Matildas vs United States: When, where, team news, squads, odds and how to watch the Olympics bronze medal match in Australia

Kieran Francis

Matildas vs United States: When, where, team news, squads, odds and how to watch the Olympics bronze medal match in Australia image

The Matildas may not be able to win gold but they can still snare a bronze medal when they take on the United States at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Thursday night.

Australia fell just short of the gold medal match after a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Sweden in the semi final, with missed chances and a controversial disallowed goal proving vital in the result.

Tournament favourites United States have had a disappointing Olympics so far, winning only one match out their five within the 90 minutes.

The green and gold have never won an Olympic medal in women's football, while the United States have won four of the six gold medals awarded so far and only missed the podium at Rio 2016.

Matildas vs United States bronze medal match details

Date Time (AEST) Match Stadium Broadcast
Thursday Aug 5 6.00pm Australia v United States Kashima Stadium Channel Seven/7Plus 

Despite missing their opportunity to win gold, it would still be an amazing achievement for Australia to win a bronze - which would be the nation's first medal in the sport.

The Matildas are building toward hosting the 2023 Women's World Cup, and what a start it would be to finish on the podium at the Olympic Games, while knocking off the much-vaunted USWNT.

Tony Gustavsson's side has already drawn 0-0 with the US in a group game, with the match a drab affair as both sides needed only a point to progress to the knockout stage.

United States entered the Tokyo Olympics on a 44-match unbeaten streak and were gold medal favourites, but that aura was shattered in a 3-0 defeat against Sweden in their opening match.

The powerhouse has never got going in Japan, and their first-ever loss to Canada in the semi-final saw their chances of a sixth Olympic title evaporate.

The match itself should be more open than their group stage meeting, with both teams likely to rotate squads after an arduous schedule in Tokyo over the last couple of weeks.

Australia will be hoping to be more effective in attack, with several of their games so far featuring high amounts of possession and pressure, but a lack of quality chances.

How to watch the Matildas vs United States in Australia

The Seven Network is the exclusive Australian broadcast rights holder of every event at the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

This match will be broadcast on the Seven Network and via its streaming site  7Plus .

7Plus can be downloaded as an app which works on a variety of Smart TV's, video game consoles and Chromecast devices. 

Fans have been left frustrated with the television coverage to date  with games often subjected to channel changes mid-game.

Matildas squad and team news

Ellie Carpenter will miss the bronze-medal match through suspension, while it remains to be seen if coach Tony Gustavsson will rotate the squad after their draining schedule over the past couple of weeks.

There were reports prior to the semi-final against Sweden that the likes of Kerr were starting to tire and could be considered for an impact substitute role.

Player Club Position Age
Lydia Williams Arsenal Goalkeeper 33
Teagan Micah   IL Sandviken Goalkeeper 23
Alanna Kennedy Free Agent Defender 26
Steph Catley Arsenal Defender 27
Clare Polkinghorne Vittsjö GIK Defender 32
Aivi Luik Sevilla Defender 36
Ellie Carpenter Olympique Lyon Defender 21
Emily van Egmond West Ham Midfielder 27
Tameka Yallop West Ham Midfielder 30
Elise Kellond-Knight Hammarby Midfielder 30
Chloe Logarzo Kansas City Midfielder 26
Kyra Cooney-Cross Melbourne Victory Midfielder 19
Sam Kerr Chelsea Forward 27
Hayley Raso Everton Forward 26
Caitlin Foord Arsenal Forward 26
Emily Gielnik Brisbane Roar Forward 29
Kyah Simon PSV Forward 30
Mary Fowler Montepeller Forward 18
Mackenzie Arnold West Ham Goalkeeper 27
Laura Brock EA Guingamp Defender 31
Courtney Nevin Western Sydney Wanderers Defender 19
Charlotte Grant FC Rosengård Defender 19

United States squad for the Tokyo Games

Goalkeepers:  Adrianna Franch, Alyssa Naeher, Jane Campbell.

Defenders:  Abby Dahlkemper, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Kelley O’Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn, Emily Sonnett, Casey Krueger.

Midfielders:  Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Kristie Mewis, Samantha Mewis, Catarina Macario.

Forwards:  Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Christen Press, Megan Rapinoe, Lynn Williams.

Betting odds for Matildas vs United States

The Matildas will go into the match as big underdogs at 4.75, while the United States are priced at 1.66 to win the match.

The two teams drew in a 1-1 contest during the group stage, and you can get this result at 3.80.

Odds courtesy of Sportsbet  and correct at the time of publication.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.