What to know about a busy weekend for Canadian national teams

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Three of Canada’s most-watched national teams have been in the news in recent days. Here’s what you need to know:

Women’s Basketball: Taking the scenic route to the Olympics

Canada already knew that its way to Paris will be through one of the four Olympic qualifiers to be held in February 2024. But the world’s fifth-place team hoped to shorten that path at the FIBA ​​Women’s AmeriCup in Mexico, where a direct ticket to the Olympic qualifiers was up for grabs for the top finisher other than the United States. The powerhouse Americans clinched an Olympic berth with their victory in last year’s Women’s Basketball World Cup.

Despite being without WNBA players Kia Nurse, Bridget Carleton and Laeticia Amihere, the Canadians did their bit in the preliminary round by going 4-0 with a tournament-best plus-137 point difference to win Group B. faced the US until the finals, but the top-ranked Americans (who also missed out on their WNBA players) surprisingly came second in Group A after losing to 13th-ranked Brazil.

As a result, Canada faced the USA in the semifinals, losing 67-63 before recovering to beat Puerto Rico in Sunday’s less meaningful bronze medal game. Brazil won the other semifinal to clinch the spot in the Olympic qualifiers before once again upset the Americans in the final to take the continental championship trophy.

Canada must now go through an Olympic “pre-qualifying” event in November to reach the qualifying tournaments proper. That shouldn’t be a problem, but it will take a little more work.

Men’s Soccer: Foiled Again by the US

Disappointing draws against tiny Guadeloupe and unannounced Guatemala last week forced a depleted Canadian team to advance to the group stage finals vs. Cuba just to reach the knockout round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. That win prompted last night’s quarterfinal matchup with the rival Americans in Cincinnati.

Normally, a showdown between Canada and the US in an elimination match at the continental championship tournament would be must-watch TV. But both teams sent skeletons to this year’s Gold Cup. Canada gave Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan and other standouts a break after their lengthy European club season, while US absentees included star midfielder Christian Pulisic.

Still, the teams delivered a dramatic end last night. Canada’s Steven Vitória sent a 1–0 game to overtime with a penalty kick late in regulation and both teams scored in overtime before the Americans triumphed in a shootout.

WATCH l Canada exit Gold Cup after losing to USA on penalties:

It was Canada’s second high-profile loss to the US in less than a month, following the Americans’ 2-0 CONCACAF Nations League title game victory in Las Vegas on June 18.

The Canadian men now turn their attention to qualifying for the Copa America 2024. The always fierce South American championship, featuring World Cup winner Argentina and eternal power Brazil, will be hosted by the United States next summer and six CONCACAF teams will be invited . Those will be decided in the 2023-24 Nations League, which will start in September. Canada has bid farewell to the November quarter-finals, where a win will secure them a place in the Copa America – and some valuable tuning matches for the 2026 World Cup.

Women’s football: World Cup squad announced

Despite a number of serious injuries, coach Bev Priestman described her Canadian roster of 23 players for the upcoming tournament in Australia and New Zealand as “dynamic and exciting” when she revealed it yesterday. “It’s a great mix of veterans, veterans and new players who can all bring something different,” said Priestman.

The big blow was Desiree Scott, a tough veteran defensive midfielder who has played in the last three World Cups and Olympics – including Canada’s 2021 gold medal victory in Tokyo. The 35-year-old is still recovering from a knee injury sustained late in the 2022 season.

Key striker Janine Beckie was ruled out of the World Cup months ago with a torn ACL, while rising 20-year-old defender Jade Rose was forced to pull out of training camp due to injury. But fast striker Nichelle Prince recovered from an Achilles tendon problem in time to make the team.

Eighteen-year-old midfielder Olivia Smith is one of the standout World Cup rookies on the roster. The veterans are led by 40-year-old captain Christine Sinclair, who is entering her sixth World Cup and trying to beat her all-time record of 190 international goals.

The Canadian team, seventh in the world rankings, is currently in a camp on Australia’s Gold Coast. Canada will play a final warm-up against No. 4 England on Friday before playing No. 40 Nigeria on July 20, No. 22 Ireland on July 26 and No. 10 Australia on July 31.