International Soccer

PARIS — Canada were deducted six points from the Olympic women's soccer tournament and their head coach Bev Priestman banned for a year, global governing body FIFA said on Saturday, following a drone spying scandal that has tainted their gold medal defense.

Priestman, who has coached the team since 2020, and Canadian officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander have been banned from any soccer-related activity for one year for "offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play", FIFA said.

Canada points deducted in Olympics

PARIS — New information from Soccer Canada showed suspended women's head coach Bev Priestman was likely aware of the drone use that has caused a scandal at the Paris Olympics, Canadian Olympic Committee CEO David Shoemaker said on Friday.

The COC removed head coach Priestman on Thursday after her suspension by Canada Soccer. The decision followed complaints from New Zealand that Canada flew drones over two of their training sessions before the two sides met in their opening Olympic fixture, which Canada won 2-1.

Two Mallory Swanson goals vs Zambia in the 24th and 25th minute put the United States women’s national team out of reach as they cruised to a 3-0 victory in their opening game of the 2024 Olympics. 

The USWNT’s first group stage game was played in Nice, France.

The USA came out swinging to begin their quest for gold, peppering Zambia’s goal with shots. Swanson and Trinity Rodman both rocked the crossbar with efforts early in the first half.

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.

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 U20 men’s national team opened the Concacaf Under-20 Championship with a massive result on Friday as they bested Jamaica 9-0. 

America’s next wave of young talent strutted their stuff in their first group stage game as they obliterated the Reggae Boyz. Seven different U.S. players got on the scoresheet in the resounding victory.

Under-20 USMNT vs Jamaica 9-0 highlights 

Tyler Adams will be out on the sidelines, again.

Tyler Adams out for start of season after back surgery

U.S. men’s national team player Tyler Adams is set to miss the start of the 2024-25 season with Premier League club AFC Bournemouth after having to get surgery in light of a 'detrimental participation’ in the 2024 Copa America.