Women’s Canadian Soccer Team Take On Hosts In First Olympic Match

The Olympics is set to return in July  in Tokyo, Japan.

It promises to be the highlight of the world’s sporting calendar this year, and many will be hoping for an extravaganza of skill and finesse.

The wide range of sporting disciplines will include both solo and team sports.

Of the second type, soccer has become a key component of what makes the Olympics so special. The popular game was the first team sport played at the Olympics back at the start of the last century.

Since 1908 it has been played at every Olympic Games except the 1932 Los Angeles games.

Women’s Canadian soccer team

Canadian interest in the sport at this year’s Olympics is assured with the women’s team reaching the tournament. The fixtures and groups have been released ahead of the start of the games.

Canada will open the competition by playing the hosts Japan in the first group game of the contest. The two nations were also drawn with Great Britain and Chile in Group E.

The high-profile opening game will see the eighth FIFA ranked Canadians meet the 11^th ranked Japanese at the Sapporo Dome. While Japan will have the home advantage and many more fans cheering them on, Canada will draw strength from their experience.

The previous two excellent showings from Canada at the Olympics will be a powerful motivation to do well. They will be slight favourites to get a good result against Japan and look likely to avoid defeat.

However, Canada will be looking to banish the memory of the two teams last meeting in 2019. Japan won that match 4-0.

The game will kick-off two days before the official opening of the Olympics.

Woman’s soccer is immensely popular in Canada. The team has mirrored this support in its success, finishing with bronze medals in the previous two Olympics of 2012 and 2016.

In this year’s groups games after the test from Japan, the Canadian women will take on Chile and then Britain. Both Japan and Britain have been flagged up by the Canadian coach Bev Priestman as potential threats.

Chile likewise cannot be discounted, with the South Americans often proving tough to beat. Whatever happens in the games, fans can expect Canada to be right at the heart of the competition.

Popularity of women’s soccer

The prominence and popularity of women’s soccer at the Olympics is reflected in the sport’s growth across the globe. The women’s game is nowadays given far more attention than in previous decades, with media and coverage growing year on year.

It is now seen as a genuine sport in its own right and not merely an addition to the men’s sport. The last Women’s World Cup previous two Olympics of 2012 and 2016 worldwide.

The Women’s World Cup was also hosted by Canada in 2015. This helped to showcase the huge potential of the sport for financial and developmental opportunities.

Recent law changes in Canada will bring sports betting into line with other areas of the world. From this year it has been easier to make safe and legal bets in a regulated and organized setting.

The industry changes will provide greater access to a wide range of online sportsbooks for making considered bets on all sorts of sports, soccer included. It is thought that the new arrangements will make it much easier for fans to engage with the sports they follow.

Sports bets and wagers are deeply involved in the ever-growing uptake of the marketability of women’s soccer.

The success of women’s soccer

The USA has seen the effects of a successful national women’s team bringing the sport to the attention of girls and women everywhere.

Canada has also experienced the benefits of a successful team. The strength of the Canadian women’s team has helped soccer to become a quickly growing sport.

In Canada, soccer overall is incredibly popular. It is not regarded as one of the traditional sports found in the country but has been rising in popularity each year.

Soccer has been taking on sports such as ice hockey and lacrosse and offering strong competition for several key reasons.

One of these is the fact that  in Canada, soccer offers parents a superbly cost-effective sport for their children to play. Rather than ice hockey, which can cost more for equipment and kit, soccer requires less money spent on the essentials.

It is also regarded as safer than other sports which can involve more collisions and contact. Soccer is seen as open to everyone and has a reputation for being more fun and open to younger people.

The popularity of the men’s game is also increasing in Canada. This has been in part due to the success of the women’s team.

Canadian football will also receive a huge boost in five years at the Men’s World Cup. The country will co-host the tournament along with the USA and Mexico.

But for now, all Canadian football eyes will be on the competition in Japan. They are certainly among the favourites to do well at the Olympics.

Perhaps a silver, or even a gold medal could be the prize for Canada this year?