Olympics

ST-ETIENNE — Defending champions Canada defeated New Zealand 2-1 in their Paris Olympics opening game on Thursday overshadowed by a spying scandal that has engulfed the women's tournament.

Cloe Lacasse and Evelyne Viens scored on a night that might have been a routine group win for Canada before it was thrust into the global spotlight due to a scandal that saw manager Bev Priestman sit out Thursday's game and two staff members sent home amid allegations of drone use at two New Zealand practices.

The United States men’s national struck France’s goalframe twice but ultimately fell short against the hosts with a 3-0 defeat in their group stage opener of the 2024 Olympics on Wednesday.

USA vs France highlights Olympics

In the first half the USMNT went toe-to-toe with a heavily favored France side led by the legendary Thierry Henry. While France had more possession, the USA’s defense held firm with overage center backs Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson frustrating the French attack.

PARIS — A fan invasion in the opening match of the Olympic football tournament between Argentina and Morocco on Wednesday caused chaos, with Argentina eventually beaten 2-1 following a VAR review after play was suspended with the score tied at 2-2.

United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes says that assuming the USA will reach the final or semifinals of the Olympics is “disrespectful” to the rest of the world.

Hayes spoke with the media on Tuesday ahead of the USWNT’s Olympic campaign and warned that the rest of the world has caught up to the U.S. in women’s soccer.

“Too often we keep talking about what we’re going to do in Paris, or what happens when you get to the semis or the finals,” Hayes said. “I think it’s disrespectful to the rest of the world to talk like that.”

The United States women’s national team were dealt a major blow on Friday as it was announced that Catarina Macario will miss out on the 2024 Paris Olympics due to issues with her right knee.

Catarina Macario injury

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes announced that the 24-year-old is dealing with “consistent irritation in her right knee” and won’t be able to prepare and compete in the Summer Games.

NEW YORK — The Paris Olympics will give the U.S. women's soccer team a chance to begin a new chapter, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher said on Wednesday, as the four time gold medallists look to regain their supremacy on the global stage.

The United States slipped to an all-time low fifth on the FIFA rankings last month after their worst Women's World Cup showing in 2023, when they exited in the round of 16.