City’s Academy Stadium, have made their country’s roster for the first time.

Sweden forward Kosovare Asllani, who helped City to a league and cup double in 2016, clinched a silver medal at the Summer’s Games in Rio, Brazil, and will be competing at her third Olympic tournament.

Betsy Hassett, who signed for City in our first top-flight season in 2014, will also represent New Zealand.

Those who follow Melbourne City FC will also recognise plenty of familiar names with 11 members of the Australia squad having played for the City Football Group outfit: Lydia Williams, Teagan Micah, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley, Ellie Carpenter, Aivi Luik, Laura Brock, Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond, Tameka Yallop and Kyah Simon.

Teams

Twelve teams will compete in the tournament: Japan, the United States, Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, Brazil, Canada, Australia, China PR, New Zealand, Chile and Zambia.

As the host country, Japan were automatically placed in Pot One for the group stage draw.

The United States have triumphed four times (1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012) while Norway (2000) and reigning Champions Germany (2016) have also enjoyed gold medal success.

The USWNT, China, Brazil, Japan and Sweden have won silver; Norway, Germany and Canada have claimed bronze.

Groups

The top two teams from each group advance to the knock-out stages, as well as the two best third-place teams.

Should teams be level on points, goal difference will determine qualification; then, if required, goals scored, then fair play points or finally, the drawing of lots.

Group E

Japan
Canada
Great Britain
Chile

Group F

China
Brazil
Zambia
Netherlands

Group G

Sweden
USA
Australia
New Zealand

FIXTURES

Fans in the UK can tune into the games via BBC One, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and/or the Red Button, while NBC will cover US coverage.

In Canada, viewers will be able to watch on Sportsnet, TSN, CBC and/or TLN. 

MATCHDAY ONE: Wednesday 21 July

Group E

Team GB v Chile, 8:30 UK time, Sapporo Dome, Sapporo (BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website, Eurosport, Eurosport Player)
Japan v Canada, 11:30 UK time, Sapporo Dome, Sapporo (BBC Red Button, Eurosport Player, NBC, Universo, Telemundo)

Group F

China v Brazil, 9:00 UK time, Miyagi Stadium, Rifu (Eurosport Player, NBC, Telemundo, TLN)
Zambia v Netherlands, 12:00 UK time, Miyagi Stadium, Rifu (Eurosport, Eurosport Player, NBC, Olympic channel)

Group G

Sweden v USA, 9:30 UK time, Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo (BBC Red Button, NBC, Telemundo, Eurosport Player)
Australia v New Zealand, 12:30 UK time, Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo (Eurosport Player, USA Network, NBC)

MATCHDAY TWO: Saturday 24 July

Group E

Chile v Canada, 8:30 UK time, Sapporo Dome, Sapporo (Univision, TLN, Eurosport Player, NBC, Telemundo)
Japan v Great Britain, 11:30 UK time, Sapporo Dome, Sapporo (BBC One, Eurosport Player, NBC)

Group F

China v Zambia, 9:00 UK time, Miyagi Stadium, Rifu (Eurosport Player, NBC)
Netherlands v Brazil, 12:00 UK time, Miyagi Stadium, Rifu (Eurosport Player, NBC, Universo, Telemundo)

Group G

Sweden v Australia, 9:30 UK time, Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo (Eurosport Player, NBC)
New Zealand v USA, 12:30 UK time, Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo (NBC, Telemundo, Eurosport Player)

MATCHDAY THREE: Tuesday 27 July

Group E

Canada v Great Britain, 12:00 UK time, Kashima Stadium, Kashima (BBC channel to be confirmed, Eurosport Player, NBC)
Chile v Japan, 12:00 UK time, Miyagi Stadium, Rifu (Eurosport Player, NBC)

Group F

Brazil v Zambia, 12:30 UK time, Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama (Eurosport Player, NBC)
Netherlands v China, 12:30 UK time, International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama (Eurosport Player, NBC)

Group G

New Zealand v Sweden, 9:00 UK time, Miyagi Stadium, Rifu (Eurosport Player, NBC)
USA v Australia, 9:00 UK time, Kashima Stadium, Kashima (NBC, Eurosport Player, TLN)

QUARTER-FINALS: Friday 30 July

Match 22: Group E runner-up v Group F runner-up, 9:00 UK time, Miyagi Stadium, Rifu
Match 19: Group E winner v Group F/G third place, 10:00 UK time, Kashima Stadium, Kashima
Match 21: Group G winner v Group E/F third place, 11:00 UK time, Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
Match 20: Group F winner v Group G runner-up, 12:00 UK time, International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama

SEMI-FINALS: Monday 2 August

Match 24: Match 20 winner v Match 22 winner, 9:00 UK time, Kashima Stadium, Kashima
Match 23: Match 19 winner v Match 21 winner, 12:00 UK time, International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama

BRONZE MEDAL MATCH: Thursday 5 August

Match 25: Match 23 loser v Match 24 loser, 9:00 UK time, Kashima Stadium, Kashima

GOLD MEDAL MATCH: Friday 6 August

Match 26: Match 23 winner v Match 24 winner, 3:00 UK time, National Stadium, Tokyo

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