The United States and Canada clash for the 66th all-time meeting as they contest the first-ever SheBelieves Cup final from Columbus, OH on Tuesday.
With the nine-year-old competition, usually boasting a four-team round robin, now reorganized to feature a bracket for the first time, it's fitting that these two top-ranked North American participants reach the title game.
The two sides played to a thrilling rain-soaked draw in San Diego last month, and will meet again with the 2024 Summer Olympics looming. The U.S. topped Japan 2-1 in comeback fashion on Thursday to reach this stage, while Canada nudged past Brazil on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
While this match is technically considered a friendly for FIFA ranking purposes, it will be anything but as two rivals meet with a trophy on the line, knowing they must be at their best with the Olympics in Paris just around the corner.
MORE: Recap the USWNT's win over Japan in the SheBelieves Cup semifinal on Thursday
The SheBelieves Cup final will be televised in English on TBS in the United States, as part of U.S. Soccer's 10-year rights deal with Turner Sports. TBS is available to stream on Sling as well as Turner's dedicated streaming platform Max.
There is also a Spanish-language broadcast available on Universo, which can be streamed on Fubo as well as NBC's platform Peacock. New subscribers to Fubo can sign up to a FREE trial.
In Canada, the official broadcast partner of the Canadian national team is OneSoccer, who will televise the SheBelieves Cup final. That channel can be found streaming on Fubo Canada.
The 2024 SheBelieves Cup final kicks off from Lower.com Field on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 7 p.m. local time in Columbus, OH.
Here's how that time translates across all of the time zones in North America:
How many minutes Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario can play in this match is unclear, and there is reason to believe neither will be deployed from the start, even though Swanson was electric in the semifinal against Japan.
Having just completed 80 minutes in that game three days ago, Twila Kilgore could decide that Swanson will play a substitute role against Canada, while Macario has been brought along very slowly by both club and country. Sophia Smith could have earned a start here in her place with electric play off the bench in the semifinal.
Sam Coffey has cleared concussion protocol and will be available, Kilgore said in her pre-match press conference, but Naomi Girma picked up a thigh injury in the semifinal and is "day-to-day" which seems to indicate she won't be involved, especially for a match that's technically considered a friendly.
USA projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Dahlkemper, Davidson, Nighswonger — Horan, Coffey — Rodman, Shaw, Smith — Morgan.
Canada head coach Bev Priestman deployed a whopping five forwards against Brazil in the semifinal, but it's hard to see that same tactic being used against a very dangerous U.S. side here in the final. Briestman will likely have to decide between Jordyn Huitema and Deanne Rose up top, while adding a midfielder in Julia Grosso or Simi Awujo to replace whoever drops out.
They are missing veteran midfielder Quinn who dropped out of the squad after sustaining a concussion on club duty with the Seattle Reign, as did midfielder Olivia Smith who has a slight injury to her knee and was unable to participate. Longtime veterans Sophie Schmidt and Christine Sinclair retired after last summer's World Cup and are no longer available for selection.
Canada projected starting lineup (3-4-3): Sheridan (GK) — Gilles, Rose, Buchanan — Lawrence, Fleming, Grosso, Beckie — Leon, Huitema, Lacasse.
Canada struggled in their semifinal against Brazil, forced to defend for large stretches of the game despite deploying a very attacking lineup.
It's likely that the U.S. will dominate possession in a similar fashion, as they did in the win over Japan, and if they create a similar amount of chances, they should find moments to finish off the match. Canada are far more efficient in front of goal, as the U.S. saw in the meeting a month ago, and will take opportunities afforded to them, but it will be slim pickings for them in the attack.
The return of Mallory Swanson has been an especially big boost, and her involvement will turn the tide in the favor of the hosts, especially considering she scored a brace the last time she took the field against Canada.
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