Balanced microstrip folded dipole antennas and matching networks are disclosed. In some examples, an antenna system includes a folded dipole having first and second portions, a first transmission line located on a first side of a printed circuit board, a second transmission line located on a second side of the printed circuit board opposite the first transmission line, the first and second transmission lines being coupled to respective folded dipole portions, and a balanced microstrip matching network comprising first and second portions, the first and second matching network portions coupled to respective ones of the first and second transmission lines.