USWNT vs. Sweden Stay Rating, Updates, Highlights from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Ladies’s Soccer Match

The US women’s national soccer team is number 1 in the world, the reigning world champion and unbeaten with 44 games on the way to the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Of course, the USWNT is the overwhelming favorite for Olympic gold in Tokyo.

But the Americans will have some work to do in the opening game of the Olympics against Sweden, which is number 5 in the world. The Swedes prevailed against the USWNT in the quarter-finals of the last Olympic Games and stopped a winning streak of the USA with a 1-1 draw in April last year. It’s the only game the US hasn’t won since January 2019.

The US women usually move up on big occasions and this would be one of them even though it’s still early in the tournament. Setting the tone for the rest of the competition, getting revenge and sending a message to the rest of the competition would be the ideal start to the tournament for the US.

MORE: With an Olympic gold this USWNT could go down as a GOAT

This should be a balanced, high quality affair with some of the best players in the world going against each other. Whatever the result, both teams face two more group games. The first two and the best third placed in the groups advance to the quarter-finals.

Sporting News will follow live updates, turning points and highlights of the Group G game at Tokyo Stadium. Follow the score and stay up to date on all the big moments.

USWNT v Sweden live ticker

	1H	2H	final
United States	0	–	–
Sweden	0	–	–

(All times east)

15th minute: What a chance for Sweden! A giveaway from Dunn becomes a shot on goal by Blackstenius and it goes straight to Nahe. The Dunn Giveaway sums up a very atypical start from the USA.

14th minute: Big stop from US keeper Naeher after a shot by Rolfo, which was intended for the lower right corner. Another Sweden corner kick, but the USWNT survived.

11th minute: A reaction from the USWNT – a header from Alex Morgan and a long shot from Tobin Heath moments later.

8th minute: Crystal Dunn with a massive tackle in her own box to prevent a close-range shot on target. When Sweden attacks, it easily invades US defense.

5th minute: Sweden with two straight corner kicks and the high press is working for them. The USWNT is on its heels to start the match.

4th minute: The USWNT is having a hard time clearing a Swedish standard in its own box. Finally, a shot from Sweden misses the target.

2nd minute: The jerseys are a little different:

The #USWNT wear their all white uniforms, while Swedes have a more yellow highlighter look than usual. A reminder that association crests are not allowed on jerseys during the Olympics, so the 4-star USSF logo will be replaced with a simple USA. # Tokyo2020

– Stars and Stripes FC (@StarsStripesFC) July 21, 2021

1st minute: And we’re gone. Sweden with early possession.

4:28 am: Scene in the stadium before kick-off:

4:25 am: The kick-off is almost there. Now hymns are being played.

4:01 am: The numbers point to the US victory, but Sweden has played hard for the Americans in recent years:

#USWNT starts the Olympics against Sweden at 3:30 p.m. CT on USA and Telemundo!

🇺🇸 The USA are 13-1-4 in the Olympic group games and only lost to Norway in 2008.

🇸🇪 Sweden eliminated the US in PKs at the 2016 Olympics.

😴 More notes when I wake up …

– Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) July 21, 2021

3:48 am: LA Times reporter Kevin Baxter is in Tokyo:

12:30 pm: Watch this video and you will have the adrenaline it takes to get through the two hours:

To the best fans in the world 🇺🇸⚽️,

Thousands of miles and many time zones away, we still feel that your energy and support mean everything as we begin our Olympic journey.

Now get ready because
HERE WE COME 👏! pic.twitter.com/nmcxIMUYuZ

– US Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 21, 2021

12:23 pm: First early morning with Olympic football. I promise it won’t be that bad:

USWNT vs. Sweden starting grid

All eyes are on the head coach of the US women’s national team, Vlatko Andonovski, and his first starting XI in his first major competition. Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd begin the game on the bench alongside midfielder Julie Ertz, who is available after a long injury break.

The Swedes now appear in a mirrored 4-3-3 formation instead of a five-defender line-up. Defender Magda Eriksson’s surprising absence on matchday appears to be due to injury while Juventus striker Lina Hurtig starts on the bench.

MORE: Lineup of the US Olympic teams

United States

USWNT 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 – 11-Christen Press, 13-Alex Morgan, 7-Tobin Heath

USWNT replacement: 18-Adrianna Franch-GK, 12-Tierna Davidson, 14-Emily Sonnett, 8-Julie Ertz, 6-Kristie Mewis, 10-Carli Lloyd, 15-Megan Rapinoe. Sit out: 22-Jane Campbell-GK, 20-Casey Krueger, 19-Catarina Macario, 21-Lynn Williams

Sweden

Sweden starters (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Hedvig Lindahl – 2-Jonna Andersson, 14-Nathalie Bjorn, 13-Amanda Ilestedt, 4-Hanna Glas – 17-Caroline Seger (Capt.), 9-Kosovare Asllani, 16-Filippa Angeldal – 18-Fridolina Rolfo, 11 -Stina Blackstenius, 10-Sofia Jakobsson

Sweden replaces: 12-Jennifer Falk-GK, 3-Emma Kullberg, 5-Hanna Bennison, 15-Olivia Schough, 20-Julia Roddar, 7-Madelen Janogy, 8-Lina Hurtig. Suspend: 22-Zecira Musovic-GK, 6-Magdalena Eriksson, 19-Anna Anvegard, 21-Rebecka Blomqvist

How to watch Olympic soccer between the US and Sweden

• Date: Wednesday July 21st
• Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
• TV channel: USA network
• Spanish speaking television: Telemundo
• TV playback: NBCSN (8:30 a.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET)
• Stream: 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 p.m. ET. The game is scheduled to replay Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. ET and 6:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN. NBCSN can be streamed with fuboTV (free 7-day trial version).

MORE: Full Women’s Olympic Football Schedule

All Olympic soccer games are streamed in the US on NBCOlympics.com, TelemundoDeportes.com, the NBC Sports App and the Telemundo Deportes App – all with user authentication.