HomeSportsUSA-Canada soccer grudge match descends into chaos

USA-Canada soccer grudge match descends into chaos

July 11, 2023

Whoa Canada, the U.S. men’s soccer team stands on guard for thee.

Tensions between the USMNT and border rival Canada boiled over Sunday evening following the Americans’ penalty-shootout victory in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup regional tournament.

Video published by TUDN USA captures players from both teams exchanging shoves and shouts in the tunnel after exiting the field.

The footage depicts “hold me back”-type hostilities and it’s unclear whether the confrontation ever escalated beyond that point.

Spanish outlet Marca reported American players “allegedly taunted” their Canadian counterparts before the fracas.

The U.S. won the shootout, 3-2, thanks to two saves from goalkeeper Matt Turner.

The match, which didn’t feature either country’s true “A” team, had ended in a 2-2 draw at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.


A screengrab from video of USA and Canada players confronting each other following their match in the Gold Cup.
USA and Canada players confront each other following their July 9 match in the Gold Cup.
TUDN USA

The Americans advanced to face Panama in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals on Wednesday.

“A lot of the penalties that I had seen on my sheets or in my preparation, most of those guys were off the pitch by the time the pens were there,” Turner said. “I just trusted my instincts, really, and typically when I do that, I find myself having a lot more success.”


Team USA hoists their goalkeeper Matt Turner after they won a penalty shootout.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner (in yellow) was the hero of Team USA’s penalty-shootout victory over Canada.
AP

Canada head coach John Herdman perhaps stoked the rivalry entering the weekend quarterfinal when he said his team “wanted” the matchup against the Americans.

“We were pretty clear coming into this match (about) which team we wanted to play and what game we wanted to experience in the Gold Cup,” Herdman said, per Sportsnet. “The football Gods have given us our derby match.”

“Playing in the U.S. is difficult, it’s a home match for them, the Nations League final was a home match for them. We haven’t beaten them here since 1957, so we wanna be that first team, we wanna be that first coach, that first staff and we want our fans to experience that moment.”

The U.S. also beat Canada, 2-0, on June 18 in the CONCACAF Nations League final.

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