The United States women's national team will face Spain in two friendlies this October, marking a clash between the top two teams in women's soccer. The matches will take place on 10 October in Washington DC and 13 October in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Olympic Gold Medalists vs World Cup Champions
The US team, winners of the 2024 Olympic gold medal, will host Spain, who won the 2023 women's World Cup. These friendlies serve as a benchmark for both sides as they prepare for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Spain have already qualified for the tournament, while the US will use these games as a crucial tune-up for the Concacaf W Championship in late November, which doubles as World Cup qualifying for the region.
Recent Form and History
The US were last in action in June, playing two friendlies in Brazil against the World Cup hosts. The US split the games, losing 2-1 on 6 June and winning 1-0 on 9 June. The second match was particularly heated, with eight red cards issued, most after the final whistle. US coach Emma Hayes described the experience as one she will never forget.
Spain dominated their World Cup qualifying group, finishing with five wins and one loss (a 1-0 defeat to England) and a goal difference of plus-18. The defending champions boast several world-class players, including Alexia Putellas, who recently moved to London City Lionesses, and Aitana Bonmatí, who has won The Best women's player award by FIFA and the Ballon d'Or for each of the past three years.
All-Time Meetings
These will be the second and third all-time meetings between the sides on US soil. The only previous match in the US came in the 2020 SheBelieves Cup, a 1-0 win for the US. Overall, it will be the 18th and 19th time the US women play a game involving the world's No 1 and No 2-ranked teams. The US are undefeated in all those previous matchups.
