How USA dominated rival Canada over the past year in sports

USA Men’s hockey celebrate gold medal at 2026 Winter Olympics
USA Men’s hockey celebrate gold medal at 2026 Winter OlympicsAlexander Nemenov / AFP

Following Team USA’s gold-medal win over Canada during the Olympic finals on Sunday, we take a look back at how the Americans have throttled their North American rivals over the past year in sports.

The U.S. not only won over Canada in specific sports finals during these Olympics, they dominated in the medal chart as well, winning a record-setting 12 medals for their country (33 overall, second behind Norway's 41) to Canada's five gold medals (21 overall).

But let's look at the biggest moments over the past years where both countries clashed in major sports. 

Men's Gold medal

Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal for Team USA in Sunday's gold medal victory over Canada. 

While Canada has more often than not gotten the better of the U.S. when it came to the Olympics, given how this is the American's first gold medal since 1980 - also on the same exact day (February 22nd) 46 years apart from each other, the boys in the red, white, and blue still hold the bragging rights until next time. 

And next time, Canada might be even more dominant if they play their roster selections right, especially with young stars like Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks) and Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders) waiting for their chance. 

However, for now, the USA remains on top of the hockey world for four years.

Women's Gold medal

And it wasn't just the U.S. Men's team that claimed gold against Canada, the women's did as well - also in overtime by a score of 2-1. 

Unlike the men's, the women's team actually faced Canada prior to their gold medal match and won a whopping 5-0. 

Neither the men's or women's team took a single loss the entire Olympics. In fact, the women's dominated so much that they outscored their opponents 29-2. 

It's officially bragging rights for the next four years for the U.S. in the hockey world.

World Series

While most Canadians aren't tuned into baseball as they are hockey, given they only have one team, that doesn't change the fact the entire country wanted to see their Toronto Blue Jays best the Los Angeles Dodgers

However, after going a full seven games in what is considered the greatest World Series in modern history, the Blue Jays fell to the American team, who won back-to-back World Series. 

It is understood at this point that the majority of baseball fans in general wanted to see their Blue Jays knock off the Dodgers. However, in the end, it was yet another loss for Canada. 

Stanley Cup

In a rematch of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, a Canadian went yet another year without a Stanley Cup after the Oilers lost yet again - making it 32 straight years. 

The Panther won the 2025 Stanley Cup in six games, predicting Connor McDavid and the Oilers 25-17. 

Sure, both teams had players from all different backgrounds, with a lot even being Canadians themselves. But when we're talking on a country scale, everyone in Canada wanted to see a Canadian team hoist the Stanley Cup.

Well, maybe not all Calgary Flames fans. 

4 Nations Face-Off

The 4 Nations was Canada's only real major sport win over the USA in some capacity over the last calendar year of sports. And, lo and behold, it was an overtime win. 

However, even if the 4 Nations was originally seen as a replacement for the All-Star Game, it was still a defining moment for both Team Canada and Team USA. 

Between the fights and the outside events between both countries at the time, it was a win that made a statement for Canada, and they still deserve to celebrate that until the next 4 Nations Face-Off. 

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World Baseball Classic, World Cup 

The World Baseball Classic begins on March 5th as the group stages begin. However, the U.S. and Canada won't meet in the first round being in different groups, unlike last time. 

In the 2023 WBC, the U.S. defeated Canada 12-1 in their only matchup, being in the same group. The most likely way the two could meet again this time around is if the U.S. wins their group and Canada is the runner-up in theirs. 

The scenario is unlikely for the latter, who are in the same group as Puerto Rico, Colombia, Cuba, and Panama, but that's the most likely outcome to see the U.S. and Canada face each other again. 

And the same goes for the World Cup, as the two meeting up during both events is also unlikely. 

The last time the two countries met in the World Cup was back in 2022 during the qualification round (third round) where they tied the first match 1-1, with Canada taking the second 2-0. 

Canada is in Group B with Switzerland, Qater, and the UEFA Path A winner, which will be decided after semi-finals matchups Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy vs. Northern Ireland

Meanwhile, the U.S. is in Group D with Paraguay, Australia, and the UEFA Path C winner, with teams in the semi-finals currently involving Slovakia vs. Kosovo and Turkey vs. Romania.

The brotherly rivalry between the countries will forever continue, especially in the world of hockey. However, for now, the USA has every reason to celebrate over their friends to the north.

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