The U.S. women's national team is locking horns with Spain in October for a pair of friendlies, marking their first showdown in four years. This isn't just any exhibition match, folks. It's the No. 2 ranked USWNT, fresh off their 2024 Olympic gold, taking on the FIFA No. 1 team in the world, the reigning 2023 World Cup champions, Spain. This is a top-tier clash just ahead of World Cup qualifiers, and it is going to be electric.
This Is the Rematch We've Been Waiting For
Get ready, because the first game kicks off October 10 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., with the second leg happening October 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. Head coach Emma Hayes did not hold back, stating, "Two more fantastic matches. We've desperately wanted to get Spain on our schedule, but the difficulties of scheduling the top teams during the women's international calendar are well known, so to be able to get these two games on the East Coast will be the perfect tests before we head into World Cup qualifying at the end of the year." You hear that? *Perfect tests*. Spain has been a team on the rise, going from outside the top 15 and failing to qualify for the 2011 World Cup to breaking through in 2019 with their "Golden Generation." They even pushed the USWNT to a tight 2-1 knockout round match at the 2019 World Cup and a 1-0 USWNT win at the 2020 SheBelieves Cup. But let's not forget the last time they met.Sam Coffey Remembers Every Detail of That 2022 Defeat
That 2022 match in Pamplona, Spain? It ended in a 2-0 loss for the USWNT, and it's a score that sticks with players like Sam Coffey. She made her senior national team debut in that very game, coming off the bench as a substitute. Now, as a 2024 Olympic gold medalist and a starting-caliber player in Emma Hayes's deep pool, Coffey has a clear memory of facing Spain. "I remember the games because we did not win, which, you remember those games, especially when you played with this [U.S.] team," Coffey said. She added, "I just recall talent all over the field. Exceptional technical ability. A very deep understanding of one another, and a cohesion that I don't think a lot of national teams play with. I think the fact that so many of them play for the same club team as well, I think, is such an advantage that they have." The USWNT looks vastly different now, almost four years later, with retirements and only a few holdovers from that 2022 squad. Lily Yohannes and Coffey are among the rare few with experience against Spain's stars. Coffey, for her part, has been leveling up, transferring to the WSL and winning the league with Manchester City. These two games are more than just friendlies. They're a measuring stick. They are a statement. October can't come fast enough to see how this revamped USWNT stacks up against the world's best. Are they ready to reclaim that undisputed top spot? We are about to find out.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.