October brings the USWNT face-to-face with hyped-up, raring to go, Euro champions England, and a thriving Spanish side led by Barcelona’s Irene Paredes.
The USWNT just narrowly squeaked by Nigeria with a 2-1 win in a friendly that should have seen the front line honing their finishing skills rather than sowing doubts about the team’s ability to match up to global powerhouses down the road.
Though the team has recently been without long-time staples such as Sam Mewis and Crystal Dunn and were lacking the dazzling, youthful talents of Catarina Macario and Trinity Rodman, the national team pool has such depth that any line-up should be capable of standing up to Europe’s best.
The USWNT will have to face England and Spain on their home turfs as they travel to London’s Wembley Stadium on Oct. 7 followed by Pamplona’s El Sadar Stadium on Oct. 11.
Fans ready for USWNT v England matchup
Unsurprisingly, the match against England rapidly sold out. If both teams come to play, it promises to be a clash as gripping and talent packed as a World Cup final.
England’s recent Euros victory makes the Oct. 7 match a slightly higher profile contest, but Spain, who nearly knocked England out of the Euros and currently ranks No. 8 in the world, will no doubt give the USWNT a run for their money I’m not sure they’re prepared for.
Regardless of the outcome of these matches, they will be crucial in preparing the team for the 2023 World Cup. Teams of this caliber can expose the USWNT’s deficiencies, highlight their strengths and force their concentration and communication levels to be at an all-time high.
The USWNT is ranked No. 1 in the world with an abundance of talent and a healthy mix of youth and experience. There’s no better time than now to figure out how to take what they have and create an invincible, World-Cup winning squad.