The U.S. women have made life at the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup extremely perilous as they face a talented Colombia side ranked 23rd in the world in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
A historic and embarrassing 2-0 defeat to border rivals Mexico in the final group stage match left the U.S. as a second-place qualifier, lowering their knockout stage seeding and forcing them to contest a very solid Colombia side that pushed eventual finalists England to the brink in the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals last summer.
The defeat to Mexico saw a toothless USWNT succumb to many of the same issues that plagued them in that same World Cup tournament, which also ended in the quarterfinals — their worst-ever performance at FIFA’s crowning event.
Now, they are under pressure to avoid an even more ignominious elimination on the continental that would leave the U.S. reeling just months before the Summer Olympics in Paris. It will be up to interim head coach Twila Kilgore to lead a turnaround and squash the stunted ball progression that doomed them against Mexico last week.
The Sporting News is following the USA vs Colombia match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
USA vs Colombia live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| USA | – | – |
| Colombia | – | – |
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. PT
Location: Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, California)
Referee: TBD
Starting lineups (predicted):
USA (4-3-3, right to left): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Girma, Nighswonger, Dunn — Horan, Sonnett, Lavelle — Rodman, Smith, Shaw.
Colombia (4-3-3, right to left): Giraldo (GK) — Arias, Carabali, Baron, Vanegas — Restrepo, Salazar, Zanger — Sepulveda, Usme, Caicedo.
USA vs Colombia live updates, highlights, commentary
1 hour 30 mins to kick: Earlier today, Canada topped Costa Rica 1-0 in their quarterfinal on an extra-time winner by Evelyne Viens, meaning the winner of this match between the U.S. and Colombia will take on Les Rouges. It’s a monumental potential task not only for the struggling USWNT, but also for Colombia who would have to go through CONCACAF’s two top-ranked nations just to reach the final.
A fantastic header gives Canada the lead in extra time! pic.twitter.com/OHkydnrI6t
— W Gold Cup (@GoldCup) March 3, 2024
1 hour 45 mins to kick: In some exceptional news for the USWNT’s long-term prospects, Cat Macario returned to action for Chelsea today after a frustrating and arduous comeback from a torn ACL that saw her miss over 600 days.
Macario not only got back onto the pitch, making her Chelsea debut, but scored a goal just seven minutes into her substitute appearance against Leicester City in the Women’s Super League. It’s a brilliant moment for Macario that clearly meant a lot to her and her teammates. If Macario gets into form, she not only becomes a game-changing option for the USWNT at the Summer Olympics, but could even look to set herself up for a starting role in a U.S. team desperate for in-form goal scoring options.
CAT MACARIO SCORES ON HER DEBUT FOR CHELSEA AND LOOK HOW MUCH IT MEANS 💙🥹 pic.twitter.com/07qkWS62Ml
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) March 3, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: In a risky move for a head coach after an embarrassing defeat, interim boss Twila Kilgore placed much of the blame for the embarrassing Mexico defeat at the feet of the players, backing her side’s game plan but singling out the “execution” while also praising their opponent’s approach.
In truth, there were a number of ways the coaching staff came up short, and the first sign of lessons learned will be a fully first-choice starting lineup for the USWNT today, foregoing any experimentation while drawing on experience and talent. It all starts with reinstating Naomi Girma into the heart of defense, as the calm demeanor of the reigning USWNT Player of the Year is required in both phases of play. Without her last week, they conceded a goal to a CONCACAF opponent in competitive action for the first time in 13 years.
USA vs Colombia lineups, team news
There’s nowhere for the USWNT to hide now as the W Gold Cup moves into single-elimination play, and against a high-quality opponent, anything less than a full-strength starting lineup from Twila Kilgore would be a disappointment. That should see defensive leader Naomi Girma step back in, as Kilgore was publicly critical of the back line after the defeat to Mexico.
Also coming back in should be midfielder Emily Sonnett, who has been the only strong performer at the No. 6 position since the retirement of Julie Ertz. Next to Girma is a question mark, but 2023 NWSL Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger has impressed and could get the nod, while Tierna Davidson could also be considered.
Up front, Alex Morgan was initially left off the roster after her disappointing Women’s World Cup last summer, and while she is now in the squad thanks to the devastating ACL tear to Mia Fishel, she once again has struggled against better opposition. That could see young Jaedyn Shaw earn a place, while Olivia Moultrie could also be considered after her solid performance in the group opener.
USA projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Girma, Nighswonger, Dunn — Horan, Sonnett, Lavelle — Rodman, Smith, Shaw.
USA subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
The presence of world-class 19-year-old Real Madrid star Linda Caicedo will strike fear into any opposing back line no matter their global stature. She scored in two of Colombia’s three group-stage games, with only Brazil managing to hold her silent. Caicedo looks to combine with veteran striker Catalina Usme, who, at 34, sports an incredible 72 international goals in 93 caps and is fresh off a late-career move to Mexican side Pachuca this offseason, her first time ever playing club ball abroad.
20-year-old goalkeeper Natalia Giraldo has seemingly taken over in net from veteran Sandra Sepulveda, having earned her first three international caps in the three group stage games, conceding just a single goal in the process.
There are two US-based players in the Colombian squad, with backup forward Elexa Bahr having recently joined NWSL side Racing Louisville this past offseason, and young defender Ilana Izquierdo gearing up to take part in her senior season with the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Colombia projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Giraldo (GK) — Arias, Carabali, Baron, Vanegas — Restrepo, Salazar, Zanger — Sepulveda, Usme, Caicedo.
Colombia subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
How to watch USA vs Colombia
- Date: Sunday, March 3, 2024
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- TV channel (English): None
- Streaming (English): Paramount+
- TV channel (Spanish): ESPN Deportes
- Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, ESPN+, WatchESPN
The English-language broadcast rights for the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup in the United States are owned exclusively by Paramount+, who are streaming every single match of the competition.
Additionally, the match will be televised in Spanish on ESPN Deportes, which is available to stream on both Fubo and ESPN+, as well as ESPN’s main streaming platform WatchESPN.
