​With the women’s World Cup just a year away, the top-ranked teams—Spain and the United States—have arranged a pair of heavyweight friendlies this fall. Spain, the current FIFA world champion and ranked No. 1, will meet the United States, the Olympic gold medalists who sit second in the rankings, in two rapid-fire matches: October 10 at Washington’s Audi Field and October 13 at Subaru Park in suburban Philadelphia. The federations announced the dates on Monday as both teams continue their preparations for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Spain has already clinched qualification, while the U.S. will need only to beat No. 78 El Salvador at the Concacaf W Championship in November in Greater Dallas to secure their spot.
Two more fantastic matches, said U.S. coach Emma Hayes in a written statement. We’ve long wanted to get Spain on our schedule, but the challenges of arranging games against the world’s elite during the women’s international calendar are well documented. Being able to schedule these two games on the East Coast provides the perfect tests ahead of World Cup qualifying later this year. Tickets go on sale to the general public Thursday. The U.S. will train for several days at the new national training center outside of Atlanta before arriving in Washington.
This will be the first U.S. appearance since the team faced No. 7 Brazil last month, a pair of results that included a 2-1 defeat and a 1-0 victory. The United States has not played Spain since an away-friendly in October 2022 in Pamplona, a match Spain won 2-0. The Americans have won all three of their prior meetings with Spain, making the current slate a chance to restore balance in a head-to-head rivalry that has grown more intriguing over time.
Spain’s squad this cycle features some of the world’s best players. Midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, the Ballon d’Or winner for the last three years running, headlines a collection that also includes Arsenal forward Mariona Caldentey and London City Lionesses midfielder Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d’Or recipient who left Barcelona this summer after a lengthy tenure. Since finishing fourth at the 2024 Olympics, Spain has posted only three setbacks, all to England, including a European Championship final shootout loss last summer.
The United States, a four-time world champion, continues to operate at the highest level even as Hayes has experimented with lineups, integrated younger players, and navigated a period without her famed “Triple Espresso” attack for two years. The forward line of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson looks set to reconnect this fall for the first time since the Olympics, with Wilson and Swanson having missed significant time during maternity leaves.
The upcoming Spain clashes represent another installment in a busy schedule of tests against global powers, following spring matches that included two wins and a home defeat against No. 5 Japan and a series of games against Brazil in June. The U.S. Soccer Federation indicated additional details about the Spain fixtures and ticketing, highlighting that these high-profile contests will serve as crucial barometers for both programs as they plot routes toward ongoing qualification campaigns and potential milestones en route to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.