In less than a year’s time, the United States and Spain will almost certainly arrive in Brazil as the top two contenders to win the Women’s World Cup. Spain, holders of the top spot in Fifa’s rankings for the past 60 weeks, are the defending champions; the second-ranked US won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This month’s pair of friendlies between the two sides are taking place with caveats. Both sides are missing several of their most important players to injuries. The opening match in Brazil is 258 days away. Spain have booked their place, but the US still have to actually qualify for the World Cup, through a regional tournament that begins next month.
Even without full-strength rosters, a meeting between these two teams is a compelling bill. And in their first of two friendlies, on Saturday in Washington DC, Spain had the upper hand, scoring twice in the first 14 minutes of a 2-0 win.
In just the fifth meeting between the two sides and the first since 11 October 2022 – before Spain broke through to win the 2023 World Cup – the reigning champions took advantage of defensive lapses and the US midfield’s struggles. After trailing by two goals for the first time under Emma Hayes, the Americans played an improved second half, but miscues at the margins and a stopped penalty kept them scoreless.
In many ways, Saturday’s game and the rematch on Tuesday in Chester, Pennsylvania, are more stress tests than clashes of titans – or causes for alarm bells. Emma Hayes has been intentional this year in crafting a calendar that pits the US against as much elite competition as possible. The Americans played Japan three times in March, winning two and losing one, and split a pair of away friendlies against Brazil in June. Saturday was the first time the US ever played the world No 1 in Fifa’s rankings on home soil.
A matchup with both sides closer to full strength would have perhaps been more instructive as a preview of a potential World Cup meeting, but such a clash had been ruled out this week. Center-back Naomi Girma and midfielder Sam Coffey, the two players most vital to the US defensive spine, are out with injuries. Spain are missing two-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, midfielder Vicky Lopez, forward Mariona Caldentey and goalkeeper Cata Coll are out injured; striker Clàudia Pina and center-back Mapi León withdrew from camp on Friday.
If the lengthy list of absentees affected Spain, it didn’t show. They went ahead in the third minute on a 20-yard screamer by Patri Guijarro. The US struggled to assemble their shape after a turnover and left the Barcelona midfielder with significant space.
The second goal came just 11 minutes later, the result of another defensive breakdown. Salma Paralluelo isolated Tierna Davidson on the left side and sent a cross to a wide-open Eva Navarro, who fired it for a one-touch finish on the run. All 11 US players huddled above the box for several minutes after conceding.
The US’s connections looked off throughout the first half, from giveaways and overhit clearances. Rose Lavelle attempted to lay off a forward pass with Sophia Wilson and Alyssa Thompson on the break, but both players mistimed their runs and the ball rolled out of bounds to a groan from the Audi Field crowd. Wilson’s best attempts of the half hit the post and rolled wide. The issues in the midfield balance – for the first 65 minutes, Lavelle, Lily Yohannes and Lindsey Heaps – that predate the Hayes era were evident again.
The Americans looked improved and collected in the second half after making adjustments to their high press. Spain did not produce a shot on target in the second half. Wilson thought she had scored the US’s first goal in the 53rd minute, but it was waved for offside after video review. Trinity Rodman’s attempted tap-in on a cross from Thompson in the 58th minute was saved.
The US earned a penalty in the 67th minute after Wilson drew a foul by Natalia Ramos in the box. The taker was Yohannes – a surprise choice, given the 17-year-old has never attempted a penalty in four seasons at Ajax and OL Lyonnes. Wilson, a regular taker for the Portland Thorns, is a perfect 11 for 11 on penalties in the NWSL.
Nanclares saved Yohannes’s stutter-step attempt and the US remained off the board.
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Forward Mallory Swanson and midfielder Ashley Sanchez were among the second-half substitutes, both returning to the field after lengthy absences. Swanson made her first game appearance in 710 days after taking time away when she gave birth, while Sanchez was recalled back to the national team amid a strong NWSL season with the North Carolina Courage and played for the US for the first time since October 2023. She nearly scored off a cross in the 88th minute but slid as her foot connected with the ball.
Spain went down to 10 players in stoppage time after a red card for a hair pull was awarded to Athenea de Castillo.
Entering this window, Hayes said that development and improvement were more important than wins or losses. She and the US staff will be the ones to rate where this match falls on that scale. Tuesday’s rematch will offer a chance for the result.
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