The 2026 SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa, kicks off in less than a week as the U.S. Women’s National Team is set to face three top-30 ranked FIFA opponents in search of the program’s eighth tournament title. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 SheBelieves Cup:
What is the SheBelieves Cup?
Inspired by the U.S. Women’s National Team and its 2015 World Cup campaign, shebelieves is a movement to encourage young women and girls to reach their dreams, athletic or otherwise. The SheBelieves Cup was named after the initiative, and the inaugural competition took place in 2016, setting the precedent for the annual four-team, round-robin tournament.
Which teams are competing in the 2026 SheBelieves Cup?
The USA will face Argentina, Canada and Colombia in this year’s edition. Colombia will be making its second appearance in the SheBelieves Cup after finishing third last year. Canada will be making its fourth appearance after participating in 2024 (second place), 2023 (fourth) and 2021 (third). This is Argentina’s second SBC appearance after finishing fourth in 2021.
When is the 2026 SheBelieves Cup?
The tournament will feature doubleheaders in three different cities across the first week of March.
Sunday, March 1 – GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tenn.
- Canada vs. Colombia – 1 p.m. CT
- USA vs. Argentina – 4 p.m. CT
Wednesday, March 4 – ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, Columbus, Ohio
- Argentina vs. Colombia – 3:30 p.m. ET
- USA vs. Canada – 6:45 p.m. ET
Saturday, March 7 – Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, N.J.
- Canada vs. Argentina – 12:30 p.m. ET
- USA vs. Colombia – 3:30 p.m. ET
What are the format and rules during the 2026 SheBelieves Cup?
U.S. Soccer recently announced two rule changes to the tournament. Teams will now be allowed to field 26-player tournament rosters (up from 23 players in previous tournaments), but each head coach will have to name 23 players to suit up for each match with coaches allowed to rotate the game day rosters among the 26 players.
Additionally, all matches that end in ties will now go directly to penalty kicks with no extra time periods. The winner of the tournament is still determined by total points. Teams earn three points for a win, one point for a tie after regulation, and another point for winning the penalty kick shootout.
Should teams be tied on points after the completion of round-robin play, the first tiebreaker will be overall goal difference, followed by most goals scored, then the head-to-head result at the end of regulation time.
Who are the previous winners of the SheBelieves Cup?
The USWNT has won seven of the 10 SheBelieves Cups.
2016: USA
2017: France
2018: USA
2019: England
2020: USA
2021: USA
2022: USA
2023: USA
2024: USA
2025: Japan
What else should you know about the 2026 SheBelieves Cup?
The tournament finale at Sports Illustrated Stadium will feature a pregame retirement celebration for New Jersey native and USWNT legend Tobin Heath. Heath announced her retirement from professional soccer last summer, finishing her 13-year career with 181 caps, 36 goals and 42 assists.
