Nations League final featuring USA vs Canada rivalry
Geography often plays a big part in creating rivalries. It’s not just the location though, as the two teams need to …
Geography often plays a big part in creating rivalries. It’s not just the location though, as the two teams need to be evenly matched. They also need to play meaningful games against each other.
The USA and Canada will play in this year’s Nations League final. It’s a rivalry that has had potential for a long time, but never delivered much.
In the last four or five years this has become a real rivalry. Canada starts showing results against the US after more than 30 years of pain. Those results have also been achieved in competitive matches, with Canada winning in both the Nations League and World Cup qualifiers.
The Nations League final now offers the chance to add an exciting chapter to this blossoming rivalry.
USMNT Path to Nations League Final
The USA earned their spot in the final by finishing first in Group D with 10 points, ahead of El Salvador and Grenada. In a CONCACAF rarity, they played Mexico in the semifinals instead of the final. That semi-final against Mexico was one for the history books.
Even before the game started, the American football landscape was on fire when news broke that Gregg Berhalter would be rehired.
This process has been widely criticized and eerily similar to how he was appointed in 2018.
Once the game got underway, it quickly became clear that the USA was the much better team. Christian Pulisic put the 1–0 up just before the break and scored again just after the break to make it 2–0. Ricardo Pepi completed the scoring to make it 3–0.
But as is usually the case with games between the US and Mexico, the off-field issues were the main storyline.
First came the barrage of red cards. Each team got two players off the field: Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest for the US plus Cesar Montes and Gerardo Arteaga for Mexico. Garbage was also thrown at the players by the mostly Mexican crowd.
However, this paled in comparison to the return of the homophobic singing that has gotten the FMF into trouble before.
Canada’s road to the Nations League final
Canada’s path to the Nations League final was not much different from the US’s. They finished at the top of Group C with 9 points, ahead of Honduras and Curaçao.
Their semi-final against Panama was a walk in the park. They won 2–0 with a goal in each half, one from Jonathan David and the other from Alphonso Davies.
Canada’s form heading into the final is promising. Not only did they make light work of Panama, but they also won their only other two games this year.
Their team has a lot of experience and a lot of goal-scoring potential. Davies and David are there, as well as former captain Atiba Hutchinson with no less than 104 international matches. Cyle Larin is their top weapon with 28 goals in 61 appearances for Les Rouges.
Important information
- Sunday’s game against Canada kicks off at 8:30 PM ET and will air on Paramount+ in English and on Univision in Spanish.
- The US has been struggling with Canada lately. During Gregg Berhalter’s first term, the U.S. went 2–2–1 against neighbors to the north, losing the most recent encounter in 2022 2–0 in Hamilton.
- The Nations League final will be the third game the US plays at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and its second cup final.
Photo credit: IMAGO / ZUMA wire
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