The U.S. Women's National Team will look to bounce back from its shocking loss to Mexico on Sunday when it faces Colombia in the quarterfinals of the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup at BMO Stadium.
This will be the third meeting between the two teams since October 26, when they tied 0-0 at America First Field in Sandy, Utah. On October 29, the United States defeated Colombia 3-0 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
“The fact that we were lucky enough to go through those twice really helps us,” said U.S. forward Trinity Rodman. “This gives us a better scouting report, and we've put that into practice.”
The United States leads the series, which began with the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, with 10 wins, 0 losses, and 2 draws.
In a ranking compiled by FIFA, the world governing body for soccer, the United States ranks second behind Spain, the winner of the 2023 Women's World Cup. Colombia ranks 23rd.
Colombia, known as “Las Cafeteras'' (coffee producers), finished second in Group B with six points with two wins and one loss, making them the fifth seed.
The United States passed Group A in 2nd place, becoming the 4th seed with 6 points with 2 wins and 1 loss.
The United States earned the fourth seed in the second tiebreaker based on points scored, scoring nine goals in group stage games, one more than Colombia. Both teams had six points and a goal difference of plus seven.
Of the 23 players on the U.S. roster, all but three play in the National Women's Soccer League. The exceptions are midfielder Lindsey Horan, who plays for Lyon in the Féminines, Corbin Albert, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, and defender Emily Fox, who plays for Arsenal FC. England's Women's Super League.
Colombia's roster consists of 10 players who play for Colombian club teams, five from Brazil, three from Spain, and one each from England and Mexico. There are three players who are not attached.
The 5:15 p.m. game will be broadcast in English on Paramount+ and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.
The winner of the U.S. vs. Colombia game will play Canada in the semifinals Wednesday at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. Canada defeated Costa Rica 1-0 in overtime in the quarterfinals at BMO Stadium on Saturday.
The final will be played next Sunday, also at Snapdragon Stadium.
In a game played Monday at Dignity Health Sports Park, the U.S. would have been tied for the No. 3 seed and played in the quarterfinals against Paraguay, and a win for the No. 2 seed and played in the quarterfinals against Argentina. They lost to Mexico 2-0.
The loss was the second loss to Mexico in the 43-game series for the Americans, and both teams have tied once before, but lost 2-1 to Germany in regulation time on November 10, 2022. It was his first loss since then. This ended a 21-game undefeated streak. It was the first loss for the U.S. in California after 51 wins and 4 ties, and the first loss at Dignity Health Sports Park after 19 wins and 1 tie.
The United States has played at Carson Stadium, which opened in 2003, more times than any other venue.
“As a player, sometimes you have to figure out how to get momentum in little moments,” U.S. defender Becky Sauerbrunn said. “Sometimes that's our press, things like throw-ins and little moments where we try to get momentum back.
“I think this is a learning experience for that. When things are against us and we're not where we want to be, we're not playing the way we want to, how do we find those moments and really feel good?” The momentum is back. ”