Canada Open 2026 SheBelieves Cup, Presented By Visa With Controlling 4-1 Victory Against Colombia
Veteran Defender Janine Sonis Leads Canada to First Victory of Year with A Goal, Assist
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 1, 2026) – Canada kicked off the 2026 SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa, with a 4-1 victory against Colombia on a crisp Sunday afternoon at Nashville SC’s GEODIS Park. The victory marked Canada’s first since June 27, 2025, when they earned a 4-1 win over Costa Rica.
After 30 minutes without a shot on target from either end of the pitch, Canada capitalized on an increased presence in the attacking third. Veteran Janine Sonis, deployed for this match at right back, connected with fellow defender Vanessa Gilles on an in-swinging corner kick, allowing Gilles to leap up to nod in a glancing header -- her first international goal in over a year. The goal snapped a 485-minute scoreless drought for the Canadians.
Canada carried its momentum into the second half, testing the Colombian defense and remaining stout in its own defensive measures. The match intensified midway through the second half as tough fouls by both sides elevated tensions. On the heels of a strong tackle and subsequent foul on Jordyn Huitema just beyond the edge of the Colombia box, Sonis tucked a beauty off a free kick just inside the far post, freezing goalkeeper Katherine Tapia and doubling the Canadian advantage in the 67th minute.
The Colombians looked to turn the corner in the 70th minute with a trio of shots inside the Canada box, but all were either saved by Kailen Sheridan or blocked by a defender. The Canadians responded quickly on the other end as defender Sydney Collins — fresh off a 72nd-minute substitution — headed in a rebounded shot in the 73rd minute to tally her first senior National Team goal.
Colombia was able to dash Sheridan and Canada’s clean sheet hopes in the 81st minute through Leicy Santos’ penalty kick goal. Despite Colombia’s elevated intensity late in the second half -- albeit stunted by a Gisela Robledo red card in the 83rd minute -- the match proved to be out of reach for the 2025 Copa América Femenina runners-up, as Canada added to its tally in the 90th minute with Nichelle Prince’s first-time finish to close things out.
The 2026 SheBelieves Cup continues Sunday evening, as the U.S. Women’s National Team faces Argentina at GEODIS Park at 5 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the game on TNT, truTV and HBO Max in English and Universo and Peacock in Spanish.
- 2026 SHEBELIEVES CUP MATCH REPORT -
Match: Canada vs. Colombia
Date: March 1, 2026
Competition: 2026 SheBelieves Cup
Venue: GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tenn.
Kickoff: 1:07 p.m. ET
Weather: 64 degrees and clear skies
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| CAN | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| COL | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| CAN – Vanessa Gilles (Janine Sonis) | 31st minute |
| CAN – Janine Sonis | 67 |
| CAN – Sydney Collins | 73 |
| COL – Leicy Santos (Penalty Kick) | 81 |
| CAN – Nichelle Prince (Cloé Lacasse) | 90 |
Lineups:
CAN: 1-Kailee Sheridan, 9-Jordyn Huitema, 12-Jade Rose, 14-Vanessa Gilles (34-Brooklyn Courtnall, 82), 16-Janine Sonis (28-Marie Levasseur, 72), 17-Jessie Fleming (13-Simi Awujo, 59), 21-Gabrielle Carle (20-Cloe Lacasse, 72), 25-Emma Regan, 26-Marie-Yasmine Alidou, 27-Holly Ward (24-Sydney Collins, 72), 32-DB Pridham (15-Nichelle Prince, 46)
Substitutes not used: 11-Evelyn Viens, 29-Annabelle Chukwu, 30-Kaylee Hunter, 31-Emily Burns, 33-Megan Reid, 35-Melissa Dagenais
Head coach: Casey Stoney
COL: 12-Katerin Tapia; 4-Ana Guzman, 3- Daniela Arias, 2- Manuela Vanegas, 22- Daniela Caracas (15-Wendy Bonilla, 76), 8- Marcela Restrepo, 20- Ilana Izquierdo (6-Daniela Montoya, 60), 10- Leicy Santos, 7- Manuela Pavi; 21-Valerin Loboa (9-Gisela Robledo, 60), 18-Linda Caicedo
Substitutes not used: 1-Catalina Perez, 5-Liced Serna, 11-Gracy Landazury, 13-Natalia Giraldo, 14-Mary Jose Alvarez, 16-Jorelyn Carabali, 19-Yirleidys Quejada
Head coach: Angelo Marsiglia
Stats Summary: CAN / COL
Shots: 15 / 13
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 3 / 1
Corner Kicks: 3 / 1
Fouls: 14 / 12
Offside: 1 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
| COL — Ana Guzmán (Caution) | 29th minute |
| CAN — Mimi Alidou (Caution) | 34 |
| COL — Gisela Robledo (Caution) | 64 |
| CAN — Vanessa Gilles (Caution) | 64 |
| CAN — Marie Levasseur (Caution) | 77 |
| CAN — Cloé Lacasse (Caution) | 79 |
| COL — Gisela Robledo (Caution) | 83 |
| COL — Gisela Robledo (Ejection) | 83 |
Officials:
Ref: Katja Koroleva (USA)
AR1: Felisha Mariscal (USA)
AR2: Jennifer Garner (USA)
Fourth: Marie Durr (USA)