After a year packed with opportunity to test newcomers on the international stage, Emma Hayes will use a long runway to prepare her U.S. women’s national soccer team for its first consequential competition since the 2024 Olympics late this year and continue building toward the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
As part of Hayes’ plans, the U.S. Soccer Federation on Wednesday unveiled the opponents and venues for the 11th annual SheBelieves Cup. The second-ranked Americans will face No. 30 Argentina on March 1 in Nashville, No. 10 Canada on March 4 in Columbus, Ohio, and No. 20 Colombia on March 7 in Harrison, New Jersey. Each day will feature two games.
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World Cup qualifying overseas prevented the USSF from inviting European or Asian powers, marking just the second time none of the SheBelieves Cup participants will come from those confederations.
Nonetheless, “These are three teams that will likely be in the World Cup in 2027 and, of course, we’ll likely see Canada in World Cup qualifying at the end of the year,” Hayes said. “So when focusing on our continued preparations and growth as a team, the SheBelieves Cup is of great value. Each team brings different strengths and will challenge us to find success in all parts of the field, which is exactly what we need as we continue our process to build toward the big events on the horizon.”
The Americans will begin the year with friendlies against Paraguay on Jan. 24 in Carson, California, and Chile three days later in Santa Barbara, California. (Because the matches were scheduled outside a FIFA window, Hayes will not have the luxury of inviting her European-based players.)
After the SheBelieves Cup, the United States will play three friendlies in April, two in June and two in October. Opponents and venues haven’t been determined. The schedule will culminate in November with the Concacaf W Championship, which will determine four automatic berths in the 2027 World Cup and three in the 2028 Olympics. (With Los Angeles staging the Olympics, the U.S. team is already assured of a berth.)
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With a bye into the W Championship quarterfinals, the sport’s most decorated program will need to win just one match to punch its World Cup ticket. Still, Hayes will welcome the opportunity to play serious games after a largely experimental two years. Her team hasn’t faced consequences since winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris.
Over the years, the SheBelieves Cup has been a reliable testing ground. The United States has won it seven times but finished second to Japan last year.
Argentina will participate for the first time since 2021 and Colombia is involved for the second consecutive year after finishing third in 2025. Combined, they have never beaten the United States in 20 meetings. Colombia and Argentina are the second- and third-highest ranked teams in South America, behind No. 6 Brazil.
Returning to the SheBelieves Cup after taking part in 2021, ‘23 and ‘24, Canada also has a poor record against the Americans (4-54-9) but the matches are often heated and close.
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