The 2020 Summer Games gold medal women’s football final between Sweden and Canada on Friday has been switched from Tokyo to Yokohama and delayed 10 hours to 9 p.m because of extreme heat.
The match was initially scheduled for 11 a.m. local time (10 p.m. eastern) at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium on Friday, but will now take place at 9 p.m. local time (8 a.m. eastern) at Yokohama to avoid the mid-day heat and allow track and field to take center stage at the Olympic Stadium on Friday night.
“In order to continue to provide the best possible conditions for the players, and having taken into consideration the impact of weather conditions at the Olympic Stadium over the last few days, it has been confirmed that this match will now take place at 21:00 (9 p.m. local time) at the International Stadium Yokohama,” Organizers said in a statement.
After two successive bronze medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016, Canada booked their ticket to the final by beating the United States 1-0 in the semi-final. It was Canada’s first win against the world champions in 20 years.
Jessie Fleming converted a penalty in the last match to send Canada to their first Olympic final.
Canada will be up against the Rio 2016 silver medallists Sweden in the Tokyo Olympics women’s football final.
The Swedes began their quest for gold with a commanding 3-0 win over world champions USA and followed it up with full points against Australia and New Zealand.
With wins over hosts Japan and the Aussies in the knockouts, the world’s No. 5 Swedish sides made its way to the final. Sweden has scored 13 goals and conceded just thrice in Tokyo.
Canadian captain Christine Sinclair, who is also the leading international goal scorer of all time, will have to step up in the big final while Stina Blackstenius will have the attention at the other end of the pitch.
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