The U.S. women hope to put the failures of the 2023 Women’s World Cup to bed and restore themselves to the top of the women’s soccer landscape as they meet Zambia in their opening match of the 2024 Olympics.
They have a daunting challenge in front of them this time around, with a strong group stage followed, if they qualify, by a knockout bracket with even more formidable opponents in store. The USWNT will face a strong challenger in every single match of this competition, including right from the start.
To kick off their group stage schedule, the U.S. will face Zambia, who qualified for last summer’s World Cup and therefore have plenty of experience to bring along. That will be followed by matches against Australia and Germany, with an eye on securing a top two spot in the standings and thereby qualifying for the knockout stage.
Can new head coach Emma Hayes turn the USWNT’s fortunes around, or will they earn another dose of reality from the rest of the women’s football world?
The Sporting News is following the USA vs. Zambia match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
STREAM: Watch USWNT vs. Zambia live with Fubo (U.S. only free trial)
USWNT vs. Zambia soccer score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| USA | – | – |
| Zambia | – | – |
Kickoff: 9 p.m. local (3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT)
Location: Allianz Riviera (Nice, France)
Referee: Ramon Abatti (BRZ)
Starting lineups:
USA (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Naeher (GK) — 2. Fox, 4. Girma, 12. Davidson, 7. Dunn — 10. Horan, 17. Coffey, 16. Lavelle — 5. Rodman, 11. S. Smith, 9. Swanson.
Zambia (3-5-2, right to left): 18. Musole (GK) — 4. Siamfuko, 3. Mweemba, 13. Tembo — 10. G. Chanda, 20. H Chanda, 14. Chilufya, 21. Chitundu, 9. Mupopo — 17. Kundananji, 11. B. Banda.
MORE: 2024 Olympic football schedule and results, updated LIVE | Who will win women’s gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics? | How to watch USWNT matches at the 2024 Summer Olympics
USA vs. Zambia live updates, results, highlights from 2024 Olympics
45 mins to kickoff: Zambia play an up-tempo, attacking style behind star striker Barbra Banda, for better or for worse. Emma Hayes called Banda “the most in-form striker in the world” as she sports 12 goals in 12 appearances for NWSL side Orlando Pride this season.
Barbra Banda makes it look so easy doesn’t she? pic.twitter.com/4nAay3PryW
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 7, 2024
1 hour to kickoff: Lineups are in, and the only real surprise for the U.S. women is the absence of Jenna Nighswonger at left-back, replaced by the veteran Crystal Dunn. It’s likely that Emma Hayes is accounting for the all-out attacking mindset of Zambia, who are committed to playing an up-tempo style even if they end up punished in the end.
It appears Zambia will go with a three-defender system, and the U.S. will have to watch out for the pace of the opposition attackers. Racheal Kundananji and Barbra Banda are well-known as quick forwards, but Kabange Mupopo, a former 400m sprinting champion, is also in the lineup.
1 hour 15 mins to kick: An announcement just 90 minutes prior to kickoff sees the U.S. dealt another injury blow in the attack, as Jaedyn Shaw picks up a leg injury and will not participate in today’s match, U.S. Soccer confirms. It’s unclear how Shaw was injured or what the severity of the issue is, but she will not be available today, replaced instead by alternate Croix Bethune.
It stands to reason that Shaw’s injury isn’t overtly serious, or else she would have been replaced more permanently on the roster, which countries can do up to 24 hours before their opening match. Still, it’s a significant setback, especially after the injury picked up by Cat Macario ahead of the team’s trip to France.
Bethune is a good addition, in fairness, as her USWNT debut against Mexico two weeks ago resulted in a goal off the bench.
Hayes was very cagey when asked about Shaw not playing much in the run-up to the Games. A secret knock doesn’t surprise me. Probably a temporary move, but Bethune becomes medal-eligible after today. https://t.co/PRJtKOQ0tD
— Claire Watkins (@ScoutRipley) July 25, 2024
1 hour 30 mins to kick: Despite the significant doubts stemming from last summer’s disappointment and the growth of the global game, the U.S. women only have one goal — to win the gold medal.
Winning is the only option for the USWNT. #ParisOlympics 😤 pic.twitter.com/0iFqvpVGxb
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) July 24, 2024
1 hour 45 mins to kick: The U.S. women are expected to come away with a medal-winning performance at the Olympics, but Spain have their own lofty expectations after winning the 2023 Women’s World Cup. They began their tournament with a hard-fought, comeback victory against Japan by a 2-1 score.
If those two gold medal favorites end up meeting in the knockout stage, it would be a top-drawer affair, and a reminder for the U.S. that the women’s football talent level across the globe is growing rapidly. They may even be the less talented side in that matchup.
“I think Spain is the more talented team.”@the_bonnfire joined us this morning to say yes, the USA may medal, even take home gold, but if you want more value, Spain at +200 is the best team in the field.
They play today at 11a ET#Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/t8ZdsYnvw5
— SportsGrid (@SportsGrid) July 25, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: Emma Hayes has been emphatic about how the United States can no longer take anything for granted, with so many formidable opponents in the women’s soccer landscape. “I think the game has moved to a point where that isn’t the case, it isn’t a shoo-in to get somewhere. It has to be earned and there’s no given right when women’s football has developed the way it has across the world.”
She’s right. In fact, the United States may not even be the best team in the world anymore from a pure talent perspective. That may fall to Spain, who looks to be a truly dominance force in the sport.
From Emma Hayes herself on this Olympics and the new world order. #USWNT pic.twitter.com/VyYLDg9oIB
— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) July 23, 2024
USWNT vs. Zambia kickoff time
This Olympic group stage match kicks off from the Allianz Riviera on Thursday, July 25 at 9 p.m. local time in Nice, France. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Thu, Jul. 25 | 3 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Thu, Jul. 25 | 12 p.m. PT |
| UK | Thu, Jul. 25 | 8 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Fri, Jul. 26 | 5 a.m. AEST |
| India | Fri, Jul. 26 | 12:30 a.m. IST |
2024 Olympics Group B standings
| Pos. | Team | GP | Points | W-L-D | Goals For | Goals Against |
| 1. | USA | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. | Zambia | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | Germany | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. | Australia | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
USWNT vs. Zambia lineups, team news, starting 11
There were concerns over the fitness of Rose Lavelle after her withdrawal from the starting lineup for the pre-tournament friendly against Costa Rica, but the U.S. midfielder is in the starting lineup.
Catarina Macario is not on the roster after being forced to withdraw from the Olympics due to knee soreness, replaced by Lynn Williams. It was thought Jaedyn Shaw would be an important presence off the bench, but she was ruled out just 90 minutes prior to kickoff of today’s match with a leg injury, replaced temporarily on the roster by alternate Croix Bethune.
The only surprise to today’s XI is the absence of Jenna Nighswonger at left-back, with veteran Crystal Dunn starting instead.
USA starting lineup (4-3-3): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Girma, Davidson, Dunn — Horan, Coffey, Lavelle — Rodman, S. Smith, Swanson.
USA subs (7): Murphy (GK), Krueger, Nighswonger, Sonnett, Albert, Bethune, L. Williams.
Zambia’s regular goalkeeper Hazel Nali was forced to withdraw from the World Cup roster due to an ACL tear last summer, and has not been brought back into the fold quite yet.
The Copper Queens have two players who play for NWSL clubs, as forwards Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji ply their trade in the United States. Banda is known for her 102nd minute equalizer against Germany to seal a 3-2 upset in a friendly prior to last summer’s World Cup, also scoring against Costa Rica in the tournament itself to mark the 1,000th goal in Women’s World Cup history.
Zambia starting lineup (3-5-2): Musole (GK) — Siamfuko, Mweemba, Tembo — G. Chanda, H Chanda, Chilufya, Chitundu, Mupopo — Kundananji, B. Banda.
Zambia subs (7): Musonda (GK), D. Banda, Chileshe, Zulu, Lubandji, Chitundu, Muchinga.
USWNT vs. Zambia live stream, TV channel
| Date | Time | TV Channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Thu, Jul. 25 | 3 p.m. ET | USA Network, Universo | Fubo USA, Peacock, NBC Sports website/app, Universo NOW |
| UK | Thu, Jul. 25 | 8 p.m. BST | — | — |
| Australia | Fri, Jul. 26 | 5 a.m. AEST | — | 9Now, Stan Sport |
| Canada | Thu, Jul. 25 | 3 p.m. ET | — | CBC app/website |
| India | Fri, Jul. 26 | 12:30 a.m. IST | — | — |
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