It promises to be another compelling matchup between two teams that don’t like each other: The U.S. women’s national team will look to make it to another gold medal match when it faces a Canada team that is hoping to overcome the semifinal hurdle for the first time after bronze medal finishes in 2008 and 2012.
Canada is eager to change the color of the medal, especially since this could be the final Olympics for 38-year-old legend Christine Sinclair, who has the most international goals of any player ever, man or woman. The only issue is that the Canadians have defeated the USA in 20 years.
The No. 8-ranked Canadians are known for being tough to break down defensively, and a USWNT that has experienced its struggles in this tournament (1-1-2 record) could have its work cut out for it.
WATCH: USA vs. Canada Olympic semifinal match on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)
These two teams have met twice before in Olympic knockout scenarios and they both were extra-time affairs with the USA emerging as winner each time. The most recent instance came in the London 2012 Olympic semifinals, where the USA’s Alex Morgan scored the latest goal in Olympics history to secure a wild 4-3 win for the Americans.
USWNT vs. Canada live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| USA | 0 | – | – |
| Canada | 0 | – | – |
Goals:
(All times Eastern)
4th min.: Ashley Lawrence rams into the back of Lindsey Horan and the American midfielder is shaken up. She eventually gets up, but nothing came of the set piece.
1st min.: We’re off. Canada kicks us off.
3:45 a.m.: Ashley Lawrence is arguably the most influential player on the Canada roster. Milestone moment for her:
3:40 a.m.: Hype video to get the adrenaline going in the wee hours:
3:24 a.m.: Ah yes, that 2012 semifinal that no fan who watched it will ever forget. It finished 4-3 final in extra time:
6 current USWNT players were in *that* Olympic semi-final against Canada in 2012:
– Sauerbrunn
– O’Hara
– Lloyd
– Heath
– Rapinoe
– Morgan4 Current CanWNT:
– Sinclair
– Scott
– Schmidt
– McLeodA lot has happened in 9 years, but none of those 10 players will forget that game.
— Vaxwell Smart (@Gen_Yenter) July 30, 2021
3:21 a.m.: Another early start, but this one promises to be worth it:
USWNT vs. Canada starting lineups
U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski gives Lynn Williams another start at winger after she registered a goal and assist against the Netherlands. But the most surprising move might be that regular center back Abby Dahlkemper, who had a handful of poor defensive moments in the group stage, isn’t even in the matchday squad.
For Canada, head coach Bev Priestman is sticking with the squad that got it done against Brazil in a quarterfinal penalty-kick shootout. Vanessa Gilles, who had a sensational match against the Brazilians, retains her center back spot ahead of Shelina Zadorsky, and Allysha Chapman returns at left back despite logging heavy minutes into extra time three days ago.
MORE: U.S. women Olympic team roster
USA
Starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Alyssa Naeher — 2-Crystal Dunn, 12-Tierna Davidson, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 5-Kelley O’Hara — 9-Lindsey Horan, 8-Julie Ertz, 16-Rose Lavelle — 21-Lynn Williams, 13-Alex Morgan, 7-Tobin Heath
Substitutes: 18-Adrianna Franch-GK, 14-Emily Sonnett, 20-Casey Krueger, 3-Samantha Mewis, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 11-Christen Press, 10-Carli Lloyd
Sitting out: 22-Jane Campbell-GK, 17-Abby Dahlkemper, 6-Kristie Mewis, 19-Catarina Macario
Canada
Starters (4-4-2, left to right): 1-Stephanie Labbe-GK — 2-Allysha Chapman, 14 Vanessa Gilles, 3-Kadeisha Buchanan, 10-Ashley Lawrence — 5-Quinn, 11-Desiree Scott, 12-Christine Sinclair, 17-Jessie Fleming — 16-Janine Beckie, 15-Nichelle Prince
Substitutes: 18-Kailen Sheridan-GK, 4-Shelina Zadorsky, 21-Gabrielle Carle, 7-Julia Grosso, 9-Adriana Leon, 6-Deanne Rose, 19-Jordyn Huitema
Sitting out: 22-Erin McLeod-GK, 8-Jayde Riviere, 20-Sophie Schmidt, 13-Evelyne Viens
How to watch USA vs. Canada Olympic semifinal
- Date: Monday, August 2
- Time: 4 a.m. ET
- TV channels: USA Network
- Spanish-language TV: Telemundo
- Streaming: fuboTV, NBCOlympics.com, TelemundoDeportes.com, NBC Sports app and Telemundo Deportes app (with user authentication)
- Canada streaming: CBC.ca
USA vs. Canada will air live on USA Network and Telemundo at 4 a.m. ET. Both networks are available to be streamed in the USA on fuboTV (free 7-day trial).
All Olympic soccer matches are also streamed in the U.S. on NBCOlympics.com, TelemundoDeportes.com, NBC Sports app and the Telemundo Deportes app — all with user authentication.
The match will be streamed in Canada on live broadcast on CBC.ca.