The U.S. women’s national soccer team is ranked No. 1 in the world, the defending World Cup champion and riding a 44-game unbeaten run heading into the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Of course, the USWNT is the overwhelming favorite to win Olympic gold in Tokyo.
But the Americans will have their work cut out for them in their opening Olympic match against a Sweden team that’s ranked No. 5 in the world. The Swedes bounced the USWNT in the quarterfinals of the last Olympics and halted a U.S. winning streak last April in a 1-1 draw. It is the only match the USA has failed to win since January 2019.
The U.S. women typically rise to big occasions, and this would be one of them even though it’s early in the tournament. Setting the tone for the rest of the competition, exacting revenge and sending a message to the rest of its rivals would be the ideal start to the tournament for the USA.
MORE: With an Olympic gold, this USWNT could go down as the G.O.A.T.
This should be an evenly matched, high-quality affair with some of the best players in the world going head-to-head. Whatever the result, both teams will have two more group-stage matches to follow. The top two finishers and the best third-place team from the groups will advance to the quarterfinals.
Stock Market Pioneer is tracking live updates, turning points and highlights from the Group G match at Tokyo Stadium. Follow the score and stay up to date on all the big moments as they happen.
USWNT vs. Sweden live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| USA | – | – | – |
| Sweden | – | – | – |
(All times Eastern)
4:01 a.m.: The numbers point to the USA winning, but Sweden has played the Americans tough in recent years:
#USWNT kicks off the Olympics vs Sweden, at 3:30 AM CT on USA and Telemundo!
🇺🇸 U.S. is 13-1-4 in Olympic group games, losing only to Norway in 2008.
🇸🇪 Sweden eliminated the U.S. on PKs at 2016 Olympics.
😴 More notes when I wake up…
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) July 21, 2021
3:48 a.m.: LA Times reporter Kevin Baxter is on the ground in Tokyo:
12:30 a.m.: Watch this video and you’ll have all the adrenaline you’ll need to get you through the two hours:
To The Best Fans in the World 🇺🇸⚽️,
Thousands of miles & many time zones away, we still feel your energy & your support means everything as we kick off our Olympic journey.
Now get ready, because
HERE 👏 WE 👏 COME! 👏 pic.twitter.com/nmcxIMUYuZ— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 21, 2021
12:23 a.m.: First early morning with Olympic soccer. Promise, it won’t be this bad:
USWNT vs. Sweden starting lineups
All eyes are on U.S. women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski and his first starting lineup in his first major competition. Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd begin the match on the bench alongside holding midfielder Julie Ertz, who is available after a long injury layoff.
Meanwhile, the Swedes are coming out in a mirror 4-3-3 formation instead of a five-defender set-up. Defender Magda Eriksson’s surprise absence from the matchday roster seems to be injury related, while Juventus forward Lina Hurtig starts on the bench.
MORE: U.S. women Olympic team roster
USA
USWNT starters (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Alyssa Naeher — 2-Crystal Dunn, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 17-Abby Dahlkemper, 5-Kelley O’Hara — 3-Samantha Mewis, 9-Lindsey Horan, 16-Rose Lavelle — 11-Christen Press, 13-Alex Morgan, 7-Tobin Heath
USWNT substitutes: 18-Adrianna Franch-GK, 12-Tierna Davidson, 14-Emily Sonnett, 8-Julie Ertz, 6-Kristie Mewis, 10-Carli Lloyd, 15-Megan Rapinoe. Sitting out: 22-Jane Campbell-GK, 20-Casey Krueger, 19-Catarina Macario, 21-Lynn Williams
Sweden
Sweden starters (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Hedvig Lindahl — 2-Jonna Andersson, 14-Nathalie Bjorn, 13-Amanda Ilestedt, 4-Hanna Glas — 17-Caroline Seger (capt.), 9-Kosovare Asllani, 16-Filippa Angeldal — 18-Fridolina Rolfo, 11-Stina Blackstenius, 10-Sofia Jakobsson
Sweden substitutes: 12-Jennifer Falk-GK, 3-Emma Kullberg, 5-Hanna Bennison, 15-Olivia Schough, 20-Julia Roddar, 7-Madelen Janogy, 8-Lina Hurtig. Sitting out: 22-Zecira Musovic-GK, 6-Magdalena Eriksson, 19-Anna Anvegard, 21-Rebecka Blomqvist
How to watch USA vs. Sweden Olympic soccer
- Date: Wednesday, July 21
- Time: 4:30 a.m. ET
- TV channel: USA Network
- Spanish-language TV: Telemundo
- TV replays: NBCSN (8:30 a.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET)
- Streaming: fuboTV, NBCOlympics.com, TelemundoDeportes.com, NBC Sports app and Telemundo Deportes app (with user authentication)
USA vs. Sweden will air live on USA Network and Telemundo at 4:30 a.m. ET. The match is scheduled to be replayed on NBCSN at 8:30 a.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET Wednesday. NBCSN can be streamed with fuboTV (free 7-day trial).
MORE: Complete Olympic women’s soccer schedule
All Olympic soccer matches will be streamed in the USA on NBCOlympics.com, TelemundoDeportes.com, the NBC Sports app and the Telemundo Deportes app — all with user authentication.