USMNT vs. Canada: Live score, updates, highlights from World Cup qualifier

It’s only the second match in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and the pressure is already on. After Canada and the U.S. men’s national team settled for draws in their opening matches Thursday, both will be aiming for a win against each other in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday night. But there will definitely be more pressure on the USMNT as the home team.

A slow start in qualifying doomed the USMNT in 2018 as it missed out on the FIFA World Cup, and anything short of a win Sunday would be considered the same. The team’s third match will not be any easier as the Americans travel to face Honduras on Wednesday. Canada will return home to host El Salvador.

MORE: CONCACAF World Cup qualifying results & standings

The rivalry between the American and Canadian men’s teams is growing. Canada has made strides to become more competitive. The sides faced off in the CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage in July and the USMNT snagged a 1-0 win, though Canada deserved better. The teams split CONCACAF Nations League matches in 2019.

Eight teams are involved in CONCACAF regional qualifying. The top three teams in the CONCACAF octagonal will advance to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The fourth-place team will play in an intercontinental playoff with a ticket to Qatar on the line.

Sporting News will provide live updates and highlights of this key early matchup between continental rivals. 

USMNT vs. Canada live score

Goals: :

(All times Eastern)

52nd min.: Doneil Henry needs treatment after a tackle on Jordan Pefok. He’s fine and coming back into the game.

50th min.: Canada starting strong again. Junior Hoilett with a cross from the right that goes across the face of the U.S. goal but no one’s there to put it home. Cyle Larin chews at his jersey. He knows that was a big chance.

46th min.: The second half is underway. No additional subs.

Halftime: USA 0, Canada 0

Halftime: Canada had the best looks to start the game and should have taken advantage. Then the USMNT came on strong and eventually hit the post with Christian Pulisic. When he was on the ball for the USA, good things happened. It also helped to have Sebastian Lletget pushing up near the box. Alongside Pulisic, he has the clearest ideas of anyone on the U.S. attack. But the USMNT back line is vulnerable and Canada will get its chances in the second half. 

45th min.: US chance! A cross from the left is cleared to Lletget, who again is near the top of the box and his volley is just off the mark.

44th min.: SUB – Yedlin comes on for Sergino Dest. It’s not been a memorable September qualifying run for the FC Barcelona man.

42nd min.: U.S. right back Sergino Dest is getting treatment. It seems like an issue with the right ankle. DeAndre Yedlin looks like he’s getting ready to come in.

40th min.: USMNT hits the post! A ball into Lletget at the top of the box and he feeds Aaronson, who crosses into the box and Pulisic sends it off the post!

36th min.: First real appearance by U.S. forward Jordan Pefok in the box and he sends the ball across the face of the Canada goal, but no teammates are there to convert.

33rd min.: USMNT defender John Brooks also goes in the book after chopping down Alphonso Davies who was breaking toward goal on a dangerous run. Brooks had no choice.

29th min.: Things are getting chippy. Players coming together after Richie Laryea just shoves Christian Pulisic in the back. Laryea goes into the book and so does USMNT forward Jordan Pefok after the incident.

26th min.: A U.S. cross from the right by Brenden Aaronson is deflected by defender Scott Kennedy toward the Canada goal and Borjan needs to make a diving save to prevent the U.S. goal.

23rd min.: A weak Borjan distribution nearly leads to a chance for the USA, but Canada’s Doneil Henry saves the day, stopping Brenden Aaronson in the Canada box.

21st min.: Borjan continues in the game and USA’s Antonee Robinson tests him right away with a shot that Borjan saves. But the Canada ‘keeper still appears to be experiencing some discomfort.

19th min.: Stoppage in play. Canada starting ‘keeper Milan Borjan goes down and he’s motioning like it’s a groin issue. The trainers are out on the field.

14th min.: What a chance for Canada! Sergino Dest misjudges a long ball and Alphonso Davies wins it and serves teammate Cyle Larin in the box, but his shot is saved for a corner! U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner nabs the corner.

11th min.: First shot on goal belongs to Canada. Weak shot by Cyle Larin and it’s an easy save for U.S. ‘keeper Matt Turner. Errant pass by John Brooks led to the chance.

7th min.: Now it’s Canada’s turn for a free kick in the vicinity of the USMNT area after Junior Hoilett was brought down. Nothing comes of it.

3rd min.: A Richie Laryea giveaway in his own half allows USA’s Christian Pulisic to run at goal and he was brought down. USMNT gets the free kick and then a corner kick, but it amounts to nothing. Meanwhile, an interesting tidbit below:

1st min.: We’re off. Big, big game for both teams.

8:07 p.m.: Moments away:

8:00 p.m.: Canada coach John Herdman could use a nickname:

7:57 p.m.: Reports have attendance surpassing 40,000 in Nashville. Big crowd for a big match that will set the tone for the rest of qualifying for both Canada and the USA:

7:54 p.m.: Whatever the story is here, the Phonzie vs. Dest matchup is definitely the one to watch. Dest moves to the right back spot after starting at left back vs. El Salvador:

7:40 p.m.: Here’s Weston McKennie’s apology to fans for the violation that led to his suspension:

7:12 p.m.: Here’s a new report on the McKennie situation:

7:03 p.m.: Big news developments in USMNT camp:

USA vs. Canada starting lineups

Big news in the USMNT camp: Christian Pulisic has recovered from his bout of COVID and will start as team captain, but Gio Reyna is out with a hamstring injury, Zack Steffen is out due to COVID-19 (replaced by NYCFC’s Sean Johnson) and Weston McKennie is out of the squad entirely for violating team policy.

USMNT projected lineup (4-3-3, left to right):  1-Matt Turner-GK — 5-Antonee Robinson, 6-John Brooks, 12-Miles Robinson, 2-Sergino Dest — 23-Kellyn Acosta, 4-Tyler Adams, 17-Sebastian Lletget — 10-Christian Pulisic, 19-Jordan Pefok, 11-Brenden Aaronson

USMNT projected subs (12): Ethan Horvath-GK, Sean Johnson-GK, George Bello, 13-Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie, Walker Zimmerman, James Sands, 22-DeAndre Yedlin, Cristian Roldan, 20-Konrad de la Fuente, 9-Josh Sargent, Ricardo Pepi

As for Canada, head coach John Herdman is playing for the counterattack, fielding superstar Alphonso Davies as a left winger. Star forward Jonathan David and Jonathan Osorio start on the bench.

Canada starting lineup (3-4-3, left to right): 18-Milan Borjan-GK — 23-Scott Kennedy, 15-Doneil Henry, 2-Alistair Johnston — 3-Samuel Adekugbe, 14-Mark-Anthony Kaye, 7-Stephen Eustaquio, 22-Richie Laryea — 19-Alphonso Davies, 17-Cyle Larin, 10-Junior Hoilett

Canada subs (12): Maxime Crepeau-GK, James Pantemis-GK, Steven Vitoria, Kamal Miller, Liam Fraser, Jonathan Osorio, Atiba Hutchinson, Samuel Piette, David Wotherspoon, Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David, Lucas Cavallini

How to watch: USA vs. Canada

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 5
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• USA TV channel: FS1
• USA Spanish-language TV: UniMas, TUDN
• USA stream: fuboTV , Fox & TUDN apps
• Canada TV (English): TSN
• Canada TV (French): RDS

The match will be broadcast in the USA on FS1 in English, and UniMas and TUDN in Spanish. All three networks can be  streamed on fuboTV (free 7-day trial) . TSN and RDS will carry the match in Canada.

The event will be held at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., where more than 36,000 fans are expected.