WASHINGTON — A meeting between the top teams in women’s soccer — the reigning world champions and the defending Olympic gold medalists — is something fanatics and casual observers alike want to see in the final stages of the 2027 World Cup.
But on a couple’s date nine months early?
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It’s not that bad.
In a possible preview of a semifinal or final in Brazil next summer, the second-seeded United States and No. 1 Spain will collide twice over 76½ hours and 120 miles. The first is Saturday (2:30 p.m. ET, TBS) at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The second is Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, TNT) at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
The results won’t carry much weight, especially with key players absent from either roster, but will inform decorated programs that haven’t faced each other in four years and have collided just four times in history.
“It’s a big opportunity, especially a friendly,” forward Trinity Rodman said Friday. “We’re privileged to have great opponents going into a World Cup year this year. Obviously, we’re happy to be able to play this game in the United States and have our fans behind us.”
Trinity Rodman and the USWNT will face top-ranked Spain twice in four days in a potential preview of next summer’s World Cup finals.
(Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
These are the latest in a string of tough tests for the U.S., which won two of three at home against No. 5 Japan in April and split two road meetings with No. 7 Brazil in June.
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It also builds toward next month’s CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, when the U.S. needs to win just one game — against No. 78 El Salvador — to secure a spot in next summer’s competition. (Even in the event of a monumental upset, there is a backdoor to the World Cup via an intercontinental playoff.)
The U.S. are quick to point out that they still need to qualify, but for all intents and purposes, these friendlies are World Cup warmups.
Coach Emma Hayes said she “just aims to continue to improve our game. It’s not one thing; it’s everything. It just makes the team better. It creates an understanding in the team to think tactically, to make good decisions, because we like our players to be able to handle the hybrid expectations that you need in the game.”
These arrangements are also a long-term test for Spain, who have already qualified for the World Cup.
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“They are two friendlies, but we approach them as if the World Cup starts here,” said captain Irene Paredes. “We used to watch [the U.S. women’s national team] a few steps down and wanted to be like them – in terms of the game, in terms of crowds and conditions. Now we can keep up with them.”
Spain has produced one of the most astonishing rises in women’s football. Only five years ago, he failed to crack the FIFA top 10. Since then, Spain won the 2023 World Cup and finished second in the 2025 European Championship. The development system has won two of the last three U-20 World Cups and two U-17 Cups.
Since falling to the USA in the 2020 SheBelieves Cup, Spain’s senior team has lost just 10 of their 104 matches. The only regulation loss in the last 27 games was against European champions England. Spain leads the FIFA ranking from August 2025.
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“We know they’re a great side,” said Lily Yohannes, a midfielder for French powerhouse Lyonnes who, at 19, is the youngest player to play in the United States. “They showed their individual qualities as well as their collective qualities and that’s definitely exciting for us. It’s really great for us to face a big opponent. We played a lot of different opponents last year and this is the best preparation we can have going into the World Cup qualifiers. We’re really looking forward to these two games and we’ll see how we can build on this opportunity.”
It’s a homecoming for Johannes, who grew up in Springfield, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., before moving to the Netherlands with his family nine years ago. He attended DC United matches at Audi Field and played youth soccer in Northern Virginia.
With a foundation of family and friends in the D.C. area, Johannes said he expects more than 60 guests to attend Saturday’s game.
“I don’t even know that many people!” Rodman said. “What are we doing? This is crazy. He didn’t even ask me for my tickets. Sixty?”
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Audi Field is also the friendly confines of two Washington Spirit players, defender Tara Rudd and Rodman, who had their most productive six NWSL seasons with 11 goals and eight assists.
Mallory Swanson, who has not played for the USWNT since the 2024 Olympics, could face No. 1 Spain on Saturday.
(Maria Lysaker via Getty Images)
Mallory Swanson’s potential return highlights the USWNT roster
Saturday could very well mark the return of star forward Mallory Swanson, who has not played since the 2024 Olympics in Paris due to childbirth.
“He’s really finding his feet, so I’ve been impressed with him this week,” Hayes said at training camp in Georgia. “It reminded me of being at camp this week [her] there is another top player we have been missing for a while and our goal is to get back to those levels. We are on the way to do it.”
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That camp also reopened the door for North Carolina Courage winger Ashley Sanchez, Rodman’s former Spirit teammate whose 20 goals tied the league’s single-season scoring record. The 27-year-old, who scored twice in the NWSL last year, was last called up to the national team at the start of 2025 and his last appearance was two Octobers ago.
“He’s been through a lot of ups and downs, coming to the national team, not starting, being replaced and dealing with a lot of things,” Rodman said. “To be the top scorer on the wing is really impressive. I’m really happy for him and I think now is his time.”
The task for the USA was heightened this week after the withdrawal of two key players – center back Naomi Girma and defensive midfielder Sam Coffey – with injuries. Earlier, several other regulars were ruled out: defender Emily Sonnett, midfielders Olivia Moultrie and Croix Bethune, and forward Katarina Macario.
Hayes also opted to send Jaedyn Shaw and Ally Sentnor to the Under-23 camp this week.
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Spain are without two of the best in the world due to injury: midfielder Aitana Bonmati and striker Mariona Caldentey.
Regardless of either side’s lineup, the U.S. intends to raise its game.
“We’ve been working hard over the last few months not just in this camp, but preparing for these matches, ultimately testing our tactics, our style of play against the best team in the world,” defender Kennedy Wesley said. “[It] It’s what we want going into World Cup qualifying and World Cup year in particular.”