Here's When and Where You Can Watch the Matildas' Quest for Gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Being a fan of the world game means adjusting to world time zones, especially if you're keen to watch Australia's national women's soccer team take on the globe. When the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup took place Down Under, it was a rare tournament friendly to Aussie schedules. The 2024 Paris Olympics definitely don't fall into that category.

Set your alarms, Matildas obsessives: the Tillies have qualified to chase a gold medal, but their first three games are all at 3am Australian time. The squad plays Germany, Zambia and the United States in the group stage. Their schedule from there depends on the results, aka if they make it through to the next rounds.

First up is the Germany match on Friday, July 26 Aussie time. Then, come Monday, July 29, Zambia awaits. After that, on Thursday, August 1, the Matildas will take on the US. While they're competing at the Paris Olympics, none of these three games are actually in the City of Light. Instead, the first and third matches are in Marseille, while the second takes the Tillies to Nice.

If you're watching along at home, Channel 9, 9Now and Stan Sport are your viewing destinations. Given the hour, that's definitely your cosiest option. But if you're keen to head out to watch the matches with a crowd, you do have some options thanks to Olympics live sites around the nation — although most won't be screening the action quite that early, so you'll be catching replays.

In Sydney, the Tumbalong Park Sound Shell is your Olympics viewing spot, albeit only running from 12–11pm daily. In Melbourne, Federation Square is devoting its big screen to the games, normally running from 12–10pm daily but also showing the Tillies live — but you'll need to register for the latter.

In Brisbane, head to South Bank; however, the screens will only be on from 6.30am–midnight. Yagan Square Amphitheatre in Perth will be celebrating green and gold from 7am–midnight. Some Westfield shopping centres are also getting into the action in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.

As the entire country has known for months, Sam Kerr is injured — and, unlike at the Women's World Cup, isn't in the team as a result. But the squad is filled with high-profile names, including Steph Catley donning the captain's armband, plus Ellie Carpenter and Emily van Egmond as vice captains.

Also in France representing the nation: Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Michelle Heyman, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine, Claire Wheeler and Tameka Yallop among the forwards and midfielders; Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Kaitlyn Torpey among the defenders; and Mackenzie Arnold and Teagan Micah as goalkeepers. Sharn Freier, Lydia Williams, Charlotte Grant and Courtney Nevin are the travelling alternates — and Williams is retiring from international football following the Olympics.

The Matildas Group-Stage Matches at the Paris 2024 Olympics:

Friday, July 26 — v Germany at 3.00am AEST
Monday, July 29 — v Zambia at 3.00am AEST
Thursday, August 1 — v United States at 3.00am AEST

The Matildas' Paris 2024 Olympics matches place from Friday, July 26 Australian time — and you can watch via Channel 9, 9Now and Stan Sport.

Images: Tiffany Williams, Football Australia.