Everyone loves a good rivalry game. 

And in women’s soccer, almost none can match up to the storied competitions between the United States and Canada. 

In a celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re breaking down three of the most iconic games in the history of the rivalry, alongside the most recent matchup on March 4.

2026 SheBelieves Cup

USA 1 - CAN 0

The USWNT took down Canada on March 4 in the SheBelieves Cup in a foul-plagued game. Canada ended the game with 14 fouls and the U.S. with seven, showing the level of emotion and passion brought into these rivalry games. 

Looking just at the stats, the scoreline would be a surprise. The American side held possession for 64.4% and had 18 shot attempts to Canada’s six. But the squad couldn’t convert their opportunities, seeing shot after shot fly over or to the side of the goal. 

It wasn’t until the 55th minute that the U.S. was able to find the back of the net.

VIS mentor Ally Sentnor scored her seventh career goal off a corner kick from Rose Lavelle, taking a touch to control before rocketing it into the lower right corner with her left foot. This came after she missed an attempt in the first half of play. 

“I think it's really important to kind of have that goldfish mindset, like we said, shake off those finishes and then be able to put one in the back of the net in the second half,” Sentnor said. “So [I’m] proud of myself for that. I think it's always, as a forward, trying to be as clinical as possible, [and] have the best conversion rate possible.”

That marked Sentnor’s third goal of the calendar year—the most on the team so far—after her brace in the USWNT’s victory over Paraguay on Jan. 24. She was also awarded Woman of the Match for her efforts in both games. 

After this go-ahead goal, the U.S. continued attacking but couldn’t finish again, so the squad walked out with the 1-0 victory. This moved the team to the top of the SheBelieves bracket, which will wrap up on March 7. The USWNT just needs a tie against Columbia to secure the SheBelieves title.

“I think it's really important to kind of have that goldfish mindset, like we said, shake off those finishes and then be able to put one in the back of the net in the second half.”

VIS Mentor Ally Sentnor

2024 Gold Cup Semifinals

USA 2 (3) - CAN 2 (1)

Although not an Olympic or World Cup matchup, this one proved memorable for the condition of the pitch. 

Within seconds of kickoff, it was clear the field was not at the state it should be. A full day of rain meant the pitch was waterlogged and muddy, forcing both sides to play in the air as anything on the ground would stop almost immediately.

These conditions led to the first American goal. Canada attempted to find goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, but the ball stopped a couple yards inside the box and Jaedyn Shaw was able to chip it over Sheridan and net one for the U.S.

The U.S. held the lead until the 82nd minute, when a header from Jordyn Huitema found the back of the net. The score stayed even, forcing the game into extra time.

Eight minutes into the extended period, Rose Lavelle flicked a header to Sophia Wilson (nee Smith), who was able to put the American side up once more. Keeper Alyssa Naeher received a yellow card in the extended minutes of the extra time, allowing Adriana Leon to convert the penalty kick in the final play of the game.

With the score all tied up at 2-2, penalty kicks were going to be the determining factor. And Naeher came in clutch. She stopped three of the Canadian attempts and netted her own attempt with confidence, helping the U.S. walk off the soaked field with a victory.

2021 Olympic Semifinals

USA 0 - CAN 1

This match was monumental for the Canadian squad, marking its first win over the USWNT in 20 years and is the only win in the past 42 matches. For the U.S., it forced the team to its second-worst ending in its Olympic history—a bronze medal victory.

The match started scrappy—as all matchups between the rivals do—with players from both sides getting taken out. With this said, the U.S. took the worst of it. 

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher had to be subbed off in the 30th minute after she hyperextended her knee punching out a Canadian corner kick. Two minutes later, American Kelley O’Hara was issued the game’s only yellow card.

The U.S. squad controlled the flow of the game, boasting 55.7% of the possession and taking 12 corner kicks to Canada’s five. Despite the U.S. shooting on goal eight times, they weren’t able to convert any and the game stayed even.

Then disaster struck.

Teirena Davidson fouled Canadian Deanne Rose just inside the box, leading to a penalty kick that Jessie Fleming nailed into the back of the net. Goalkeeper A.D. Franch dove the correct way, but the placement in the lower right corner couldn’t be saved.

This goal in the 75th minute was the game winner, with the U.S. not able to equalize despite taking 17 shots in comparison to just five from the opposing squad. Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe put on a masterclass of a game, racking up six saves to shut out the Americans.

The Canadians were able to hold onto the lead for the final fifteen minutes, and the final whistle placed them in the Finals, where they won their first and only major tournament. 

2012 Olympic Semifinals

USA 4 - CAN 3

Perhaps one of the most memorable games in all of women's soccer history took place in the 2012 Olympic Semifinals.

Canada and the U.S. were going back and forth, goal for goal, before a 123rd minute header—the latest in Olympics soccer history—finished the game for the USWNT.

But the U.S. only led at the tail end. 

Canada’s Christine Sinclair, who boasts the record for most international goals in history,  scored the lone goal in the first half before America’s Megan Rapinoe curved in a corner to equalize. Sinclair countered with another goal before Rapinoe matched it once more. 

Sinclair finished her hat trick with her second header of the game, helping Canada capture its third lead of the game, before a controversial call on Canada’s goalkeeper for delaying the game was called.

The American squad was awarded an indirect freekick inside the box. Rapinoe stepped up and took it, but it deflected off a Canadian arm, leading to a penalty kick, which Abby Wambach converted to tie up the game once more with ten minutes left. 

The first extra time proved uneventful, with neither team able to find the back of the net. This momentum carried through the second and it looked like the match was to be decided by penalty kicks.

Then came Alex Morgan.

Wambach got the ball outside the box, finding Heather O’Reilly who crossed it into the box. Morgan connected on the header at the top of the six-yard box and got it right over the Canadian keeper.

The goal was scored in the 123rd minute, which is still the latest goal in Olympic soccer history, and the USWNT went on to win the 2012 Olympic gold medal in a game much less notable than this matchup against the Canadian squad.

Roundup

The history of this storied rivalry dates back to 1986, just two years into the creation of the USWNT. The two sides boast some of the most iconic names in women’s sports history, with Canadian Christine Sinclair ranking first in international goals scored and American Abby Wambach right behind her.

Although Canada has only acquired one victory in the past 42 games against the U.S., the level of play between the squads has never faltered and every game brings new competition.