USWNT vs. Colombia: Match Preview & How to Watch and Stream | 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup

With the matchups now set, play kicks off on March 2 at BMO Stadium, house of Angel Metropolis FC in NWSL and LAFC of MLS, with Canada taking over Costa Rica (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT) and Brazil squaring off towards South American rivals Argentina (10:15 p.m. ET / 8:15 p.m. PT). The quarterfinals resume on Sunday, March 3, with Mexico going through Paraguay (5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT) earlier than the USA takes on Colombia (8:15 p.m. ET).

The winners of the single-elimination quarterfinal matches will advance to the semifinals at Snapdragon Stadium on March 6 and the winners of these video games will play for the title on March 10, additionally at Snapdragon Stadium, house to San Diego Wave FC of the NWSL.

NAEHER NEARS 100 CAPS

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher recorded her 60^th profession clear sheet within the USA’s Feb. 20 win over the Dominican Republic and earned her 99^th cap within the Feb. 26 match towards Mexico. She is now only one caps away from turning into the third goalkeeper and 42^nd participant general in U.S. Ladies’s Nationwide Staff historical past to succeed in the 100 cap milestone. Naeher is, and has been for some time, the goalkeeper with the third-most caps (99), wins (80) and shutouts (60) in U.S. historical past, trailing solely Corridor-of-Famers Briana Scurry and Hope Solo. When Naeher hits 100 caps, the U.S. will change into the primary nation in historical past to have three feminine goalkeepers with 100+ caps.

A two-time FIFA Ladies’s World Cup champion, Naeher debuted for the USWNT in December of 2014 and have become a constant starter following the 2016 Olympics. She matched her calendar-year excessive with 9 shutouts for the USWNT in 2023, three of which got here on the World Cup because the U.S. allowed only one purpose your entire match. She was a finalist for The Finest FIFA Ladies’s Goalkeeper 2023 and has recorded a clear sheet in 5 of her final six appearances for the U.S.

FAMILIAR FOES

The U.S. and Colombia performed fairly just lately, squaring off in late October of 2023 in friendlies in Utah and San Diego. The groups opened the two-game slate with a scoreless draw on Oct. 26 at America First Area in Sandy after which traveled to San Diego, going through off at Snapdragon Stadium – which hosted all of Group B this match and would be the host website for the Concacaf W Gold Cup Semifinals and Closing – this time leading to a 3-0 win for the USA.

After a scoreless first-half, the U.S. discovered the again of the online thrice within the second, with targets from Mia Fishel, Lindsey Horan and Jaedyn Shaw. Horan scored on a world-class volley within the 62^nd minute off a cross from Emily Fox whereas Fishel – a San Diego native – and Shaw – who performs for San Diego Wave FC – each netted the primary targets of their worldwide careers.

INSIDE THE SERIES: USA vs. COLOMBIA

Sunday’s quarterfinal would be the 13^th assembly all-time between the USA and Colombia and the fifth in a aggressive match. The U.S. holds a 10W-2D-0L benefit general within the sequence, the final six conferences of which have all been friendlies.

4 of the earlier 12 conferences between the nations have come at world championship occasions – taking part in twice on the World Cup and twice on the Olympics. The edges met for the primary time on the 2011 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup, a 3-0 win for the People within the second match of Group C play. The groups squared off one yr later on the 2012 Summer season Olympics, once more assembly within the group stage and once more leading to a 3-0 win for the USA. In 2015, they squared off in World Cup Spherical of 16 in Edmonton, Canada. The USA received 2-0 behind second-half targets from Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd. The latest assembly between the groups in a aggressive match got here through the group stage of the 2016 Summer season Olympics, a 2-2 tie towards Las Cafeteras on Aug. 9, 2016. Crystal Dunn and Mallory Swanson scored for the U.S. in that match.

The USWNT enters Sunday’s quarterfinal unbeaten in its final 26 matches towards CONMEBOL competitors and has received 17 of its final 18 video games towards South American opponents, with wins over Brazil (5), Colombia (5), Chile (3), Paraguay (2) and Argentina (2) throughout that span.

PATHWAY TO PARIS

With lower than 5 months till the beginning of the 2024 Summer season Olympics in Paris, the USWNT is deep in preparation for its pursuit of a fifth Olympic gold medal. The Olympic Soccer Event options 12 groups and can be contested in seven completely different venues throughout France from July 25 to August 10: Parc des Princes in Paris, Stade de Lyon, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne, Stade de Marseille, Stade de Good, Stade de Bordeaux and Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.

All however two of the groups within the Olympic discipline have now been decided, with solely the representatives from Africa but to be decided. The 2024 CAF Olympic Qualifying Event will conclude in early April to provide two qualifiers from Africa as Morocco takes on Zambia and South Africa faces Nigeria.

The remaining ten groups are hosts France, South American qualifiers Brazil and Colombia, New Zealand from Oceania, Spain and Germany, which defeated the Netherlands within the UEFA Ladies’s Nations League Third-Place match, from UEFA and from Concacaf, the USA and Canada, which secured Concacaf’s second berth to the Olympics berth by beating Jamaica in a two-game playoff through the September worldwide window.

The USA certified for Paris by advantage of profitable the 2022 Concacaf W Championship in Monterrey, Mexico, which served because the area’s qualification for the Olympics in addition to the 2023 World Cup.

The Closing Draw to set the match schedule and teams can be held on March 20 at 2 p.m. ET and can be streamed on FIFA.com.

SHEBELIEVES CUP ON THE HORIZON

Following the completion of the Concacaf W Gold Cup, the U.S. will flip its consideration to the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, offered by Visa. The USA will host Brazil, Canada and Japan within the ninth version of the four-team match, which is comprised of one-third of the sector for the Paris Olympics. All 4 contributors are ranked within the prime 11 on this planet, have certified for the Olympics and competed in final yr’s match, the place the U.S. took first, adopted by Japan in second, Brazil in third and Canada in fourth. Within the Semifinals on April 6 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the USA (#2) will face Japan (#8) at 12:30 p.m. ET (TNT, Telemundo, Max & Peacock) and Brazil (#11) will tackle Canada (#10) at 3:30 p.m. ET (Universo, Max & Peacock).

The 4 nations will then journey to Columbus, Ohio with Decrease.com Area internet hosting the ultimate two video games of the match at 4 p.m. ET and seven p.m. ET on April 9 because the Semifinal winners play within the Championship and the losers play within the Third-Place Match. The USA will play within the 7 p.m. ET time slot (TBS, Universo, Max & Peacock) whether or not it’s taking part in in Championship or Third-Place Match, and the opposite recreation can be at 4 p.m. ET (TBS, Universo, Max & Peacock).

Tickets can be found for buy now at ussoccer.com/tickets.

HAYES TO THE HELM IN MAY

After a worldwide search course of led U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker, Emma Hayes was formally introduced as the ten^th head coach in U.S. Ladies’s Nationwide Staff historical past on November 14, 2023. The long-time head coach for English powerhouse Chelsea FC, Hayes began her teaching profession in the USA within the early 2000s and greater than twenty years later will take the helm of the USWNT. As a result of her contact with Chelsea, Hayes will end the 2023-24 Ladies’s Tremendous League season in England after which be a part of the U.S. workforce formally two months previous to the beginning of the Olympics. U.S. Soccer has put a complete plan and course of in place to maximise the productiveness in all facets of transferring the USWNT ahead main into the Olympics, a key a part of which is interim head coach Twila Kilgore persevering with in her position after which becoming a member of Hayes’ employees full-time as an assistant coach in late Could.

USA TEAM & ROSTER NOTES

• The USWNT has performed extra matches in California (56) than every other state within the nation and has received 51 of its 56 matches all-time within the Golden State.
• The has performed as soon as beforehand at BMO Stadium, a 6-0 win over Belgium on April 7, 2019.
• Becky Sauerbrunn (219), Alex Morgan (218), Crystal Dunn (142 caps) and Lindsey Horan (141 caps) are the one gamers on this roster with 100+ worldwide appearances. Alyssa Naeher will be a part of the 100-cap membership along with her subsequent look for the USA.
• 5 gamers on this roster have fewer than 10 caps, 4 of whom debuted in 2023: 23-year-old Jenna Nighswonger (4 caps), 20-year-old midfielder Korbin Albert (3 caps), 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw (6 caps) and 18-year-old Olivia Moultrie (3 caps).
• Seven gamers on this roster – Naomi Girma, Sophia Smith, Nighswonger, Trinity Rodman, Albert, Shaw and Moultrie – have been born after the historic 1999 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup, which is able to rejoice its 25^th anniversary this summer season. Smith grew to become the primary participant born after the ’99 World Cup to earn a USWNT cap when she debuted for the U.S. on November 27, 2020, towards the Netherlands.
• Morgan is the highest scorer on this roster with 123 profession worldwide targets, adopted by Horan with 32 targets, Lavelle and Dunn with 24 every, Williams with 18 and Smith with 15. 
• Six completely different gamers have scored up to now for the USWNT in 2024 – led by two targets every from Morgan, Moultrie and Shaw and one every from Horan, Nighswonger and Williams.
• Midge Purce leads the U.S. with two assists in 2024 whereas Smith, Horan, Rose Lavelle and Casey Krueger all have one help.
• Twelve gamers referred to as up for this camp have been on the USA’s roster on the 2023 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup and 9 – Dahlkemper, Davidson, Dunn, Horan, Lavelle, Morgan, Naeher, Sauerbrunn and Sonnett – have been on the roster for the 2019 Ladies’s World Cup Champions.
• Eight of the 14 NWSL golf equipment are represented on this roster, led by seven gamers from NJ/NY Gotham FC. Portland Thorns FC and San Diego Wave FC have 4 gamers every.
• Three gamers on this roster play for golf equipment in Europe – two in France (Lindsey Horan at Olympique Lyon and Korbin Albert at Paris Saint-Germain) and one in England (Emily Fox at Arsenal FC).

IN FOCUS: COLOMBIA | FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

FIFA World Rating: 23
Concacaf Rating: 2
Olympic Appearances: 2 (2012, 2016)
Finest Olympic End result: Group Stage (2012, 2016)
File vs. USA: 0W-2D-10L (GF:2, GA: 38)
Final Assembly vs. USA: Oct. 29, 2023 (3-0 win for USA in San Diego, Calif.)
Head Coach: Angelo Marsiglia (COL)

COLOMBIA WOMEN’S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB)

GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Natalia Giraldo (America De Cali), 12-Sandra Sepulveda (Llaneros FC), 22-Stefany Castaño (Clube Atlético Mineiro, BRA)  

DEFENDERS (5): 2-Manuela Vanegas (Actual Sociedad, ESP), 3-Daniela Arias (SC Corinthians, BRA), 14-Angela Baron (Atlético Nacional), 17-Carolina Arias (Unattached), 19-Jorelyn Carabali (Brighton & Hove Albion, ENG)

MIDFIELDERS (11): 4-Angie Yanten (America De Cali), 5-Lorena Bedoya (Actual Brasilia, BRA), 6-Daniela Montoya (Atlético Nacional), 7-Maria Camila Reyes (Unattached), 8-Marcela Restrepo (Atlético Nacional), 9-Ivonne Chacon (Valencia Feminas CF, ESP), 10-Diana Celis (Millonarios FC), 13-Iilana Izquierdo (Deportivo Cali),  16-Woman Andrade (Actual Brasil CF, BRA), 20-Monica Ramos (Grêmio FBPA, BRA), 21-Liana Salazar (Millonarios FC)

FORWARDS (4): 11-Catalina Usme (Pachuca, MEX), 15-Manuela Pavi (Deportivo Cali), 18-Linda Caicedo (Actual Madrid CF, ESP), 23-Elexa Bahr (Unattached)

COLOMBIA TEAM NOTES

• After ending second in Group B, Colombia enters the Quarterfinal because the fifth-overall seed. Colombia opened the match with a decisive 6-0 victory over Panama. Powered by a first-half brace from ahead Manuela Pavi, Las Cafeteras jumped out to a three-goal lead on the half and added three extra within the second stanza, highlighted by a powerful show of ability and a rating from teenage standout Linda Caicedo.
• Going through South American foes Brazil within the second group stage match, Colombia conceded an early purpose – its solely allowed through the group stage – and fell 1-0 to maneuver into second place in Group B.
• Colombia rebounded on the ultimate match day of play, topping Puerto Rico 2-0 to safe a spot within the knockout rounds. Caicedo and workforce captain Catalina Usme each scored within the victory as Colombia held an 8-1 benefit in photographs on the right track. 
• Fifteen of the 23 gamers on the USA’s W Gold Cup roster participated within the October 2023 friendlies towards Colombia and seventeen of the 23 gamers on Colombia’s roster for the Concacaf W Gold Cup have been on the October 2023 roster for the friendlies towards the USA, together with Caicedo, who at simply 19-years outdated was considered one of three finalists for The Finest FIFA Ladies’s Participant Award 2023 and completed second within the voting to Spain’s Aitana Bonmati.
• Just like the USA, Colombia certified for the 2024 Olympics again in July of 2022 and for Las Cafeteras, it got here on the Copa America Feminina, which Colombia hosted.
• At that match, which resulted in three groups qualifying on to the 2023 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup, three extra to the three extra to the 2023 Pan American Video games match in Santiago, which is happening now, and the highest two finishers to the 2024 Olympics, Colombia received Group A by sweeping all 4 matches.
• In an enormous win, Colombia defeated Argentina, 1-0, within the semifinal, and though it fell 1-0 to perennial South American energy Brazil within the championship recreation, the Olympic berth was secured. Greater than 15,000 followers attended Colombia’s semifinal and 28,000 attending the title recreation.
• On the Copa America, Colombia unfold the targets round as Daniela Arias, Caicedo, Daniella Montoya, Mayra Ramirez and Manuela Vanegas all scored twice within the match.
• Caicedo, who was simply 17 on the time, and who scored a marvel purpose within the 2023 Ladies’s World Cup towards Germany, received the Golden Ball because the match’s prime participant.
• On the 2023 World Cup, Colombia made historical past and delighted followers all over the world as they received a gaggle that included Germany, Morocco and South Korea. Not solely did Colombia win the group by advantage of a 2-1 win over Germany and a 2-0 win over South Korea (and regardless of a 1-0 loss to Morocco), Colombia additionally received a knockout recreation, downing Jamaica, 1-0, and gave eventual finalist England all it might deal with earlier than falling 2-1 within the quarterfinal.
• Colombia put in a nice efficiency on the 2015 FIFA World Cup, drawing 1-1 with Mexico, defeating world energy France 2-0, after which falling to eventual Third-Place finisher England by a 2-1 rating to finish group play. The 4 factors have been sufficient to earn Colombia a Spherical of 16 match with the USA and Las Cafeteras put up fairly a battle towards the eventual world champions earlier than bowing out, 2-0.
• Colombia made its debut on the Ladies’s Olympic Soccer Event at London 2012 when it was drawn in a fiercely robust Group G towards holders and eventual champions USA, France (who completed fourth) and Korea DPR. And although conceding simply six instances in three video games, regardless of being up towards a number of the sport’s most prolific attackers, Colombia didn’t rating, shedding to North Korea (2-0), the USA (3-0) and France (1-0).
• Colombia additionally performed in each the 2022 Below-17 Ladies’s World Cup in India and the 2022 Below-20 Ladies’s World Cup in Costa Rica, so a younger technology of gamers is getting high quality worldwide expertise.
• Caicedo represented Colombia on the 2022 FIFA Below-17 Ladies’s World Cup in India, serving to Colombia attain the ultimate the place it fell to Spain 1-0 on a late personal purpose. Regardless of the heartbreaking end, it marked Colombia’s best-ever end at a Youth Ladies’s World Cup and served as a popping out occasion for Caicedo, who received the Silver Ball because the second-best participant general within the match in addition to the Bronze Boot, ending the match with 4 targets. She was additionally part of Colombia’s roster for the U-20 World Cup earlier that summer season in Costa Rica, the place Colombia received its group earlier than falling to South American rivals Brazil 1-0 within the quarterfinals.