Concacaf W Gold Cup Preview: Canada, U.S. battle for place in final

The inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup has delivered a mouth-watering semifinal showdown as Canada and the U.S. battle for a spot in the final.

The fact these two rivals will meet outside the final came after the Americans were beaten (perhaps shockingly) by Mexico in their final group stage game, 2-0, leaving the USWNT second in Group A. Meanwhile, Canada has gone largely untested in this competition, so this match promises to be a much more tense affair. 

Here's everything you need to know about the North American matchup, including players to watch and head-to-head history.

Quick hits

The details:

⏺  The game kicks off at 10:15 p.m. ET / 7:15 p.m. PT at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Wednesday.

⏺ The winner will advance to the first-ever Concacaf W Gold Cup final on Sunday at 8:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. PT.

Road to the semis: Canada

⏺ Group stage: 6-0 win over El Salvador

⏺ Group stage: 4-0 win over Paraguay

⏺ Group stage: 3-0 win over Costa Rica

⏺ Quarterfinals: 1-0 win over Costa Rica

⏺ Top goal-scorer: Adriana Leon, 5

Road to the semis: U.S.

⏺ Group stage: 5-0 win over Dominican Republic

⏺ Group stage: 4-0 win over Argentina

⏺ Group stage: 2-0 loss to Mexico

⏺ Quarterfinals: 3-0 win over Colombia

⏺ Top goal-scorer: Jaedyn Shaw, 3

Head-to-head: Canada vs. U.S.A.

This will be the 65th all-time meeting between the Canadian and American national teams, with a head-to-head series that dates back to when the USWNT was in only its second year of existence. 

The U.S. leads the series with 53 wins and seven draws, while Canada has four wins. The Stars and Stripes have won six of the last seven meetings between the teams, winning the most recent matchup 2-0 in the 2023 SheBelieves Cup.

The U.S. is also Canada’s most common opponent in the knockout rounds of a competitive tournament, and Wednesday night’s match will be the 14th time the teams have met in this stage of a competition.

Familiar faces

Although Canada and the U.S. are international rivals on the pitch, a handful of players are current or former club teammates.

In the NWSL, Canada’s Kailen Sheridan, San Diego Wave’s No. 1, plays alongside the U.S.’s Alex Morgan, Shaw, Naomi Girma and Abby Dahlkemper. Quebec native Gabby Carle played for Florida State with Jenna Nighswonger and is Washington Spirit teammates with Trinity Rodman and Casey Krueger. Canada captain Jessie Fleming recently transferred from Chelsea to the Portland Thorns, linking up with Olivia Moultrie, Sophia Smith, Becky Sauerbrunn and Sam Coffey. Finally, Bianca St-Georges moved to the North Carolina Courage in the off-season, joining up with U.S. No. 2 Casey Murphy.

Across the pond, Cloé Lacasse and Sabrina D’Angelo join forces with Emily Fox at Arsenal in the WSL, and mainstay Vanessa Gilles plays with veteran Lindsay Horan at Lyon in Division 1 Féminin.

Canada has a scare, U.S. makes a statement

For the majority of the quarterfinals, Canada trounced Las Ticas but had major finishing issues. Canada enjoyed 65 per cent possession, 10-1 shots on target, 39-5 total shots and a 13-1 edge in corner kicks. Les Rouges were relentless, completing over 600 passes amidst the Central American attempt to ‘park the bus.’ So, despite Canada’s dominance, why did it go to extra time? Canada’s lack of finishing is surely the answer as despite its shots on target, Roma’s Evelyne Viens scored the only goal of the night, nodding home a chip from Fleming in the 104th minute.

Quarterfinals aside, Canada’s attackers have been strong this tournament. Jordyn Huitema has used her height in the box, Leon has found the net with purpose and Lacasse has used her technique and vision to set up goals or score them herself. That said, Canada had a converting breakdown last time out, as its slew of attacking threats failed to finish quality chances. If it wasn’t for Sheridan’s dramatic one-foot save in the 93rd minute, Canada could have been sent packing.

The lesson is this: Canada must use its quarterfinal scare as fire to bag an early goal against the Americans. If Canada cannot beat U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher, it may not be so lucky as it was against Costa Rica.

On the other hand, the Americans earned a convincing 3-0 win over Colombia in their first knockout match thanks to a Horan penalty kick, a powerful Nighswonger strike and youngster Shaw bagging her team-leading third goal of the competition.

Just a few days before, the U.S. suffered a shocking loss to Mexico in the group stage, which possibly acted as fuel for its dominance in the quarters. Still, the Stars and Stripes were at their best on Sunday, battling through a bruising and physical Colombia, which boasts one of the world’s best young talents in Linda Caicedo. Amidst Colombia’s aggression and press, Kilgore’s squad found a way to get it done, proving its return to winning ways after a heartbreaking Women’s World Cup last summer.

Heading into the game, the U.S. is confident while Canada could be a little nervous. If Canada wants to beat its rivals, it needs to enter the semifinals with more energy and belief than the Americans have.

Possible lineups

Canada: 3-4-3

Kailen Sheridan; Kadeisha Buchanan, Vanessa Gilles, Jade Rose; Gabby Carle, Quinn, Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence; Jordyn Huitema, Cloé Lacasse, Adriana Leon.

Manager: Bev Priestman

U.S.: 4-5-1

Alyssa Naeher; Jenna Nighswonger, Tierna Davidson, Naomi Girma, Emily Fox; Sam Coffey, Jaedyn Shaw, Lindsey Horan, Trinity Rodman, Korbin Albert; Alex Morgan.

Manager: Twila Kilgore (interim)

Player to watch for Canada: Kailen Sheridan

This tournament, goalkeeper Sheridan has pretty much been picking grass. However, that will surely change on Wednesday as the Americans will test Les Rouges. Last time out, against Costa Rica, the 28-year-old made a show-stopping save with her toe to deny Alexa Herrera from close range. The Pickering, Ont., native will need to be ready to use her reflexes and quick thinking once again on Wednesday evening, as the aggressive Americans won’t be short on shots. The 2022 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year is a pro at reading the opposition’s attack.

Player to watch for the U.S.: Jaedyn Shaw
In Sunday’s quarterfinal against Colombia, Jaedyn Shaw etched her name in the history books. At just 19 years old, the San Diego Wave forward made history by scoring her fifth goal in eight USWNT appearances, and became the youngest player to score for the U.S. in the knockouts of a competitive tournament. Shaw also joined Shannon Boxx as the only players in U.S. history to score in each of their first three international starts. On Wednesday, expect the Texan to use her speed, dynamism and creativity in the box to amplify the Stars and Stripes’ attacking prowess in their hunt for another trophy.