2024 Olympics – Women’s Soccer Tournament: Squad List Stats and Superlatives

In previous years, before a tournament, FIFA typically publishes a document with historical statistics for that tournament as well as comparative statistics for each team competing in the tournament. I have not found a public version of such a document for this year’s Olympics tournament.

The official squads lists, in PDF format, can be downloaded directly from FIFA, via the following link: https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce159/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf.

For a spreadsheet version of the above squads list, with additional columns, see this Google Sheets file: 2024 Summer Olympics – Squad Lists. Each team is on a separate sheet. The columns for each team can be sorted and/or filtered.

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One shortcoming of FIFA’s comparative team statistics is that they only use averages for categories such as age and height, which sometimes leads to unhelpful comparisons, most notably for age, where a significantly older player can skew the average. Generally, for player characteristics (age, height, caps, and goals), a median value will be more representative than the mean. (Further reading and viewing: Video explanation of mean versus and media.)

For example, Brazil’s average caps per player is 43.0, but the median is half of that, at just 21.5! The three-most experienced players (Marta, 198; Tamires, 150; and Rafaelle, 97) have 445 caps between them, while the remaining 15 players have 330 caps combined.

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Notes

  • All summary statistics and superlatives are based on the primary squads for each team and exclude alternates (players with jersey numbers 19 to 22).
  • Ages are based on the start date of the tournament (July 25, 2024).
  • Nigeria’s and Zambia’s squad lists do not includes caps (international appearances) and goals counts.

The USWNT: Stats at a Glance

In recent cycles, especially during the Pia Sundhage and Jill Ellis eras, the USWNT was typically one of the most experienced teams in a tournament, as well as one of the tallest teams, but that is not the case for this Olympics.

Regarding age, the USWNT is in the middle of pack, ranked 6th, with a median age of 26.15 years. The oldest team is Australia, at 29.61 years, while Spain is the youngest, at 24.78 years.

Experience-wise, the USWNT is ranked 4th, behind Australia, France, and Canada, with a median number of 50.5 international appearances. Brazil has the lowest median caps at just 21.5.

The USWNT is one of the shorter teams, with a median height of 5’6″ (168cm). Eight teams have higher median heights. The tallest team is Germany, with a median height of 5’8″ (173cm), while the shortest is Zambia, at 5’2″ (160cm).

Individually, none of the USWNT players are in the top five for either total international caps or total international goals. Brazil’s Marta (Orlando Pride) leads both categories with 198 caps and 126 goals.

The USWNT does have one of the oldest players as well as one of the youngest players in the tournament: Veteran goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars) is the 4th oldest player at 36.26 years, while forward/midfielder Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave) is the 5th youngest, at 19.68 years.

Comparative Stats and Superlatives

Team Comparisons

Oldest Teams, By Median Age

  1. Australia: 29.61 years (average: 28.61 years)
  2. Canada: 28.55 years (average: 27.23 years)
  3. France:  27.98 years (average: 28.79 years)
  4. Colombia:  27.72 years (average: 27.42 years)
  5. Brazil:  27.71 years (average: 27.97 years)
  6. USA:  26.15 years (average: 27.21 years)
  7. Germany:  26.09 years (average: 27.36 years)
  8. Nigeria:  25.96 years (average: 26.60 years)
  9. Japan:  25.91 years (average: 25.61 years)
  10. Zambia:  25.61 years (average: 25.13 years)
  11. New Zealand:  25.47 years (average: 25.52 years)
  12. Spain:  24.78 years (average: 25.97 years)

Tallest Teams, By Median Height

  1. Germany: 173.0cm (5’8″)
  2. New Zealand: 171.5cm (5’7″)
  3. Canada: 170.5cm (5’7″)
  4. Brazil: 169.5cm (5’6″)
  5. France: 169.0cm (5’6″)
  6. Nigeria: 169.0cm (5’6″)
  7. Australia: 168.5cm (5’6″)
  8. Colombia: 168.5cm (5’6″)
  9. USA: 168.0cm (5’6″)
  10. Spain: 167.5cm (5’5″)
  11. Japan: 164.5cm (5’4″)
  12. Zambia: 160.0cm (5’2″)

Most Experienced Teams: Median International Caps

  1. Australia: 72.5 caps (average: 77.56)
  2. France: 60.0 caps (average: 67.22)
  3. Canada: 57.5 caps (average: 71.94)
  4. USA: 50.5 caps (average: 62.22)
  5. Spain: 43.0 caps (average: 49.94)
  6. Colombia: 38.5 caps (average: 42.94)
  7. Germany: 34.0 caps (average: 39)
  8. Japan: 34.0 caps (average: 43.33)
  9. New Zealand: 24.0 caps (average: 34.17)
  10. Brazil: 21.5 caps (average: 43.06)
  11. Nigeria and Zambia: n/a

Superlatives: Leagues and Club Teams

The official squad lists PDF does not break down the club teams by league. League details were manually added and are based on the current composition of each league. For leagues that are in their summer break, such as the WSL, Liga F, et cetera, those are based on the upcoming season (2024-2025).

Leagues: Most Players Represented

  • NWSL (USA): 43
  • WSL (ENG): 32
  • Liga F (ESP): 27
  • Première Ligue (FRA): 18
  • Frauen-Bundesliga (GER): 16
  • FAZ Women Super Division (ZAM): 10
  • Brasileirão Feminino (BRA): 10
  • Serie A Femminile (ITA): 7
  • Liga Femenina (COL): 6
  • WE League (JPN): 6
  • Liga MX Femenil (MEX): 6
  • A-League (AUS/NZL*): 4
  • NCAA, Division 1 (USA): 4

*Australia’s A-League has one team based in New Zealand: Wellington Phoenix FC, whose women’s side was established in 2021 (Wikipedia).

Most Common League, By Team

  • Australia: WSL (ENG) • 8 players
  • Brazil: Brasileirão Feminino (BRA) • 8 players
  • Canada: NWSL (USA) • 7 Players*
  • Colombia: Liga Femenina (COL) • 6 players
  • France: Première Ligue (FRA) • 11 players
  • Germany: Frauen-Bundesliga (GER) • 15 players
  • Japan: WSL (ENG) • 6 players**
  • New Zealand: A-League (AUS/NZL), NWSL (USA), WSL (ENG), Kvindeliga (DEN) • 2 players (each)***
  • Nigeria: NWSL (USA) • 5 players
  • Spain: Liga F (ESP) • 13 players
  • USA: NWSL (USA) • 15 players
  • Zambia: FAZ Women Super Division (ZAM) • 10 players

*Canada also has 6 players in the WSL (ENG)
**Japan also has 5 players in the WE League (JPN)
***New Zealand has 5 players listed as “Free Agent”

Club Teams With Most Players Represented

  • Real Madrid CF (ESP): 10 players
  • Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) : 8 players
  • Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA): 8 players
  • VfL Wolfsburg (GER): 8 players
  • Arsenal WFC (ENG): 7 players
  • FC Barcelona (ESP): 7 players
  • NJ/NY Gotham FC: 7 players
  • SC Corinthians (BRA): 7 players
  • Chelsea FCW (ENG): 6 players
  • Portland Thorns FC (USA): 6 players

Superlatives: Individual Players

As noted above, Nigeria’s and Zambia’s squad lists do not includes caps (international appearances) and goals information.

Most-Capped Players

  1. Marta • Brazil • Forward • 198 caps
  2. Le Sommer, Eugenie • France • Forward • 192 caps
  3. Polkinghorne, Claire • Australia • Defender • 168 caps
  4. Renard, Wendie • France • Defender • 160 caps
  5. Kumagai, Saki • Japan • Defender • 152 caps

Least-Capped Players

  1. Taina • Brazil • Goalkeeper • 1 cap
  2. Jheniffer • Brazil • Forward • 2 caps
  3. Quejada, Minota • Colombia • Defender • 2 caps
  4. Schulze, Solano • Germany • Defender • 4 caps
  5. Fraser, Macey • New Zealand • Midfielder • 5 caps

Players with Most International Goals

  1. Marta • Brazil • Forward • 126 goals
  2. Le Sommer, Eugenie • France • Forward • 93 goals
  3. Popp, Alexandra • Germany • Forward • 67 goals
  4. Usme, Catalina • Colombia • Forward • 56 goals
  5. Hermoso, Jennifer • Forward • 56 goals

Players with Most Goals Per Match (Minimum 10 Matches)

  1. Katoto, Marie-Antoinette • France • Forward • 0.73 goals/match (30 goals, 41 caps)
  2. Schueller, Lea • Germany • Forward • 0.68 goals/match (42 goals, 62 caps)
  3. Marta • Brazil • Forward • 0.64 goals/match (126 goals, 198 caps)
  4. Paralluello, Salma • Spain • Forward • 0.50 goals/match (12 goals, 24 caps)
  5. Usme, Catalina • Colombia • Forward • 0.50 goals/match (56 caps, 113 caps)

Youngest Players

  1. Koga, Toko • Japan • Defender • Age: 18.55 • DOB: January 6, 2006
  2. Clegg, Milly • New Zealand • Forward • Age 18.73 • DOB: November 1, 2005
  3. Tanikawa, Momoko • Japan • Midfielder • Age: 19.22 • DOB: May 7, 2005
  4. Caicedo, Linda • Colombia • Forward • Age: 19.42 • DOB: February 22, 2005
  5. Shaw, Jaedyn • USA • Forward • Age: 19.68 • DOB: November 20, 2004

Oldest Players

  1. Marta • Brazil • Forward • Age: 38.43 • DOB: February 19, 1986
  2. Oluehi, Tochukwu • Nigeria • Goalkeeper • Age: 37.23 • DOB: May 2, 1987
  3. Tamires • Brazil • Defender • Age: 36.79 • DOB: October 10, 1987
  4. Naeher, Alyssa • USA • Goalkeeper • Age: 36.26 • DOB: April 20, 1988
  5. Heyman, Michelle • New Zealand • Age: 36.06 • July 4, 1988

Tallest Players

  1. Renard, Wendie • France • Defender • 187cm (6’2″)
  2. Murphy, Casey • USA • Goalkeeper • 186cm (6’1″)
  3. Taina • Brazil • Goalkeeper • 185cm (6’1″)
  4. Tarciane • Brazil • Defender • 184cm (6’0″)
  5. Lorena • Brazil • Goalkeeper • 182cm (6’0″)

Shortest Players

  1. Chitundu, Avell • Zambia • Midfielder • 140cm (4’7″)
  2. Siamfuko, Esther • Zambia • Defender • 150cm (4’11”)
  3. Banda, Diana • Zambia • Defender • 152cm (5’0″)
  4. Banda, Barbra • Zambia • Forward • 153cm (5’0″)
  5. Tembo, Martha • Zambia • Defender • 154cm (5’1″)