Australia has announced their squad for the Paris 2024 women’s football tournament, with Arsenal stars Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Caitlin Foord set to play a pivotal role in the Matildas’ quest for Olympic glory.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: Steph Catley of Australia gestures during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Ireland at Stadium Australia on July 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 20: Steph Catley of Australia gestures during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Ireland at Stadium Australia on July 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Australia have named their squad that will compete at the Paris 2024 women’s football tournament. Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord have been selected.

Australia are in Group B and will play the following games:

  • Germany 25 July in Marseille
  • Zambia 28 July in Nice
  • USA 31 July in Marseille

Then, potentially a quarter-final:

  • 03 August in Paris if they finish first in Group B
  • 03 August in Marseille if they finish runner-up in Group B
  • 03 August in Nantes against Group A winner if they finish in third place in Group B and go through

Semi-final will be in:

  • 06 August in Lyon and Marseille

The third place final will take place:

  • 09 August in Lyon

The Olympics final will take place:

  • 10 August at the Parc des Princes in Paris

The tournament takes place from 25 July until 10 August which means those players will either miss the beginning of pre-season and join straight after the tournament. Or they will get a break and will miss a much bigger chunk of pre-season.

As we saw last season, the late return of the World Cup players was one of the factors in the early elimination in the Champions League Qualifying Round 1 and the bad start in the League, too.

At least this summer a lot fewer players will be involved in the Olympics than at the World Cup, so the damage might be contained. But there will still be a risk of overloading with physical and mental exhaustion for the players like Caitlin Foord.

The other 11 countries are likely to announce their squad later in the month with Spain, the USA and Canada potentially calling up more Arsenal players.