USWNT get two high-end tests against Spain
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. women’s national team meets Spain twice this week in a pair of friendlies that could feel far bigger than the label suggests. The first matchup is Saturday at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., followed by a second meeting Tuesday at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Both teams are among the strongest in the women’s game, and the timing adds extra weight. These are the final U.S. matches before a World Cup qualifier against El Salvador on Nov. 27, so Emma Hayes gets a rare chance to test her group against elite opposition on home soil.
World Cup champions against Olympic gold medalists
Spain arrive as the reigning Women’s World Cup champions, while the United States hold the Olympic gold medal. That alone makes this one of the most eye-catching international windows of the year.
The sides are also the world’s top two ranked teams, and oddsmakers have already installed them as early favorites for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. While no trophy is on the line this week, the results still matter for ranking points, confidence and the broader conversation around the sport’s next heavyweight rivalry.
A short rivalry with a recent U.S. edge
These matches will be only the fifth and sixth all-time meetings between the nations, and all four previous games have come within the last seven years. The United States have won three of those, with Spain taking one.
The rivalry took shape in 2019, when the U.S. beat Spain 1-0 in a friendly and then eliminated them 2-1 in the World Cup round of 16. The Americans also won a 1-0 friendly in March 2020, before Spain answered with a 2-0 victory in 2022. That result still lingers for several players who remain in the pool now.
Triple Espresso could reunite for the first time in more than a year
One of the biggest storylines is the possible return of the attacking trio known as Triple Espresso: Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson. The three starred together in the U.S. run to Olympic gold in 2024, but injuries and absences have kept them from starting together since that August final.
This camp is only the second time Hayes has called all three in together since then. If they are on the pitch at the same time against Spain, it would be a major moment for U.S. supporters and a welcome glimpse of the group at full attacking strength.
Injuries open the door for others
The U.S. will be missing several notable names, including Emily Sonnett, Olivia Moultrie, Catarina Macario, Naomi Girma and Sam Coffey. That leaves Hayes with important decisions in defense, midfield and attack.
Tierna Davidson and Kennedy Wesley are the leading options at center back, while Claire Hutton is a natural candidate to step into Coffey’s midfield role. Macario’s striker spot is also up for grabs, and it could go to one of the Triple Espresso forwards if Hayes wants to keep the front line aggressive.
Debut chances and Spain’s own absences shape the test
Hayes could also use the window to take a closer look at some potential first caps. Jordan Silkowitz, Evelyn Shores, Kate Del Fava, Pietra Tordin and Trinity Byars are among the players who could make their USWNT debuts, though throwing several newcomers straight into a matchup with Spain would be a bold move.
Spain are not at full strength either. They will be without Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey, two of their most influential attackers. That means both teams will need players deeper on the roster to step forward, which should make the tactical battle just as interesting as the headline names.
What the window means for Hayes and the USWNT
For Hayes, the bigger value may come from the questions these matches force her to answer. Who starts in central defense without Girma and Sonnett? How does the midfield look without Coffey? Can the attack find rhythm quickly if Triple Espresso is finally back together?
Two games against Spain will not settle those issues, but they should reveal plenty about where the U.S. stands heading into next year’s bigger fixtures. With two elite opponents in four days, the USWNT have a chance to measure themselves properly before the road to qualification picks back up.
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