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Heated rivalry: Canada-U.S. to meet again, this time at World Baseball Classic

Heated rivalry: Canada-U.S. to meet again, this time at World Baseball Classic | iNFOnews.ca
Canada's Connor McDavid (97) reacts after losing to the United States in the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canada is set to meet the United States in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic on Friday. It promises to be the latest chapter in a long multi-sport rivalry between the neighbouring countries.

Here are some other notable moments in the rivalry’s history.

2002 Salt Lake City Olympics women’s hockey gold-medal game — After Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 to win the championship for the first time, Hayley Wickenheiser told Don Cherry “The Americans had our flag on their floor in the dressing room and now I want to know if they want us to sign it.”

2012 London Olympics women’s soccer semifinal — Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod was penalized in the match’s 76th minute for holding the ball longer than six seconds. American star Abby Wambach had started loudly counting the seconds and McLeod was holding the ball in an effort to draw the referee’s attention. The U.S. was awarded a free kick which, in turn, led to a penalty kick. Wambach scored on McLeod from the dot, tying the match 3-3 in the 80th minute. The Americans scored in extra time to advance to the tournament’s final.

2023 FIBA men’s World Cup bronze-medal game — Dillon Brooks led Canada to its first-ever medal at the FIBA men’s World Cup, scoring a game-high 39 points in a 127-118 overtime victory. The No. 2 Americans went on a 12-0 run to take the lead with 6:23 left in the fourth. In the extra period, the 15th-ranked Canadians outscored the U.S. 16-7 — allowing just one field goal — for their first medal on either the World Cup or Olympic stage since 1936.

2025 4 Nations Cup Face-Off — Geopolitical tensions hit the ice in February 2025 when NHLers from Finland, Sweden, Canada and the United States played each other in this four-team tournament. U.S. President Donald Trump had repeatedly suggested that Canada should become his country’s 51st state and called the border between the two nations “imaginary.” Connor McDavid scored the overtime winner to lift Canada over the U.S. for a 3-2 victory in the gold-medal game.

“I just hope Canada’s proud, because every player in that room is proud to be a Canadian, and yeah, did we need a win, not only like our team, but Canada needed a win,” said Canadian head coach Jon Cooper.

2026 Milan Cortina Olympics men’s hockey gold-medal game
– A year later, the men’s hockey teams faced again with nearly identical rosters in the Olympic final. Jack Hughes scored in overtime to lead the U.S. past Canada 2-1. The gold was the United States’ first in Olympic men’s hockey since the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2026.

Heated rivalry: Canada-U.S. to meet again, this time at World Baseball Classic | iNFOnews.ca
Canada’s Sidney Crosby (87) battles for a rebound in front of United States goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) as Brock Faber (14) and Jaccob Slavin (74) defend during third period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Heated rivalry: Canada-U.S. to meet again, this time at World Baseball Classic | iNFOnews.ca
U.S. guard Austin Reaves (15) shoots against Canada guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the Basketball World Cup bronze medal game between the United States and Canada in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Heated rivalry: Canada-U.S. to meet again, this time at World Baseball Classic | iNFOnews.ca
Canadian players including their goalkeeper Erin McLeod, bottom left, and Carmelina Moscato, centre right, react after the winning goal by United States’ Alex Morgan, bottom centre right, during their semifinal women’s soccer match at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Heated rivalry: Canada-U.S. to meet again, this time at World Baseball Classic | iNFOnews.ca
Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod fails to make a save on a penalty shot by USA forward Abby Wambach during second half women’s soccer action at the Olympic Games in London on Monday August 6, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Heated rivalry: Canada-U.S. to meet again, this time at World Baseball Classic | iNFOnews.ca
Canada’s women’s hockey team members Lori Dupuis, of Cornwall, Ont., Danielle Goyette, of St-Nazaire, Que., and Cassie Campbell, of Brampton, Ont., celebrate their gold medal win over the United States at the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, Thursday Feb. 21, 2002. (CP PHOTO/Tom Hanson)

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The Canadian Press

John Chidley-Hill

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.

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