With a 4-1 win over New Zealand, Guinea is the last step for the USA to reach the quarterfinals of the men’s 2024 Olympics tournament. They can secure a spot in the next round with a win in their final group-stage game against Guinea. 



<h2>USA dominates New Zealand</h2>



The United States has this great opportunity because it was <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/olympics/brilliant-usmnt-slots-four-past-weak-new-zealand/">so good in its last time out</a>. They scored against the Kiwis early, and they scored against the Kiwis often. 



Djordje Mihailovic opened the scoring in the eighth minute by converting a penalty. Four minutes later, Walker Zimmerman gave the Americans a 2-0 lead with a tap-in after a goal-line scramble. Gianluca Busio made it a three-goal lead inside half an hour with a shot from twelve yards out. Paxten Aaronson put the icing on the cake less than ten minutes into the second half. 



New Zealand was able to pull a goal back for a more respectable-looking scoreline, however. As a result, the USA went from a positive one-goal difference down to an even goal difference, which could become an important tiebreaker. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240729_WST_519127_Paxten-Aaronson-Olympics-1200x675_38d2729f.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-519167" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/Paxten-Aaronson-Olympics-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/Paxten-Aaronson-Olympics-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/Paxten-Aaronson-Olympics-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/Paxten-Aaronson-Olympics-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/Paxten-Aaronson-Olympics.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Advancement scenarios</h2>



The surest way for the United States to advance to the quarterfinals is to beat Guinea. It’s a classic case of “win and you’re in.” But there are other scenarios in which the USA can advance, even without a win. 



The Americans could advance with a draw, as long as New Zealand does not win their game against France. If the USMNT were to draw and New Zealand were to lose, the Americanswould advance with four points to New Zealand’s three. If New Zealand and the US were both to draw, each team would have four points, but the USA would advance with the better goal difference. 



The Americans can advance, even with a loss, but that is where things get dicey. The only way the USA could stay in the tournament with a loss would be to lose to Guinea by a single goal and hope that France beats New Zealand. And as the full USMNT learned at the end of World Cup Qualifying in 2017, and at this year’s Copa America, it’s better not to leave the fate of the team in the hands of other games. 



<h2>Guinea could provide the USA challenge at Olympics</h2>



Like the US, Guinea can advance to the knockout rounds. This is despite having lost both of their games. Their path, however, is not as straightforward as the Americans’. They would need a win against the US, a France win against New Zealand, and for the goal-difference tiebreaker to go their way. 



So far at these Olympics, Guinea is winless. It played New Zealand in their opener and fell 2-1, with Amadou Diawara scoring the goal. In their second game, they gave a very good account of themselves against the hosts. They held France scoreless until the 75th minute, before conceding the eventual winner. 



Their roster for these games is light on international experience but has plenty of European club experience. Eight of their 18 players are based at French clubs. An additional two players are based in Spain. Meanwhile, their captain, Naby Keita, is based at Werder Bremen in Germany. 



As things stand, France is at the top of Group A with six points. The United States is second, and thus in a spot to go through, but only based on goal differential. New Zealand is also on three points. However, the dominating performance against the Kiwis sank their goal differential to minus-two, while the Americans are even. Guinea has lost both of its games by one goal, leaving it with zero points and a minus-two goal differential.



Tuesday’s game against Guinea kicks off at 1 p.m. ET. Coverage is available on USA Network for English-language audiences. Spanish-language coverage is on Telemundo. 



PHOTOS: IMAGO

USA vs Guinea preview: Americans can reach men's quarterfinal

After a 4-1 win over New Zealand, Guinea is the last step for the USA to reach the quarterfinals of the men's 2024 Olympics tournament.

The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/section/olympics/">Olympics</a> is slated to start later this week after years of strenuous planning and anticipation. The Seine River is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/17/paris-mayor-anne-hidalgo-fulfils-olympic-promise-swim-in-the-seine-cleanup-pollution">barely</a> clean enough for open-water swimming, the American men’s basketball team is <a href="https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/40583243/team-usa-improves-3-0-impressive-win-serbia">ready</a> for one of its most important tournaments yet, and sprinter Noah Lyles has his eyes <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/lyles-versus-lightning-race-for-usain-bolt-world-records">set</a> on a once-immortal 200-meter world record. 



With all these important storylines swirling around with the opening ceremony scheduled for the 26th, the Olympics’ soccer tournaments figure to be a focal part of the Olympics. The tournament has produced special moments. For example, Neymar won gold at Rio 2016, Carli Lloyd scored in extra-time to beat Brazil in Beijing 2008, and more moments transpired throughout the years. 2024, held in front of millions of soccer-rabid Parisian fans, figures to add to the legacy of the Olympics.



<h2>Teams competing in soccer for the 2024 Olympics</h2>



The Olympics will boast a stacked field on both the women’s and men’s sides. The women’s teams will be able to call up their best players from across the globe. Squads in the men’s tournaments will be restricted to players under 23 years old, with three overage exceptions.



The men’s tournament will feature hosts <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/france-national-team-tv-schedule/">France</a> along with the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/france-national-team-tv-schedule/">United States</a>, Guinea, and New Zealand in Group A. Argentina, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/morocco-national-team-tv-schedule/">Morocco</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/iraq-national-team-tv-schedule/">Iraq</a>, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/ukraine-national-team-tv-schedule/">Ukraine</a> will play in Group B. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/spain-national-team-tv-schedule/">Spain</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/egypt-national-team-tv-schedule/">Egypt</a> headline Group C, accompanied by the Dominican Republic and an Eldor Shomurodov-led Uzbekistan squad. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/mali-national-team-tv-schedule/">Mali</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/japan-national-team-tv-schedule/">Japan</a>, Israel, and Paraguay round out Group D.



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On the women’s side, France will go up against the likes of Colombia, Canada, and New Zealand in Group A. The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/uswnt-tv-schedule/">United States</a> will begin its revenge tour in Group B against rivals Germany, Austria, and surprise package Zambia. Spain, Nigeria, Brazil, and Japan slot into the Group of Death.



<h2>The format for the Olympics</h2>



The men’s tournament at the Olympics will feature 16 teams in four different groups. The teams play three matches against each other. Then, the top two from each group progress to the knockout rounds. The group stage matches will start on the 24th, with Argentina facing Morocco and Uzbekistan playing Spain at 9 a.m.



After the eight teams progress through the knockout round, the finals will be held at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germain</a>‘s stadium, Parc des Princes. The gold medal match will be the last of 32 games starting on Aug. 9. Reigning 2020 gold medalists <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/brazil-national-team-tv-schedule/">Brazil</a> will not feature in the tournament after failing to qualify. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">City</a> striker Julian Alvarez, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayern-munich-tv-schedule/">Bayern</a> winger Michael Olise, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> target Désiré Doué will all play at the tournament.



The women’s football tournament features 12 teams from across the globe. France, Spain, and the USA highlight the tightly packed field. The teams will play in three groups of four. The top two teams from the three groups, plus the top two third-placed teams, advance to the eight-team knockout round. Group-stage matches will start on the 25th, with Canada playing New Zealand and reigning World Cup winners Spain playing Japan.



The Parc des Princes will hold the gold-medal matches on Aug. 10. A new-look American team <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/uswnt-reveal-olympics-squad-morgan-and-yohannes-out/">led</a> by manager Emma Hayes will search for its first gold medal since 2012. 



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

What soccer teams play in the Olympics?

With the Olympics set to start in nearly week, the teams for the men's and women's soccer tournaments are known.

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Paris 2024 Olympics

USA vs Guinea preview: Americans can reach men's quarterfinal

Paris 2024 Olympics

What soccer teams play in the Olympics?