The United States women’s national team gets its final tests before World Cup qualifying and their expected berth in the 2027 Women’s World Cup over the next few days on American soil.
MORE — USWNT records — most goals, caps, wins
World Cup champions Spain pay visits to DC and Pennsylvania on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively, in what will prove to be great litmus tests for the USWNT.
MORE — USWNT schedule | Stream USWNT on Peacock
Emma Hayes’ Yanks won gold at the 2024 Olympics and have since won the 2026 SheBelieves Cup and finishing runners-up in 2025. But all eyes have been trained on bouncing back from a poor World Cup in 2023 which featured just four goals, one win, two draws, and a Round of 16 loss in penalties under Vlatko Andonovski.
How to watch USWNT vs Spain, start time, TV, stream link
The Saturday, October 10 friendly from Audi Field in Washington, DC, will kick off at 2:30pm ET. It’ll be on Telemundo, Universo, and Peacock en Espanol and TBS and HBO Max in English.
The Tuesday. October 13 friendly from Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, will kick off at 7pm ET. It’ll be on Universo and Peacock en Espanol and TNT and HBO Max in English.
Spain women’s national team a massive test for USWNT
This generation of the Spanish national team has become the gold standard, winners of the 2023 World Cup and a pair of Women’s Nations League trophies with a runners-up performance at the Women’s EURO in 2025.
Sonia Bermudez is at the wheel and her team is 8-1-1 in her 13 or so months in charge. They’ve scored goals in bunches and kept a fair few clean sheets. The last five Ballon d’Or Feminin awards have gone to Alexia Putellas (2021 and 2022) or Aitana Bonmati (2023-25). Only one of those years saw a top three without a second Spanish national team player.
Bonmati won’t be with Spain for these games. Nor will veterans Jenni Hermoso, Olga Fernandez, and Esther Gonzalez, while Mariona Caldentey, Cataline Coll, and Vicky Lopez are injured.
There are still a lot of first-class players here, with captain Irene Paredes and Ona Batlle at the back behind Putellas, Patricia Guijarro, and Athenea del Castillo. Salma Paralluelo and Alba Redondo lead a more than capable attack.
Being the best usually requires beating the best. The USWNT is the best program in women’s soccer history, and Spain the top group going at the moment. Both sides will use this as a measuring stick.
United States women’s national team roster versus Spain
Some regulars are absent for the USWNT, too, as Hayes did not call upon Naomi Girma, Emily Sonnett, Jaedyn Shaw, Sam Coffey, and Catarina Macario.
Arsenal standout Emily Fox leads from the back with Tierna Davidson, while captain Lindsey Heaps — now back in NWSL with Denver — leads a talented midfield that includes Rose Lavelle. Mallory Swanson, Sophia Wilson, and Trinity Rodman are back together in attack, while young Alyssa Thompson and Lily Yohannes aim to asset their statuses as necessary starters.
There remain questions as to who’s the Yanks best option in goal, with just 17 caps spread between three call-ups including Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Goalkeepers: Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United)
Defenders: Tierna Davidson (Gotham), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Naomi Girma (Chelsea), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Lilly Reale (Boston Legacy), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit), Gisele Thompson (Angel City), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave)
Midfielders: Sam Coffey (Manchester City), Lindsey Heaps (Denver Summit), Claire Hutton (Bay FC), Rose Lavelle (Gotham), Evelyn Shores (Angel City), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes)
Forwards: Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage), Pietra Tordin (Portland Thorns), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea FC), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns)
