The U.S. Women’s National Team is set to play its first match of 2026 this weekend, kicking off an action-packed year leading to qualifiers in November /December for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
From international tournaments to club campaigns, here’s a look at some key dates and moments in 2026:
JANUARY
First international friendlies
The USWNT’s first training camp of the year runs from Jan. 17-27 at the Dignity Health Sports Park (DHSP) and will be capped with two international matches. The team faces Paraguay at DHSP on Jan. 24 before playing Chile at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif. on Jan. 27.
Prior to the match against Paraguay, U.S. Soccer will hold a retirement celebration for Los Angeles native Christen Press, who recently concluded her playing career.
FIFA Women’s Champions Cup
The final stage of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup will take place in London, England with the semifinals slated for Jan. 28, and the third-place match and final on Feb. 1.
The semifinal matches will see Concacaf champions Gotham FC face CONMEBOL champions Corinthians from Brazil, followed by UEFA Women’s Champions League holders Arsenal taking on Moroccan side ASFAR. Six players from the USWNT player pool compete for Gotham including 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year and Young Female Player of the Year, Rose Lavelle and Lilly Reale, along with Emily Sonnett, Jaedyn Shaw, Jaelin Howell and Midge Purce. USWNT defender Emily Fox will compete for Arsenal.
MARCH
SheBelieves Cup
The U.S. will welcome Argentina, Canada and Colombia in March for the 11th annual SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa® as it looks for its eighth SBC title.
The USA will open the tournament against Argentina on Sunday, March 1 at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tenn. (4 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. ET). The teams will then move to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio where the USA faces Canada on March 4 at 6:45 p.m. ET. The tournament will conclude at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J. on March 7, with the USA facing Colombia at 3:30 p.m. ET.
NWSL 2026 season
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) will return for its 14th season on Friday, March 13 with all 16 clubs in action on opening weekend. The regular season concludes on Sunday, November 1. The 2026 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel, will be played on Saturday, November 21.
USWNT players are featured across the league, including expansion sides Denver Summit FC and Boston Legacy FC who begin their inaugural campaigns in 2026. USWNT captain and Colorado native Lindsey Heaps announced earlier this month she will join her hometown club while Boston signed USWNT goalkeeper and Olympic gold medalist Casey Murphy in December.
APRIL
Triple-Header vs. Japan
The U.S. Women’s National Team will return to competition during the April FIFA window to play three consecutive matches against Japan, a long-time rival that has been a part of some of the most famous games in USWNT history.
All three of the USWNT matches will be played in venues that are home to National Women’s Soccer League teams. The matches will take place on Saturday, April 11, at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif, home to Bay FC (2:30 p.m. PT), on Tuesday, April 14, at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash., home to Seattle Reign FC (7 p.m. PT) and on Friday, April 17, at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. (7 p.m. MT).
MAY
Concacaf W Champions Cup
The final rounds of the second edition of the Concacaf W Champions Cup will be played from May 20-23. Reigning champion Gotham FC will face Club America Femenil, followed by Group B winner Washington Spirit against CF Pachuca Femenil.
The Concacaf W Champions Cup will be Gotham’s second international club tournament of the year, with the team also participating in the FIFA Champions Cup. 2025 NWSL runner-up Washington Spirit will feature multiple USWNT players, four of which were called up to the January Training Camp roster: Tara Rudd, Kate Wiesner, Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt.
NOVEMBER
Concacaf W Championship
The final international tournament of the calendar year for the U.S. is the Concacaf W Championship, which serves as the qualification path to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. The United States and Canada received byes to the Championship as the two highest-ranked teams and will join the six group winners of the 2025-2026 Concacaf W Qualifiers for the Championship in November.
The four teams that advance to the semifinals will guarantee their place in the World Cup. The top two finishers – not the counting the United States -- will secure berths in the Olympics, which the U.S. has already qualified for as the host nation. The United States is the reigning champion of the Concacaf W Championship, having secured the title in 2022 with a 1–0 win over Canada.
Other Key Moments in Women’s Soccer in 2026
- March: UEFA World Cup qualifying begins, Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, AFC Women’s Asian Cup
- April: CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying continues
- May: Women’s FA Cup & Champions League Final
- June: NWSL Challenge Cup
- September: FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
- October: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
