Overview:
The reigning Olympic champion U.S. women’s national team will return to the field for two October matches against Spain, the world’s top-ranked women’s soccer team and defending Women’s World Cup champion.
ATLANTA – The reigning Olympic champion U.S. women’s national team will return to the field for two October matches against Spain, the world’s top-ranked women’s soccer team and defending Women’s World Cup champion.
In what will be two highly anticipated matches between the two top-ranked teams in the world, the USA will host Spain on Oct. 10 at Audi Field, in Washington D.C. (2:30 p.m. ET on TBS and HBO Max in English and on Telemundo, Universo and Peacock in Spanish) and on Oct. 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. (7 p.m. ET on TNT and HBO Max in English and on Universo and Peacock in Spanish).
The Oct. 10 encounter is at the home of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Washington Spirit. It will feature a special pregame retirement celebration for legendary USWNT defender Crystal Dunn, who was the NWSL MVP while playing for the Spirit in 2015. The first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive special edition commemorative Crystal Dunn bobbleheads.
The matches against Spain will mark the USA’s first games in just over four months after a long break for club action following the June matches in Brazil.
“Two more fantastic matches,” USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said in a statement. “We’ve desperately wanted to get Spain on our schedule, but the difficulties of scheduling the top teams during the women’s international calendar are well known, so to be able to get these two games on the East Coast will be the perfect tests before we head into World Cup qualifying at the end of the year.”
Spain was available for the October matches due to an impressively strong finish in its UEFA Women’s World Cup qualifying group. The Spaniards secured first place in Group C – and the direct qualification to the 2027 Women’s World Cup that comes with that – after a 4-0 win over England on June 5 in Mallorca and a 6-1 win over Iceland on June 9 in Reykjavik. They avoided the UEFA Women’s World Cup playoffs, which will take place in the October FIFA window.
Spain’s ascension to the top of the women’s game is one factor that has contributed to the USA and Spain having faced each other only four times in history. The Americans won the first three games: 1-0 in Alicante, Spain at the start of 2019, 2-1 in the Round of 16 at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in Reims, France, and 1-0 at the 2020 SheBelieves Cup in Harrison, N.J. Spain won the most recent meeting, recording its first victory over the U.S. in 2022, winning 2-0 in Pamplona, Spain. La Roja went on to win the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand, putting team atop the world for the first time.
TAKING ON THE BEST: USWNT to host top-ranked Spain in 2 October matches
ATLANTA – The reigning Olympic champion U.S. women’s national team will return to the field for two October matches against Spain, the world’s top-ranked women’s soccer team and defending Women’s World Cup champion.
In what will be two highly anticipated matches between the two top-ranked teams in the world, the USA will host Spain on Oct. 10 at Audi Field, in Washington D.C. (2:30 p.m. ET on TBS and HBO Max in English and on Telemundo, Universo and Peacock in Spanish) and on Oct. 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. (7 p.m. ET on TNT and HBO Max in English and on Universo and Peacock in Spanish).
The Oct. 10 encounter is at the home of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Washington Spirit. It will feature a special pregame retirement celebration for legendary USWNT defender Crystal Dunn, who was the NWSL MVP while playing for the Spirit in 2015. The first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive special edition commemorative Crystal Dunn bobbleheads.
The matches against Spain will mark the USA’s first games in just over four months after a long break for club action following the June matches in Brazil.
“Two more fantastic matches,” USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said in a statement. “We’ve desperately wanted to get Spain on our schedule, but the difficulties of scheduling the top teams during the women’s international calendar are well known, so to be able to get these two games on the East Coast will be the perfect tests before we head into World Cup qualifying at the end of the year.”
Spain was available for the October matches due to an impressively strong finish in its UEFA Women’s World Cup qualifying group. The Spaniards secured first place in Group C – and the direct qualification to the 2027 Women’s World Cup that comes with that – after a 4-0 win over England on June 5 in Mallorca and a 6-1 win over Iceland on June 9 in Reykjavik. They avoided the UEFA Women’s World Cup playoffs, which will take place in the October FIFA window.
Spain’s ascension to the top of the women’s game is one factor that has contributed to the USA and Spain having faced each other only four times in history. The Americans won the first three games: 1-0 in Alicante, Spain at the start of 2019, 2-1 in the Round of 16 at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in Reims, France, and 1-0 at the 2020 SheBelieves Cup in Harrison, N.J. Spain won the most recent meeting, recording its first victory over the U.S. in 2022, winning 2-0 in Pamplona, Spain. La Roja went on to win the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand, putting team atop the world for the first time.
You can’t enjoy the World Cup without reading Michael Lewis’ book:
Around the World Cup in 40 Years, An American sportswriter’s perspective.
Here’s how you can purchase the book:
It’s available on Amazon for $29.95, and it’s available here:
