:Great Britain women's Olympic football team

{{unreferenced section|date=July 2019}}

When the Football Association (FA) was formed in 1863, its geographical remit was not clear: there was no specification of whether it covered just England, the entire UK or even the entire world. The question was answered when the Scottish Football Association (SFA) was founded in 1873. Football associations for Wales and Ireland (later Northern Ireland) were founded in 1876 and 1880 respectively. Football therefore developed with separate national teams representing each of the countries of the United Kingdom and no 'United Kingdom football association' was ever formed. A Great Britain Olympic football team was selected by the FA for men's Olympic football between 1908 and 1972, for amateur players, but the UK had stopped entering teams into the Olympic football tournament by the time of the first women's football competition in 1996 due to The FA abolishing the distinction between amateurism and professionalism in 1972.

File:Great Britain Womens Football Team.jpg

Due to London's successful bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the United Kingdom had the right to enter a team in the football tournament as host nation.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/13854492.stm |title=Team GB Olympic football deal angers nations |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 June 2011 |access-date=17 July 2011 |archive-date=24 June 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110624105255/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/13854492.stm |url-status=dead }} The British Olympic Association stated it would enter a football team,{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/5394710.stm |title=GB football team to enter Games |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 September 2006 }} but the Scottish Football Association (SFA) refused even to attend meetings at which the Home Nations were to discuss the possibility{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4426566.stm |title=No Scots for GB Olympic football |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 November 2005 }} and the Football Association of Wales withdrew from the negotiations.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4427504.stm |title=Wales oppose GB Olympic football |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 December 2005 }} In October 2007 the Irish Football Association (the association for Northern Ireland) also announced that they would not take part in a unified team, leaving the Football Association (England) as the only association willing to take part. It was reported that the other associations feared the loss of their privileged voting position within the International Football Association Board.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/sep/04/kim-little-great-britain-olympics |title=Scotland's Kim Little wants to play for Great Britain at 2012 Olympics |work=The Guardian|first=Tony |last=Leighton |date=4 September 2011|access-date= 26 November 2011 |location=London}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/sports/soccer/even-for-olympic-soccer-uniting-britain-may-be-tough.html?pagewanted=all |title=A British Soccer Team? What's That? Say Scots, Welsh and Irish |work=New York Times|first1=Jere |last1=Longman |first2=Sarah |last2=Lyall |date=18 September 2011|access-date= 26 November 2011}}

As England had reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, Great Britain had qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics. They were unable to participate in the Games as the national football associations failed to reach an agreement,{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/7127341.stm |title=Caborn blasts women's Games snub |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 December 2007 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2328845/British-Olympic-Associations-political-own-goal.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913170248/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2328845/British-Olympic-Associations-political-own-goal.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2012 |title=British Olympic Association's political own goal |last=Mott |first=Sue |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=18 December 2007 |access-date=17 July 2011}} and they were replaced in the tournament by Sweden. Nevertheless, the BOA decided that a women's team would compete in London 2012.

Following an initial announcement in May 2009 of a compromise, in which the FA would select a team of only English players to compete at London,{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/8072981.stm |title=Nations pave way for 2012 GB team |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2009 }} an FA statement in June 2011 claimed that after discussions with all British football associations and the BOA that they would enter a team selected from across the United Kingdom.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsAndFeatures/2011/BOA-team-210611 |title=Team GB decision reached |publisher=The Football Association |date=21 June 2011 |access-date=17 July 2011}} That announcement angered the other British football associations, who claimed not to have been consulted on the decision, but the SFA admitted that it would have no grounds for preventing Scottish players from competing in the team.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/13830342.stm |title=Great Britain Olympic football team agreement close |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 June 2011|access-date= 20 June 2011}} In November 2011 the Professional Footballers' Association warned the SFA, FAW and IFA against trying to "intimidate" players into not taking part.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15692920.stm |title=PFA warns against Olympic player 'intimidation'|publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 November 2011|access-date= 26 November 2011}}

In June 2011 Arsenal Ladies striker Julie Fleeting, Scotland's record goalscorer, ruled herself out of contention. She concurred with the opinion of her father Jim—the SFA's director of football development—that participation may "jeopardise" the Scottish national team.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jun/24/scotland-julie-fleeting-team-gb-olympics-2012 |title=Scotland's Julie Fleeting turns her back on Team GB for London 2012 |work=The Guardian |date=24 June 2011|access-date= 26 November 2011}} Fleeting's teammate for club and country Kim Little took the opposite view: "I don't see why anyone would want to stop a player from playing at a massive tournament like the Olympics, it's the biggest sporting event ever. If I get the opportunity I'll grab it with both hands – I would definitely play." Fellow Scots Rachel Corsie and Jen Beattie also expressed interest,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15321504.stm |title=Glasgow City captain Rachel Corsie would accept Team GB call|publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 October 2011|access-date= 26 November 2011}} as well as Everton's Welsh winger Gwennan Harries.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/9397872.stm |title=FAW's Olympic stance frustrates Gwennan Harries|publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 February 2011|access-date= 26 November 2011}}

In October 2011, England manager Hope Powell was appointed head coach of the women's team.{{cite web|title=Stuart Pearce and Hope Powell to lead GB Olympic teams|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/15382675.stm|access-date=20 October 2011|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 October 2011}} Powell began the process of selecting the squad by writing to all the players whom she wanted to consider for the team, offering them the opportunity to exclude themselves from consideration for the squad. It was confirmed in January 2012 that none of the players who had been contacted had asked to withdraw.{{cite news|title=London 2012: Stuart Pearce says nations' Olympics stance saddens him|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16640170.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=20 January 2012}} In June 2012 The Belfast Telegraph reported that three Northern Ireland players had been selected in the final squad.{{cite web|title=Northern Ireland women will make history at Olympics |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/northern-ireland-women-will-make-history-at-olympics-16168393.html#ixzz1xiHzOXYA|publisher=The Belfast Telegraph|access-date=14 June 2012|date=6 June 2012|first=Stuart|last=McKinley}} One of the players concerned, Sunderland's Sarah McFadden, dismissed the report: "I haven't received anything about being in final squad... Wish it was true but unfortunately not."{{cite web|title=Irish Trio Not Set for Olympics (yet) |url=http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/5503|work=She Kicks |access-date=14 June 2012|date=14 June 2012}}

File:Team GB celebrating, women's football.jpg in their final group game]]

{{main|Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament}}

Great Britain were placed in Group E for the Olympic tournament prior to the draw, with their first two matches due to be played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.{{cite news|title=GB Olympic football teams to play in Manchester, London and Cardiff|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/15674327|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=28 February 2012}} The draw was held on 24 April 2012 and added New Zealand, Cameroon and Brazil to Great Britain's group.{{cite news|title=Team GB draw Uruguay, United Arab Emirates and Senegal for Olympics|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/apr/24/team-gb-olympic-football-draw?newsfeed=true|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 April 2012|location=London|first=Owen|last=Gibson|date=24 April 2012}} Two days after the draw, it was announced that Great Britain's single warm-up game prior to the start of the tournament would be against Sweden at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough on 20 July.{{cite news|title=London 2012: Team GB announce Olympic warm-ups|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/17821354|publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=26 April 2012}}

The first ever game for the Great Britain women's Olympic football team was a behind closed doors training match win against South Africa, part of the preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympics. It took place in Birmingham, England on 15 July 2012.{{cite web|url=http://sports.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201207/89629.php|title=Banyana face Cameroon and GB in final preparations for London|publisher=MyJoyOnline.com|access-date=16 July 2012|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213213/http://sports.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201207/89629.php|url-status=dead}} The first official game was a goalless draw against Sweden on 20 July.

;Friendlies

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Training match

| date = 15 July 2012

| time =

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|GBR}}

| score = 3–1

| report = [https://gsport.co.za/banyana-ready-to-play-hearts-out/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbw|RSA}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium =

| location = Birmingham, England

| attendance = 0 (behind closed doors)

| referee =

| result = W

| note = Unofficial match, no caps awarded

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = 20 July 2012

| time = 16:00 BST (UTC+1)

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|GBR}}

| score = 0–0

| report = [https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/storbritannien-sverige-landskamper-dam-senior/1947350/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbw|SWE}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Riverside Stadium

| location = Middlesbrough, England

| attendance =

| referee = Florence Guillemin (France)

| result = D

}}

;Group stage

{{#section:Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament – Group E|Standings}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Group stage

| date = 25 July 2012

| time = 16:00 BST (UTC+1)

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|GBR}}

| score = 1–0

| report = [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/25/london-2012-great-britain-women-new-zealand Report]

| team2 = {{fbw|NZL}}

| goals1 = Houghton {{goal|64}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Millennium Stadium

| location = Cardiff, Wales

| attendance = 24,445{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/matches/round=256031/match=300208997/report.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824233127/http://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/matches/round=256031/match=300208997/report.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 August 2012|title=Great Britain – New Zealand|work=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |date=25 July 2012 |access-date=26 July 2012 }}

| referee = Kari Seitz (United States)

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Group stage

| date = 28 July 2012

| time = 17:15 BST (UTC+1)

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|GBR}}

| score = 3–0

| report = [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/28/london-2012-team-gb-women-cameroon Report]

| team2 = {{fbw|CMR}}

| goals1 = Stoney {{goal|18}}
J. Scott {{goal|23}}
Houghton {{goal|82}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Millennium Stadium

| location = Cardiff, Wales

| attendance = 31,141{{cite news |title=Great Britain – Cameroon |url=https://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/matches/round=256031/match=300208999/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829083352/http://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/matches/round=256031/match=300208999/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 August 2012 |work=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |date=28 July 2012 |access-date=30 July 2012 }}

| referee = Hong Eun-ah (South Korea)

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Group stage

| date = 31 July 2012

| time = 19:45 BST (UTC+1)

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|GBR}}

| score = 1–0

| report = [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/31/olympic-womens-football-gb-brazil-live Report]

| team2 = {{fbw|BRA}}

| goals1 = Houghton {{goal|2}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Wembley Stadium

| location = London, England

| attendance = 70,584{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/matches/round=256031/match=300208998/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828181701/http://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/matches/round=256031/match=300208998/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 August 2012 |title=Great Britain – Brazil |work=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |date=31 July 2012 |access-date=1 August 2012 }}

| referee = Carol Anne Chenard (Canada)

| result = W

}}

;Knockout stage

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Quarter-final

| date = 3 August 2012

| time = 19:30 BST (UTC+1)

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|GBR}}

| score = 0–2

| report = [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/03/london-2012-team-gb-women-olympics Report]

| team2 = {{fbw|CAN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Filigno {{goal|12}}
Sinclair {{goal|26}}

| stadium = City of Coventry Stadium

| location = Coventry, England

| attendance = 28,828{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/matches/round=256041/match=300197645/report.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807101135/http://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/matches/round=256041/match=300197645/report.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 August 2012|title=Great Britain – Canada|work=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |date=3 August 2012 |access-date=3 August 2012 }}

| referee = Sachiko Yamagishi (Japan)

| result = L

}}

After the team was eliminated from the 2012 Olympics, head coach Hope Powell expressed her wish that a team would be entered in future Olympic tournaments.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19122916|title=Olympics football: Hope Powell wants GB team in Brazil in 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Paul|last=Fletcher|date=4 August 2012|access-date=4 August 2012}} In June 2013, while giving evidence to the House of Lords' Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Committee, the Football Association indicated that they would be prepared to run women's teams at future Olympic tournaments subject to one of the home nations meeting the qualification criteria (i.e. being one of the top three European nations at the Women's World Cup).{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23067552|title=GB women's football team could compete at Rio Olympics|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 June 2013|access-date=5 July 2013}} However, following strong objections from the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football associations, and a commitment from FIFA that they would not allow entry of a British team unless all four Home Nations agreed, the Football Association announced on 30 March 2015 that they would not seek entry into the 2016 Summer Olympics tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32125977|title=Rio 2016: FA scraps plans for Great Britain football teams|publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 March 2015}} The third-place finish England secured at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup would have qualified Great Britain for the Olympics.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/29/kelly-simmons-great-britain-womens-football-olympics-rio-2016-world-cup | title=Great Britain's absence from Rio Olympics is devastating, says FA director |work=The Guardian | date=29 June 2015 | access-date=13 August 2015}}

In June 2015, British Olympic Association chief Bill Sweeney announced a campaign to get the team reinstated for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33316211 | title=Team GB want women's football side at 2020 Olympics in Tokyo | publisher=BBC Sport | access-date=6 July 2015}} In 2018, Baroness Campbell, the FA's Head of Women's Football, indicated that there was a willingness on the part of the other three Home Nations to allow the Football Association the opportunity to run a football team for the 2020 Olympics.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43573417 |title=Tokyo 2020: FA 'confident' of fielding Team GB side at Olympics |date=28 March 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=28 March 2018 }} An agreement was reached between the four associations ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics that the highest ranked of the four home nations would be nominated to compete for the Olympic place. As a consequence, although both England and Scotland qualified for the 2019 World Cup (which is used by UEFA as the qualifying tournament for the Summer Olympics), only England were eligible to compete for an Olympic qualifying place.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45712449 |title=Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Home nations agree to GB women's football team |publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 October 2018|access-date=1 October 2018}} By reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup, England secured one of the three qualifying places allocated to UEFA.{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2017/m=9/news=oc-for-fifa-competitions-approves-procedures-for-the-final-draw-of-the-2907924.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914215739/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2017/m=9/news=oc-for-fifa-competitions-approves-procedures-for-the-final-draw-of-the-2907924.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 September 2017|title=OC for FIFA Competitions approves procedures for the Final Draw of the 2018 FIFA World Cup|publisher=FIFA|date=14 September 2017|access-date=30 June 2019}}{{cite web|title=Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Team GB qualify for women's football tournament|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48791484|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 June 2019|access-date=30 June 2019}}

Having originally announced that England manager Phil Neville would be appointed manager of Team GB Women for the 2020 Summer Olympics following England's successful de facto qualification performance at the 2019 World Cup,{{cite web |last1=Critchley |first1=Mark |title=Women's World Cup 2019: Phil Neville confirms he will manage Team GB at Tokyo 2020 Olympics |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/womens_football/womens-world-cup-2019-england-team-gb-phil-neville-manager-tokyo-2020-olympics-a8981246.html |work=The Independent |access-date=10 March 2021 |date=30 June 2019}} the FA announced in March 2021 that Hege Riise, who had been appointed caretaker manager of England following Neville's premature departure earlier in the year,{{cite news |title=Hege Riise to lead Lionesses in February, with Rhian Wilkinson also joining |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/jan/19/hege-riise-rhian-wilkinson-appointed-20210119 |publisher=The FA |access-date=10 March 2021 |date=19 January 2021}} would be taking over the role.{{cite web |title=Great Britain women name Hege Riise as Olympic Games head coach |url=https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/news/detail/great-britain-women-name-hege-riise-as-olympic-games-head-coach/ |website=Olympic Channel |access-date=10 March 2021 |date=10 March 2021}}

{{main|Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament}}

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the games were postponed to the summer of 2021. However, their official name remained 2020 Summer Olympics.{{Cite news|author1=McCurry, Justin |author2=Ingle, Sean |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/24/tokyo-olympics-to-be-postponed-to-2021-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic|title=Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic|date=2020-03-24|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-03-24|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} Great Britain were placed in pot two for the group stage draw based on the FIFA seeding for England who qualified on behalf of Great Britain.{{cite web |url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/49585bfbdc0fc586/original/ipv0vqlyvdyxstuwdshs-pdf.pdf |title=Draw Procedures – Olympic Football Tournaments Tokyo 2020: Women's tournament |publisher=FIFA.com |date=16 April 2021}} The team was drawn into Group E with host nation Japan, Canada and Chile.{{cite web |title=Tokyo 2020: Team GB draw hosts Japan, Canada and Chile in women's football tournament |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/28508/12282348/tokyo-2020-team-gb-draw-hosts-japan-canada-and-chile-in-womens-football-tournament |website=Sky Sports}} They had originally arranged one friendly in Stoke against Zambia who were preparing to make their Olympic debut.{{cite news |title=Zambia's women qualify for first Olympics |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/africa/51821194 }} However, COVID-19 travel restrictions prevented them from entering the country and they were forced to withdraw.{{cite news |title=Team GB friendly with Zambia cancelled |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57570777 }} While in Japan, Great Britain eventually managed to play a closed-doors training match a week prior to their opening group game, reportedly beating New Zealand 3–0 at the Todoroki Athletics Stadium on 14 July.{{cite web |title=Tokyo 2020: Ellen White double helps Team GB to Olympics warm-up win over New Zealand |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/12355820/tokyo-2020-ellen-white-double-helps-team-gb-to-olympics-warm-up-win-over-new-zealand |website=Sky Sports}}

;Friendlies

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = 1 July 2021

| time = 19:15 BST (UTC+1)

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|GBR}}

| score = C–C

| report =

| team2 = {{fbw|ZAM}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Stoke City Ground

| location = Stoke-on-Trent, England

| attendance =

| referee =

| result = P

| note = Zambia withdrew as the United Kingdom's COVID-19 travel restrictions prevented them from entering the country.

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format = 1

|round = Training match

|date = 14 July 2021

|time =

|team1 = {{fbw-rt|GBR}}

|score = 3–0

|report = https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/12355820/tokyo-2020-ellen-white-double-helps-team-gb-to-olympics-warm-up-win-over-new-zealand

|team2 = {{fbw|NZL}}

|goals1 =

• White {{goal}} {{goal}}
• Parris {{goal}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Todoroki Athletics Stadium

|location = Tokyo, Japan

|attendance = 0 (behind closed doors)

|referee =

|result = W

| note = Unofficial match, no caps awarded

}}

;Group stage

{{Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's group tables|Group E|showteam=GBR|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Group stage

| date = 21 July 2021

| time = 16:30 JST (UTC+9)

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|GBR}}

| score = 2–0

| report = https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/football/results-women-gpe-000100-.htm

| team2 = {{fbw|CHL}}

| goals1 = White {{goal|18||73}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Sapporo Dome

| location = Sapporo, Japan

| attendance = 0 (behind closed doors)

| referee = Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Group stage

| date = 24 July 2021

| time = 19:30 JST (UTC+9)

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|JPN}}

| score = 0–1

| report = https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/football/results-women-gpe-000400-.htm

| team2 = {{fbw|GBR}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 = White {{goal|74}}

| stadium = Sapporo Dome

| location = Sapporo, Japan

| attendance = 0 (behind closed doors)

| referee = Anastasia Pustovoitova (Russia)

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Group stage

| date = 27 July 2021

| time = 20:00 JST (UTC+9)

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|CAN}}

| score = 1–1

| report = https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/football/results-women-gpe-000600-.htm

| team2 = {{fbw|GBR}}

| goals1 = Leon {{goal|55}}

| goals2 = Price {{goal|85|o.g.}}

| stadium = Kashima Stadium

| location = Kashima, Japan

| attendance = 0 (behind closed doors)

| referee = Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)

| result = D

}}

;Knockout stage

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Quarter-final

| date = 30 July 2021

| time = 18:00 JST (UTC+9)

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|GBR}}

| score = 3–4

| aet = yes

| report = https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/football/results-women-qfnl-000100-.htm

| team2 = {{fbw|AUS}}

| goals1 = White {{goal|57||66||115}}

| goals2 =

• Kennedy {{goal|35}}
• Kerr {{goal|89||106}}
• Fowler {{goal|103}}

| stadium = Kashima Stadium

| location = Kashima, Japan

| attendance = 0 (behind closed doors)

| referee = Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)

| result = L

}}

As with 2020, England (as the highest ranked home nation) were made responsible for Great Britain's qualification for the Olympics. Unlike 2020, European qualification was not based on the World Cup (in which England finished runners-up) but on the inaugural edition of the Nations League.{{Cite web |title=How do you qualify for women's football in the Olympics? |url=https://www.teamgb.com/article/how-do-you-qualify-for-womens-football-in-the-olympics/YlvhmnLTMb8DLn8Mi55PW |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.teamgb.com |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-21 |title=What next for England and Wiegman after World Cup? |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66564402 |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} England and Scotland were drawn in the same Nations League group, which created a potential conflict of interest for the Scottish players.{{cite web |url=https://theathletic.com/4852504/2023/09/12/england-scorland-womens-national-league-team-gb/ |title=England vs Scotland vs Team GB: The curious ramifications of the Women's Nations League |website=The Athletic |first=Michael |last=Cox |date=12 September 2023 |accessdate=13 September 2023}} On 20 September 2023, England manager Sarina Wiegman was announced as manager of Team GB assuming qualification for the tournament.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-20 |title=Wiegman will lead Team GB if they reach Olympics |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66871699 |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} Team GB were eliminated from qualifying contention after England finished as runners-up to the Netherlands on goal difference in the Nations League group.{{cite web |last=Wrack |first=Suzanne |title=England thrash Scotland but cannot avoid Team GB Olympic heartbreak |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/05/womens-nations-league-scotland-england-match-report |website=The Guardian |date=5 December 2023}}

The IOC governing body prohibits the use of any crests attributed to specific football associations or federations as they are seen to represent separate commercial interests rather than the nations. Where teams would normally use association crests they instead use the emblems of their respective national Olympic associations.{{cite web |title=Why Olympic soccer teams don't have their official crests on the jerseys |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/07/olympic-soccer-football-jerseys-crests-badges-rules-usa |website=USA Today |date=21 July 2021}} Great Britain women's Olympic football team wears the logo of Team GB. The crest features the head of a lion, a traditional animal in British heraldry that forms part of the Royal coat of arms. The lion's blue and red mane is stylised to create a Union Jack. Beneath the lion is the Team GB wordmark which was developed in 1996 as a way of better unifying British athletes from all sports under one clearly defined sporting brand.{{cite web |title=Stephen Moss, Kira Cochrane and Simon Burnton provide the answers to intriguing questions about the Olympics |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/aug/19/britisholympicteam.olympics2008 |website=The Guardian |date=18 August 2008}} Below the wordmark are the Olympic rings.

Both the 2012 and 2020 kits were supplied by Adidas, the licensed sportswear partners of Team GB since 1984. They are part of the larger collection of uniforms designed for British athletes across all sports for each individual Olympics.{{cite web |title=adidas extends Team GB Partnership to 2024 |url=https://www.teamgb.com/article/adidas-extends-team-gb-partnership-2024/2C6dBBZOttAL93mJ4FZZYu |website=Team GB}} Stella McCartney designed the 2012 range.{{cite web |title=Team GB 2012 Olympic kit revealed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17457729 |website=BBC News |date=22 March 2012}} Adidas' in-house design team created the 2020 kits.{{cite web |title=Team GB embrace 'unity in diversity' theme for Tokyo Olympics kit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/may/06/team-gb-embrace-unity-in-diversity-theme-for-tokyo-olympics-kit |website=The Guardian |date=6 May 2021}}

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{{main|Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's team squads#Great Britain}}

{{seealso|Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's team squads#Great Britain}}

• The following players were named in the squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics. The squad, consisting of 19 English, one Welsh and two Scottish players, was originally announced on 27 May 2021 and included five players (Karen Bardsley, Steph Houghton, Kim Little, Jill Scott and Ellen White) from the 2012 tournament.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57255330 | website=BBC Sport | title=Team GB: Steph Houghton, Sophie Ingle and Caroline Weir selected | date=27 May 2021 |access-date=27 May 2021}} On 18 June 2021, Carly Telford was called up to replace the injured Karen Bardsley before the start of the tournament.{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Wendy |title=Carly called up |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2021/Jun/18/20210618-carly-telford-called-into-gb-football-squad |access-date=20 June 2021 |publisher=England Football |date=18 June 2021}}
• On 1 July 2021, the IOC and FIFA confirmed rosters would be expanded from 18 to 22 meaning the four reserve players (Sandy MacIver, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Niamh Charles and Ella Toone) would be available for selection to the matchday squad.{{cite web |title=FIFA confirms roster changes for Olympic soccer |url=https://apnews.com/article/fifa-international-soccer-2020-tokyo-olympics-olympic-games-soccer-3aa97119cb69b948cacde276d2ef2550 |website=Associated Press |date=1 July 2021}}
• Caps and goals updated as of 30 July 2021.

Head coach: {{flagicon|Norway}} Hege Riise

{{nat fs g start}}

{{nat fs g player|no=1 |pos=GK|name={{fbwicon|England}} Ellie Roebuck|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1999|9|23|df=yes}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Manchester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=13|pos=GK|name={{fbwicon|England}} Carly Telford|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1987|7|7|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Chelsea|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=22|pos=GK|name={{fbwicon|England}} Sandy MacIver|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1998|6|18|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Everton|clubnat=ENG}}

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! colspan="9" bgcolor="#B0D3FB" align="left" |

|----- bgcolor="#DFEDFD"

{{nat fs g player|no=2 |pos=DF|name={{fbwicon|England}} Lucy Bronze|age={{birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1991|10|28|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Manchester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=3 |pos=DF|name={{fbwicon|England}} Demi Stokes|age={{birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1991|12|12|df=y}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Manchester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=5 |pos=DF|name={{fbwicon|England}} Steph Houghton|other=co-captain|age={{birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1988|4|23|df=y}}|caps=8|goals=3|club=Manchester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=12|pos=DF|name={{fbwicon|England}} Rachel Daly|age={{birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1991|12|6|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Houston Dash|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=14|pos=DF|name={{fbwicon|England}} Millie Bright|age={{birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1993|8|21|df=y}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Chelsea|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=16|pos=DF|name={{fbwicon|England}} Leah Williamson|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1997|3|29|df=y}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Arsenal|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=21|pos=DF|name={{fbwicon|England}} Lotte Wubben-Moy|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1999|1|11|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Arsenal|clubnat=ENG}}

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! colspan="9" bgcolor="#B0D3FB" align="left" |

|----- bgcolor="#DFEDFD"

{{nat fs g player|no=4 |pos=MF|name={{fbwicon|England}} Keira Walsh|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1997|4|8|df=y}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Manchester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=6 |pos=MF|name={{fbwicon|Wales}} Sophie Ingle|other=co-captain|age={{birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1991|9|2|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Chelsea|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=8 |pos=MF|name={{fbwicon|Scotland}} Kim Little|other=co-captain|age={{birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1990|6|29|df=y}}|caps=9|goals=0|club=Arsenal|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=11|pos=MF|name={{fbwicon|Scotland}} Caroline Weir|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1995|6|20|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Manchester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=18|pos=MF|name={{fbwicon|England}} Jill Scott|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1987|2|2|df=y}}|caps=9|goals=1|club=Manchester City|clubnat=ENG}}

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! colspan="9" bgcolor="#B0D3FB" align="left" |

|----- bgcolor="#DFEDFD"

{{nat fs g player|no=9 |pos=FW|name={{fbwicon|England}} Ellen White|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1989|5|9|df=y}}|caps=8|goals=6|club=Manchester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=7 |pos=FW|name={{fbwicon|England}} Nikita Parris|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1994|3|10|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Arsenal|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=10|pos=FW|name={{fbwicon|England}} Fran Kirby|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1993|6|29|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Chelsea|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=15|pos=FW|name={{fbwicon|England}} Lauren Hemp|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|2000|8|7|df=y}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Manchester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=17|pos=FW|name={{fbwicon|England}} Georgia Stanway|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1999|1|3|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Manchester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=19|pos=FW|name={{fbwicon|England}} Niamh Charles|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1999|6|21|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Chelsea|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=20|pos=FW|name={{fbwicon|England}} Ella Toone|age={{Birth date and age2|2021|7|21|1999|9|2|df=y}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Manchester United|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g end}}

{{See also|Category:Great Britain women's Olympic football team managers}}

Statistics correct as of match played 30 July 2021

{{small|Bold names denote a player still playing or available for selection.}}

{{small|Bold names denote a player still playing or available for selection.}}

{{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} Gold medalists  
{{Color box|silver|border=darkgray}} Silver medalists  
{{Color box|#cc9966|border=darkgray}} Bronze medalists  

:*Red border colour denotes tournament was held on home soil.

• Great Britain men's Olympic football team
• England women's national football team
• Northern Ireland women's national football team
• Scotland women's national football team
• Wales women's national football team

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{{Commons category}}

{{Navboxes

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{{Great Britain women's football squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}

{{Great Britain women's football squad 2020 Summer Olympics}}

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{{National sports teams of the United Kingdom}}

{{Football in the United Kingdom}}

Olympic

Category:European Olympic national association football teams

Category:Controversies in the United Kingdom

Category:2012 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Great Britain men's Olympic football team