The U.S. women's national soccer team is ranked No. 1 in the world, the defending World Cup champion and riding a 44-game unbeaten run heading into the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Of course, the USWNT is the overwhelming favorite to win Olympic gold in Tokyo.
But the Americans will have their work cut out for them in their opening Olympic match against a Sweden team that's ranked No. 5 in the world. The Swedes bounced the USWNT in the quarterfinals of the last Olympics and halted a U.S. winning streak last April in a 1-1 draw. It is the only match the USA has failed to win since January 2019.
The U.S. women typically rise to big occasions, and this would be one of them even though it's early in the tournament. Setting the tone for the rest of the competition, exacting revenge and sending a message to the rest of its rivals would be the ideal start to the tournament for the USA.
MORE: With an Olympic gold, this USWNT could go down as the G.O.A.T.
This should be an evenly matched, high-quality affair with some of the best players in the world going head-to-head. Whatever the result, both teams will have two more group-stage matches to follow. The top two finishers and the best third-place team from the groups will advance to the quarterfinals.
Sporting News is tracking live updates, turning points and highlights from the Group G match at Tokyo Stadium. Follow the score and stay up to date on all the big moments as they happen.
USWNT vs. Sweden live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| USA | - | - | - |
| Sweden | - | - | - |
(All times Eastern)
12:30 a.m.: Watch this video and you'll have all the adrenaline you'll need to get you through the two hours:
To The Best Fans in the World 🇺🇸⚽️,
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 21, 2021
Thousands of miles & many time zones away, we still feel your energy & your support means everything as we kick off our Olympic journey.
Now get ready, because
HERE 👏 WE 👏 COME! 👏 pic.twitter.com/nmcxIMUYuZ
12:23 a.m.: First early morning with Olympic soccer. Promise, it won't be this bad:
4:30 AM kickoffs the next few weeks are gonna have us all like this...
— Ashley Dunbar (@rabnudam) July 21, 2021
cc: @roselavelle #USWNT #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/ZvXtAQFkbl
USWNT vs. Sweden projected lineups
All eyes are on U.S. women's national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski and his first starting lineup in his first major competition. The biggest question involves holding midfielder Julie Ertz and whether she's ready to contrbute (or even start) after a long injury layoff.
Meanwhile, the Swedes are expected to come out with a five-defender set — three center backs and two wingbacks — which worked well for them in the 1-1 draw with the U.S. last April.
MORE: U.S. women Olympic team roster
USA
USWNT projected starters (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Alyssa Naeher — 2-Crystal Dunn, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 17-Abby Dahlkemper, 5-Kelley O’Hara — 3-Samantha Mewis, 9-Lindsey Horan, 16-Rose Lavelle — 15-Megan Rapinoe, 10-Carli Lloyd, 11-Christen Press
USWNT projected substitutes: 18-Adrianna Franch-GK, 12-Tierna Davidson, 14-Emily Sonnett, 8-Julie Ertz, 19-Catarina Macario, 7-Tobin Heath, 13-Alex Morgan. Projected to sit out: 22-Jane Campbell-GK, 20-Casey Krueger, 6-Kristie Mewis, 21-Lynn Williams
Sweden
Sweden projected starters (5-2-3, left to right): 1-Hedvig Lindahl — 2-Jonna Andersson, 6-Magdalena Eriksson, 14-Nathalie Bjorn, 13-Amanda Ilestedt, 4-Hanna Glas — 17-Caroline Seger, 9-Kosovare Asllani — 8-Lina Hurtig, 11-Stina Blackstenius, 10-Sofia Jakobsson
Sweden projected substitutes: 12-Jennifer Falk-GK, 3-Emma Kullberg, 5-Hanna Bennison, 15-Olivia Schough, 7-Madelen Janogy, 19-Anna Anvegard, 18-Fridolina Rolfo. Projected to sit out: 22-Zecira Musovic-GK, 16-Filippa Angeldal, 20-Julia Roddar, 21-Rebecka Blomqvist
How to watch USA vs. Sweden Olympic soccer
- Date: Wednesday, July 21
- Time: 4:30 a.m. ET
- TV channel: USA Network
- Spanish-language TV: Telemundo
- TV replays: NBCSN (8:30 a.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET)
- Streaming: fuboTV, NBCOlympics.com, TelemundoDeportes.com, NBC Sports app and Telemundo Deportes app (with user authentication)
USA vs. Sweden will air live on USA Network and Telemundo at 4:30 a.m. ET. The match is scheduled to be replayed on NBCSN at 8:30 a.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET Wednesday. NBCSN can be streamed with fuboTV (free 7-day trial).
MORE: Complete Olympic women's soccer schedule
All Olympic soccer matches will be streamed in the USA on NBCOlympics.com, TelemundoDeportes.com, the NBC Sports app and the Telemundo Deportes app — all with user authentication.