Just six months on from conquering world football and taking home the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Spain have set their sights on taking home a new piece of world football’s tournament jigsaw: the Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024, which kicks off on 25 July.

La Roja, who currently sit atop the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking for the first time ever, enter the final round of Olympic qualifying in scintillating form. Since the final victory over England in Sydney, the Iberians have beaten Sweden 3-2 and 5-3, Switzerland 5-0 and 7-1, and Italy 1-0, with a 3-2 loss to Italy the only bump in the road for Montse Tome’s charges.

Spain’s rise can traced by more than just results, however. Since the World Cup Round of 16, when Spain thrashed Switzerland 5-1 off the back of a brutal 4-0 group-stage defeat by Japan, the team has been functioning with well-tuned precision, complemented by flashes of individual brilliance.

Irene Paredes reigns supreme in defence, Olga Carmona – who netted the winner in the final of the World Cup – is one of the world’s top full-backs, Teresa Abelleira’s ball distribution is excellent, while Aitana Bonmati and Jenni Hermoso have proven unstoppable. In attack, the high-quality alternatives abound, including Salma Paralluelo, Mariona Caldentey, Athenea del Castillo and Lucia Garcia. Not to mention Alexia Putellas, voted The Best FIFA Women’s Player for 2021 and 2022, who is still to rediscover her most fluent form since returning from a serious knee injury.

“Before it used to be said that Spain were missing that touch of professionalism, but we’ve found that now,” said Bonmati, voted The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2023, in interview with FIFA. “For that reason I think that we’re now an example to follow at a global level, top-class players who have unique quality but at the same time know how to compete with any opponent. That [competitiveness] was what we were missing but we’ve got it now.”

Spain have never previously appeared at a Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. Prior to Paris 2024, the qualifying system for UEFA teams was determined by where they finished at the previous Women’s World Cup. So, at Tokyo 2020, the European teams participating were the Netherlands (France 2019 runners-up, beaten by the USA), Sweden (3rd) and Great Britain (4th).

“In the end, it was very difficult [to qualify] before because the route [to get there] was complicated,” said Jenni Hermoso, adidas Silver Ball winner at Australia & New Zealand 2023. “Fortunately we won the World Cup but we’ve still got the Nations League to get through.”

The UEFA Women’s Nations League final four has two tickets to the Olympics up for grabs, with five of the 12 available places already occupied by Brazil, Canada, Colombia, USA, and hosts France.

“When you talk about an Olympic Games it’s something unique that goes back many years, many centuries. As world champions, we want to challenge for all these competitions,” said Bonmati.

Spain are set to host the Netherlands on 23 February in the Women’s Nations League semi-final. Should they reach the final, they will automatically qualify for Paris 2024, but they could still have a chance if they lose, as the other semi is between Germany and France, with the latter already qualified as Olympic hosts. This means that if Les Bleues reach the final, Spain would have a second opportunity to qualify by beating Germany in the third-place play-off.

“I’d love to win the Olympics,” said goalkeeper Catalina Coll. “It’s something I’ve always watched on TV. I’d love to be there and hopefully it’ll happen.”

For 33-year-old Hermoso, her thirst for success remains unquenched. And the Olympic Games are one of the first and biggest goals on her list. “Who wouldn’t want to play at them?” said the Tigres UANL star. “It’s something we’ve been watching all our lives, it’s an ambition we’ve yet to achieve and for any Spanish player, being in Paris would be another dream to try and make reality.”