The U.S. Women’s National Team will play its penultimate match of the yr on Saturday, taking over England at Wembley Stadium in London. Kickoff between the USWNT, which is ranked No. 1 within the newest FIFA Women’s World Rankings, and the second-ranked Lionesses, is 12:20 p.m. ET / 5:20 p.m. GMT with the published accessible on TNT, Telemundo, Universo, Max and Peacock. Pre-game protection will start at 11 a.m. ET on TNT and Max.
The Americans head into Saturday’s marquee matchup having received 9 consecutive matches, a streak that began with the USA’s run to gold on the 2024 Summer Olympics. England, which received the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro and completed runners-up on the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, is coming off a 2-1 win over South Africa to shut out the October worldwide window.
Following Saturday’s match in London, the U.S. will journey to The Hague the place it can face the Netherlands on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at ADO Den Haag Stadium for its closing match of 2024 (2:45 p.m. ET / 8:45 p.m. CET on TNT, truTV, Universo, Max and Peacock).
Fans may also observe the motion through X (formerly Twitter – @USWNT),Instagram (@USWNT), Facebook and the official U.S. Soccer App.
WORLD’S TOP-RANKED TEAMS CLASH AT WEMBLEY
For the primary time this yr, the highest two groups within the FIFA Women’s World Rankings will go head-to-head, with the top-ranked USWNT dealing with off towards World No. 2 England. The final 1-vs-2 matchups in girls’s worldwide soccer came about on the finish of 2023, when Sweden, ranked No. 1 on the earth on the time, and Spain, ranked No. 2, met twice within the group stage of the 2023-24 UEFA Women’s Nation’s League Group A. Spain received each matches, beating Sweden 3-2 in September in Gothenburg and 5-3 in December in Malaga, and took over the No. 1 rating on the finish of 2023. Spain held onto the #1 place till the top of the Paris Olympics when the U.S. reclaimed high billing after profitable gold.
The USWNT, which has been on the high or close to the highest of the FIFA Women’s World Rankings since they have been established in 2003, will probably be enjoying in its seventeenth #1-vs-#2 matchup however simply its first since 2018 and solely its second towards an opponent aside from Germany.
The U.S. performed in its first ever No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup through the 2003 Women’s World Cup, the place the top-ranked Americans beat second-ranked Norway 1-0 within the quarterfinal spherical. The 15 following 1-vs-2 matches for the U.S. pitted the Americans towards the Germans, starting with the 2004 Olympic semifinal and assembly most not too long ago within the 2018 SheBelieves Cup, a 1-0 win for the USA. The groups additionally famously met within the 2015 World Cup semifinal, when the second-ranked Americans knocked off the top-ranked Germans 2-0 to advance to the World Cup Final. Overall, the Americans are 11W-0L-5D all-time in 1-vs-2 matchups, going 8W-0L-3D when ranked No. 1 and 3W-0L-2D when ranked No. 2.
HOMECOMING FOR HAYES
Saturday’s conflict between the USA and England has much more added that means for U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes, who will coach her first match in her house nation since taking the helm of the U.S. program. Hayes was introduced because the tenth full-time head coach in USWNT historical past on November 13, 2023, however noticed out the rest of her contract with Chelsea FC earlier than formally taking the helm of the U.S. program. Just 84 days after main the Blues to a fifth consecutive FA Women’s Super League title in her closing match with the membership, Hayes coached the USWNT to victory within the Olympic gold medal match on August 10, which was simply her tenth match on the touchline. Hayes returned the U.S. to #1 within the FIFA Women’s World Rankings and on October 28, she picked up her first world honor as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, profitable the Ballon d’Or because the 2024 Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year.
A proud native of Camden, Hayes grew up lower than 10 miles away from Wembley Stadium and is not any stranger to teaching on the iconic venue. Hayes has an total report of 6W-1L-0D as a head coach at Wembley, profitable 5 Women’s FA Cup titles and one Women’s FA Community Shield with Chelsea at London’s inexperienced cathedral of soccer.
U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; CAPS/GOALS) – 2024 EUROPEAN TOUR
GOALKEEPERS (3): Mandy Haught (Utah Royals FC; 1), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 113)
DEFENDERS (9): Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 64/3), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 60/1), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 1/0), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 42/2), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit; 59/0), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 1/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 17/2), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 2/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 101/2)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 20/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 26/1), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 2/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 159/36), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 108/24), Lily Yohannes (Ajax, NED; 1/1)
FORWARDS (6): Yazmeen Ryan (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 2/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 2/1), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals FC; 0/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 19/8), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 11/1), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 73/20)
On November 19, Hayes introduced the 24-player roster for the USWNT’s year-end matches in Europe, which options 15 of the 22 members of the 2024 Olympic Team, 5 gamers who earned their first caps this October and two first-time call-ups in Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Utah Royals FC ahead Ally Sentnor. Tullis-Joyce, who hails from New York, beforehand performed in each France and the NWSL earlier than making the transfer to England final September. Sentnor, the No. 1 total decide within the 2024 NWSL Draft and a finalist for 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year, captained the U.S. group that took third place on the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup this summer season in Colombia.
While the U.S. is with out the complete “Triple Espresso” entrance line of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson, as all are coping with nagging accidents that want relaxation after a protracted yr representing membership and nation, the roster isn’t and not using a veteran presence. Led by group captain Lindsey Horan (159 caps), goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (113), midfielder Rose Lavelle (108) and defender Emily Sonnett (101), the roster additionally options defender and 2019 World Cup winner Tierna Davidson, who returns to the roster after lacking the October Camp as a consequence of harm.
Seventeen-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes additionally returns to the fold for her first call-up since June and her first since asserting that she was committing her worldwide future to the United States on November 11. Yohannes earned and scored in her first cap for the USWNT on June 4 in St. Paul, Minnesota, turning into the third-youngest objective scorer in program historical past.
NAEHER ANNOUNCES END TO INTERNATIONAL CAREER
Naeher, one of many biggest goalkeepers in U.S. Women’s National Team historical past and the one goalkeeper in girls’s soccer historical past to earn a shutout in a World Cup Final and an Olympic gold medal recreation, formally introduced her retirement from worldwide soccer on Nov. 25. The USA’s journey to Europe for matches towards England on Nov. 30 and towards the Netherlands on Dec. 3 will probably be her closing journey with the USWNT, ending a superb 11-year full worldwide profession through which she received two World Cups and was on three World Cup squads and three Olympic Teams.
Naeher, 36, will play for the Chicago Stars through the 2025 NWSL season however ends a memorable worldwide profession that noticed her climb into third-place all-time in goalkeeper caps (113), begins (110), wins (88) and shutouts (68) behind solely fellow USWNT goalkeeping legends Hope Solo and Briana Scurry.
AMERICANS UP FOR FIFA THE BEST
Naeher is certainly one of eight U.S. gamers introduced as a nominee for The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2024. Naeher was nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper, her fourth time nominated and first since 2022.
Horan, Rodman, Smith, Swanson and defender Naomi Girma have been all nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2024. It’s the primary nomination for Girma, Rodman, Smith and Swanson and the second for Horan, who was named to the 16-player shortlist in 2023. The USA’s 5 nominees for Player of the Year are essentially the most by any nation and essentially the most nominees the USWNT has ever had in a single yr for the reason that present award format was carried out in 2016.
Rodman’s objective towards Japan in additional time of the 2024 Olympic Quarterfinal was nominated for the inaugural FIFA Marta Award, which acknowledge one of the best objective scored in girls’s soccer this yr.
Along with Naeher, Horan, Girma, Rodman, Smith and Swanson, Emily Fox and Sam Coffey have been additionally introduced as nominees for The Best FIFA Women’s 11.
Hayes received The Best FIFA Women’s Coach honors in 2021 and completed runner-up to England head coach Sarina Wiegman in 2023
SERIES HISTORY: USA vs. ENGLAND
Saturday’s match would be the twentieth assembly all-time between the USWNT and England, with USA main the general collection 12W-5L-2D. The collection between the 2 groups has been tightly contested as of late, with eight of the final 9 conferences between the groups being determined by one objective or fewer. The U.S. has received 5 of the final eight video games towards England, although the Lionesses prevailed in the newest assembly, that approaching October 7, 2022, at Wembley.
England received that assembly two years in the past 2-1 in a conflict between the reigning World Cup champions and not too long ago topped European champions. The Lionesses struck first within the tenth minute with a objective from Lauren Hemp earlier than Smith equalized for the Americans within the twenty eighth. England reclaimed the lead within the thirty third minute after a VAR evaluate awarded the Lionesses a penalty kick following a foul within the field by Hailie Mace and Georgia Stanway beat Naeher from the spot. The U.S. appeared to have equalized simply minutes later however a objective by Rodman was controversially overturned by VAR after Smith was deemed to have been in an offside place within the buildup.
Prior to the 2022 matchup at Wembley, the groups met most not too long ago through the 2020 SheBelieves Cup – a 2-0 victory for the U.S. – and earlier than that, in a match for the ages within the semifinal of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Lyon, France. The USA took the lead in that match within the tenth minute on a header objective from Press, however England got here up with the equalizer within the nineteenth minute off a strike from not too long ago ahead Ellen White. Alex Morgan, enjoying on her thirtieth birthday, scored what proved to be the game-winning objective within the thirty first minute with a header off a wonderfully timed cross from Horan. With the USA main 2-1, England was awarded a penalty within the 84th minute following a VAR evaluate, however Naeher proved as much as the duty, saving the try by Lionesses’ captain Steph Houghton to seal the victory and ship the USWNT by means of to the ultimate.
Saturday’s match at Wembley Stadium will probably be simply the fourth time the groups have performed in England and the second time dealing with off at Wembley Stadium. The different two conferences between the groups in England got here in 2011, when England defeated the USA 2-1 victory at Leyton Orient in London and in 2015 the USA received 1-0 at MK Dons in Milton Keynes.
HISTORY ON THE HORIZON AT WEMBLEY
The 2022 match between the USA and England at Wembley was performed in entrance of a crowd of 76,893, which marked the fourth-largest crowd for any match in program historical past and the second-largest to ever watch the group exterior of the United States. With greater than 80,000 tickets offered for Saturday’s match, extra milestones could possibly be achieved. Should the attendance on Saturday surpass 80,203 – the attendance for the 2012 Olympic gold medal match at Wembley Stadium, received 2-1 by the USA over Japan – if it is going to be the biggest ever to observe the USWNT exterior the USA and the second-largest in program historical past. The report for the biggest attendance in USWNT historical past – which solely till current years remained the report for any girls’s soccer match – stays 90,185, which was set on the Rose Bowl for the 1999 Women’s World Cup closing.
USWNT CLOSES OUT GOLDEN YEAR
The USWNT reeled off six straight wins on the 2024 Paris Olympics, advancing by means of the event in spectacular vogue, downing Zambia (3-0), Germany (4-1) and a defensive-minded Australia (2-1) in group play after which profitable two 1-0 matches in extra time, beating Japan within the quarterfinal and Germany within the semifinal. The 1-0 victory over Brazil within the championship recreation capped an excellent event that was led by the “Triple Espresso” entrance line of Swanson (4 objectives, 2 assists), Smith (3 objectives, 2 assists) and Rodman (3 objectives, 1 help), which scored 10 of the USA’s 12 objectives through the event. Forward Lynn Williams and midfielder Korbin Albert added one objective every because the USA’s received its report fifth gold medal in girls’s soccer and ninth world championship total. Defensively, the U.S. didn’t enable a single objective through the knockout phases and middle again Girma performed each minute of each match whereas goalkeeper Naeher grew to become the primary goalkeeper to earn a shutout in a Women’s World Cup Final and an Olympic gold medal recreation
NWSL HONORS ABOUND
Eighteen of the 24 gamers on this U.S. roster only recently wrapped up their seasons within the NWSL with seven gamers incomes particular person honors for his or her membership performances this yr. Emily Sams was named the 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year after main the Orlando Pride to each the 2024 NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship. Casey Krueger, an NWSL First Team Best XI choice, and Hal Hershfelt, herself a Second Team Best XI honoree, helped the Washington Spirit attain the NWSL Final the place they fell to the Orlando Pride 1-0 on Nov. 23. Defender Jenna Nighswonger, who celebrated her twenty fourth birthday on Thursday, was additionally named to the First Team Best XI whereas Girma, midfielder Rose Lavelle and ahead Yazmeen Ryan joined Hershfelt on the Second Team
EYES ON 2025
While the USWNT will quickly end its 2024 schedule, the planning and anticipation are already properly underway for what ought to be an thrilling 2025. After a well-deserved break for the vacations, the group will come collectively for a mid-January coaching camp in Los Angeles. No official matches are related to that camp, however it can run concurrently with the “Futures Camp” that may function up-and-coming USWNT prospects.
The USA’s first matches of the yr will happen through the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, introduced by Visa, which is able to run from February 20-26 and options three top-25 opponents in Japan (Ranked #7 on the earth), Australia (#15) and Colombia (#21). The tenth version of the SheBelieves Cup will see the USA open the event towards Colombia on Thursday, Feb. 20 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston (7 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. ET on TBS, Max and in Spanish on Universo and Peacock) whereas Japan faces Australia at 4 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. ET (Max, Universo and Peacock). The groups will then transfer to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the place the USA faces Australia on Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. MT / 5 p.m. ET (TBS, Max and in Spanish on Universo and Peacock) and Colombia takes on Japan at Noon MT / 2 p.m. ET (Max, Universo and Peacock). The closing two video games will happen at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Feb. 26 with the USA dealing with Japan at 7:30 p.m. PT / 10:30 p.m. ET (TBS, Max and in Spanish on Universo and Peacock) and Australia taking over Colombia at 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET (Max, Universo and Peacock).
2024 MEDIA GUIDE
The 2024 USWNT Media Guide is on the market for viewing and obtain. The Media Guides options all of the historical past and statistics for the USWNT, in addition to full bios on technical employees and the present high gamers, info on the USA’s Youth Women’s National Teams and common essential info on U.S. Soccer.
USWNT TEAM & ROSTER NOTES
- Four gamers on this roster now have 100+ caps, led by Lindsey Horan with 159. Alyssa Naeher has 113 worldwide appearances adopted by Rose Lavelle (108 caps) and Emily Sonnett (101).
- Ten gamers on this roster have two caps or fewer, together with two uncapped gamers in Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Ally Sentnor.
- This roster averages 25.8 years of age and options 4 gamers underneath the age of 21: 17-year-old Lily Yohannes and a trio of 20-year-olds in Jaedyn Shaw, Alyssa Thompson and Ally Sentnor.
- Fifteen totally different golf equipment – 5 from Europe and 10 from the NWSL – are represented on this roster. NJ/NY Gotham FC leads the best way with six gamers.
- Horan is the highest scorer on this roster with 36 profession worldwide objectives, adopted by Lavelle with 24 objectives and Lynn Williams with 20. No different participant on this roster has greater than 10 objectives in her worldwide profession.
- Horan leads the USA with 1,652 whole minutes performed in 2024, adopted by Alyssa Naeher (1,530 min) and Emily Fox (1,503).
- Sixteen totally different gamers have scored to this point for the USWNT in 2024 – led by 9 objectives from Smith, six from Swanson and Shaw, 5 from Horan and three from Rodman and Williams. The now-retired Alex Morgan, Olivia Moultrie, Tierna Davidson, Lynn Williams, Jenna Nighswonger and Naomi Girma have two objectives every whereas Emma Sears, Crystal Dunn, Lily Yohannes, Korbin Albert and Alyssa Thompson have one objective apiece on the yr.
- Rodman, Smith and Swanson lead the U.S. with 4 assists apiece this yr, adopted by Horan and Lavelle with three assists every and Midge Purce, Casey Krueger and Sam Coffey with two. Ten different gamers have one help on the yr.
- Overall, 23different gamers have been straight concerned in a objective for the USA in 2024, led by13 objectives involvements from Smith (9 objectives, 4 assists) and 10 objective involvements from Swanson (6 objectives, 4 assists).
Current FIFA World Ranking: 2
UEFA Ranking: 1
World Cup Appearances: 6 (1995, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)
Best World Cup Finish: Runners-up (2023)
Record vs. USA: 5W-12L-2D (GF: 15; GA:41)
Last Meeting vs. USA: Oct. 7, 2022 (2-1 England win in London, England)
Head Coach: Sarina Wiegman (NED)
ENGLAND WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM – ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride, USA)
DEFENDERS (9): Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (NJ/NY Gotham FC, USA), Gabby George (Manchester United), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit, USA), Millie Turner (Manchester United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Fran Kirby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruby Mace (Leicester City), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich, GER), Keira Walsh (Barcelona, ESP)
FORWARDS (5): Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
ENGLAND TEAM NOTES
- Just 9 gamers from the England roster that beat the USA 2-1 in 2022 at Wembley return for this recreation. The USA returns solely seven gamers from that roster. Only 4 began in that recreation.
- This would be the second assembly between the USA and England with former University of North Carolina participant Sarina Wiegman, who’s two-time European champion head coach (2017 with the Netherlands and 2022 with England), on the helm of the Lionesses.
- Two gamers on the U.S. roster at the moment play professionally in England – Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United) and Emily Fox (Arsenal) whereas Rose Lavelle began and received the 2019-20 FA Cup Final at Wembley whereas enjoying for Manchester City.
- England can even play the EURO 2025 hosts Switzerland on this FIFA window with that match happening at Bramall Lane, house of Sheffield United, on Dec. 3, making these matches essential in England’s preparation for what’s the largest and most prestigious girls’s worldwide competitors on the earth exterior of the World Cup and Olympics. England is certainly one of 9 international locations to have certified for the event seven extra to be decided within the playoffs in December.
- The England roster options the primary senior worldwide call-ups for Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown and Leicester City’s Ruby Mace, each of whom have been standouts with the Egland U-23s.
- Like the USA, England is lacking a number of high gamers with Niamh Charles, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Lucy Parker and Ella Toone dominated out as a consequence of harm.
- England’s not too long ago realized its group for the 2025 UEFA Women’s National League after they have been drawn in Group A3 alongside Spain, Belgium and Portugal.
- England has three gamers enjoying within the NWSL, two of whom performed within the Championship Game on Nov. 23 in Anna Moorhouse of the Orlando Pride and Esme Morgan of the Washington Spirit, together with Jess Carter of NJ/NY Gotham FC.
- Goalkeeper Mary Earps is enjoying with Eva Gaetino and Korbin Albert at PSG whereas Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich) and Keira Walsh (Barcelona) are the uncommon English gamers enjoying their membership soccer in Germany and Spain, respectively. Walsh was beforehand teammates with Rose Lavelle at Manchester City.
- Four of the England-based gamers play for present Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea whereas for participant for second place Manchester City and three play with Emily Fox at Arsenal, which is at the moment in fourth. Four gamers prove for Manchester United, which is at the moment fifth within the league.
