Colombia vs. Canada
Paris 2024 Olympic Games — Group Stage Match Three
July 31, 2024 at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
Stade de Nice in Nice, France

The situation is simple for the Canadian women’s national team: win and you’re in.

After winning their first two group matches at the Paris 2024 Olympics, including a dramatic late victory on Sunday against the hosts France, Canada can book a spot in the quarterfinals of the competition and potentially win the group with three points against Colombia. Two wins would normally be more than enough to confirm that a team advances, especially in a tournament like the Olympics where the best third place finishers make it through as well, but Canada are dealing with a six-point deduction from FIFA (which Canada Soccer and the Canadian Olympic Committee unsuccessfully appealed on Monday) after ‘Dronegate’.

As a result, they enter Wednesday’s final group stage match in third place on zero points, but the two teams above them — France and Colombia — only sit on three points and Canada has a superior goal difference to both teams. If Canada beat Colombia on Wednesday they guarantee at least second place in the group and a spot in the semis, while if they win and France loses to New Zealand, Canada would actually finish top of the group. The latter result is unlikely — the Football Ferns have lost to both Canada and Colombia and France is the best team in the group on paper — but it is mathematically still on the table.

Math from the other game won’t mean anything if Canada can’t beat Colombia, though. Their priority must be getting off to a good start and picking up the full three points.

Colombia are reportedly going to be without one of their top players, Chelsea striker Mayra Ramírez. Ramírez was sent off in Colombia’s opening match against France for a studs up tackle, and missed their second match against New Zealand. Several reports have said that she will miss Wednesday’s game as well after the severity of the incident.

As for Canada, the availability of Jayde Riviere remains uncertain, as she missed out on both of Canada’s first two matches, replaced in the squad by alternate athlete Shelina Zadorsky.

Colombia lost their first match 3-2, going down 3-0 in the first half and attempting a comeback before falling just short. In their second match they beat New Zealand 2-0 on goals from Marcela Restrepo and Leicy Santos. Canada has won both of their matches, beating both New Zealand and France 2-1.

Canada and Colombia have played twice before, most recently on July 9, 2012 in a pre-Olympic friendly. Christine Sinclair scored in a 1-0 victory for the Canadians, in a match played in Vevey, Switzerland. The only other meeting between the nations came in the semifinals of the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, where Canada won 2-1 thanks to goals from Kaylyn Kyle and and 88th-minute winner from Robyn Gayle. Canada went on to win that tournament.

Twelve years later Canada will need a similar result if they are to keep their dream of repeating as Olympic chances alive. Anything less than a victory, and their tournament is over.

PROJECTED LINEUPS

Colombia: Tapia; C. Arias, D. Arias, Carabalí, Vanegas; Paví, Restrepo, Izquierdo, Caicedo; Santos, Usme

Canada: Sheridan; Rose, Gilles, Buchanan; Lawrence, Awujo, Fleming, Carle; Leon, Prince, Beckie

ALL-TIME SERIES

Colombia wins: 0 || Canada wins: 2 || Draws: 0

Last meeting:

July 9, 2012 – Canada 1-0 Colombia