CHESTER, Pa. — The U.S. Women’s National Team looks to rebound against Spain on Tuesday, Oct. 13 after its 2-0 loss on Oct. 10 in Washington, D.C. to the reigning World Cup champions. The situation is similar to one the USA faced just over four months ago, when it also dropped the opening match of a two-game series against another world-class opponent.
In South America, the USWNT fell 2-1 to Brazil despite creating most of the scoring opportunities. Like Spain, Brazil scored twice in the opening 15 minutes before weathering the USA’s attack to secure the win.
The second meeting, however, told a different story. After identifying areas for improvement, the USA made adjustments and earned a 1-0 victory. The team hopes to follow a similar path against Spain, using the lessons from Saturday’s loss to produce a better performance in the rematch.
“We always learn a lot in the first game and are able to make a lot of changes going into the second one,” forward Sophia Wilson said. "The second one's always a completely different game, regardless of the fact that it's the same two teams. Teams change and the picture changes. As long as we can adapt to it and adjust and play our game, hopefully it'll be a better game for us.”
With Spain and the United States ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world, respectively, there isn’t a whole lot that separates the two teams on the field. Head coach Emma Hayes said the outcome often comes down to the smallest details, and Saturday’s match offered examples at both ends of the field.
On the defensive side, it took just two miscues – allowing Spanish midfielder Patricia Guijarro too much time and space and leaving forward Eva Navarro unmarked inside the box – for Spain to finish two goals on only three shots on target the entire match.
“If you give up two goals with 0.67xG, you can’t expect to win the game,” Hayes said. “You can't do that at the top level. We have to tighten up on those things because they didn't create a lot of chances. I think if we defend those moments better, it at least puts us in a stronger position.”
The USA also struggled to turn its attack into goals. Despite ending the match with more than triple the shots on frame and expected goals than Spain, the U.S. had nothing to show for it. Hayes and multiple players pointed to a lack of execution in the final third as a key area for improvement.
“I could have put one in the back of the net,” midfielder Lindsey Heaps said post-game. "It's the decision-making but also just the quality in that final action. We know we're better than that, and we know we have toown it.”
Following the loss, players emphasized the importance of learning from these moments now while there is still time to make adjustments before the stakes rise. With World Cup qualifying approaching, the rematch offers another opportunity to put those lessons into practice.
Tuesday’s match is the USA’s final test before the Concacaf W Championship Quarterfinals next month, where a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be on the line. The team will look to carry lessons from Spain, Brazil and its other opponents throughout this cycle into the qualifying tournament.
"To have these opportunities to learn things, apply them, change and be better the next game is really important,” defender Tierna Davidson said. “As you go through a tournament, you have to be able to evolve and react to what each game gives you. I think these are great opportunities for us to play in quick succession and try to apply these things quickly.”
