It’s a matchup that many projected to be a potential Olympic gold medal match, except it’s happening at the quarterfinal stage: No. 1-ranked U.S. women’s national team facing No. 4-ranked Netherlands in a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final.
That last competitive matchup went the way of the USA, 2-0 winners, but the Dutch look like the stronger team in Japan based on group play, scoring a tournament high 21 goals so far. Meanwhile, the USWNT struggled in the group stage and finished second in its group after a win (vs. New Zealand), loss (vs. Sweden) and draw (vs. Australia).
The management of player minutes and conservative tactics by U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski during the tournament have led to plenty of debate among fans and that theme will continue in this quarterfinal with a starting lineup that will surprise many for some prominent absences.
WATCH: USWNT vs. Netherlands on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)
Sporting News will be following the event and providing live scores, updates and highlights from the big quarterfinal match.
USWNT vs. Netherlands live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| USA | 0 | – | – |
| Netherlands | 0 | – | – |
(All times Eastern)
1st min: We’re off. USWNT in its white kits and the Dutch in classic orange kits.
6:26 a.m.: The match airs at 7 a.m. ET on NBCSN. Arlo White and Julie Foudy on the call:
Here we go. Win or go home in Yokohama.
The Olympic quarter-final between @USWNT & the Netherlands is live on NBCSN at 7am ET, with Julie Foudy.
The #USWNT do not want to be on a plane tomorrow. This is going to be epic 🇺🇸 🇳🇱 #tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/W1cXd54Chi
— Arlo White 💙 (@arlowhite) July 30, 2021
5:47 a.m.: This lineup is going to be a topic of discussion if the USWNT doesn’t pull this off against the Dutch:
USWNT vs. Netherlands starting lineups
U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski named an interesting lineup for the do-or-die quarterfinal against the Netherlands with Lynn Williams getting the start ahead of Christen Press. Also, star players Rose Lavelle and Megan Rapinoe are starting on the bench, likely due to their yellow card warning status. Should either receive a caution card in the quarterfinal, they would be forced to sit out an eventual semifinal.
MORE: U.S. women Olympic team roster
USA
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, 8-Julie Ertz, 9-Lindsey Horan — 7-Tobin Heath, 10-Carli Lloyd, 21-Lynn Williams
Substitutes: 18-Adrianna Franch-GK, 14-Emily Sonnett, 6-Kristie Mewis, 16-Rose Lavelle, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 11-Christen Press, 13-Alex Morgan
Sitting out: 22-Jane Campbell-GK, 20-Casey Krueger, 12-Tierna Davidson, 19-Catarina Macario
Netherlands
Starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Sari van Veenendaal-GK — 17-Dominique Janssen, 4-Aniek Nouwen, 3-Stefanie van der Gragt, 2-Lynn Wilms — 10-Danielle van de Donk, 14-Jackie Groenen, 6-Jill Roord — 11-Lieke Martens, 9-Vivianne Miedema, 7-Shanice van de Sanden
Substitutes: 16-Lize Kop-GK, 5-Merel van Dongen, 21-Anouk Dekker, 15-Kika van Es, 13-Victoria Pelova, 18-Lineth Beerensteyn, 19-Renate Jansen
Sitting out: 22-Loes Geurts-GK, 20-Inessa Kaagman, 12-Sisca Folkertsma, 8-Joelle Smits
How to watch USWNT vs. Netherlands Olympic soccer
- Date: Friday, July 30
- Time: 7 a.m. ET
- TV channels: NBCSN
- Spanish-language TV: Telemundo
- Streaming: fuboTV, NBCOlympics.com, TelemundoDeportes.com, NBC Sports app and Telemundo Deportes app (with user authentication)
USA vs. Netherlands will air live on NBCSN and Telemundo at 7 a.m. ET. Both networks are available to be streamed on fuboTV (free 7-day trial).
All Olympic soccer matches are also streamed in the USA on NBCOlympics.com, TelemundoDeportes.com, NBC Sports app and the Telemundo Deportes app — all with user authentication.