Spain's women's football federation is launching its 2026 International Women's Day campaign, with the reigning world champions announcing "Dream Without Limits" initiatives throughout the week.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation turned its social media channels purple to honor International Women's Day, and installed a commemorative banner at Madrid's Ciudad del Fútbol headquarters featuring Spain's world champions and UEFA Women's Nations League winners. The "Dream Without Limits" slogan aims to inspire the next generation of footballers.
Spain's 2027 Women's World Cup qualification matches will showcase the International Women's Day activities, with the team set to kick off against Iceland on March 3rd at SkyFi Castalia Stadium in Castellón. Ukraine will then host Spain on March 7th at Mardan Antalyaspor Stadium in Turkey.
During the match, Spain's players will wear shirts reading "Dream Without Limits," while the message simultaneously appears on the stadium's Jumbotron. Girls from local soccer clubs will carry the center-circle banner, strengthening connections between today's team and tomorrow's football stars.
The RFEF says it remains committed to promoting equality under president Rafael Louzán, as it continues to develop projects aimed at achieving equity across the sport.
Spain won the 2023 World Cup alongside back-to-back Nations League titles. The team currently ranks No. 1 in FIFA's world rankings.
While SC Corinthians fell just short of the inaugural intercontinental title on Sunday, the 2026 FIFA W Champions Cup final did prove a massive success for the Brazil league's champions, scoring the highest viewership for a women's club match in the South American country's history.
Brazilian network CazéTV covered the competition's semifinals and final, with the broadcaster registering more than 1 million concurrent streams during Sunday's championship match — a viewership that rivals Brazil's 2023 World Cup group-stage games.
Perhaps even more impressive, Sunday's 3-2 extra-time loss to WSL side Arsenal also coincided with Corinthians' men's team's Brazil Super Cup battle, stressing the growing popularity of the club's women's squad.
"It doesn't matter if it's basketball or football, women's or men's, I'm a Corinthian supporter," a traveling Brazilian fan told The Athletic, with many news outlets reporting on the team's sizable fan support at the FIFA tournament in London last week.
Sunday's Champions Cup viewership also reflects the Brazil club's overall rising attendance, with the team featuring in every one of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A1 league's five highest-attended matches — and winning the Top 4.
Claiming seven of the last eight league championships — including the last six straight trophies — Corinthians' 2024 title match against São Paulo saw 44,529 fans pack Neo Química Arena, netting the largest crowd at a women's club soccer match in South American history.
The fan clamor for Corinthians bodes well for another upcoming FIFA tournament, with Brazil preparing to host the first-ever World Cup in South America in 2027.
"Football is about love and Brazil loves football," said Brazilian soccer legend Marta in a video for a 2027 World Cup event just last month. "Our country is ready to embrace the women's game with pride, emotion and belief."
Spain soccer star Alexia Putellas is hitting the pitch in style, with Nike releasing the two-time Ballon d'Or winner's first Player Edition with the sportswear giant — a bespoke Phantom 6 boot — earlier this week.
Drenched in a bold red, black, and metallic colorway, the Putellas boots include glitter designed to "create additional distinction under bright stadium lights."
With multiple elements highlighting the FC Barcelona attacker's lucky number 11, the Phantom 6 boots also feature the custom Nike logo for Putellas emblazoned on the heel.
Constructed from a pair of interlocking 11s that combine with the letter "A," Putellas's new logo forms a crown, referencing her nickname of "La Reina" — Spanish for "The Queen."
"Growing up in Spain, I could only watch men playing football," Putellas said in a Nike statement on Sunday. "I never dreamed about playing at Camp Nou or having my own Nike boot. This is crazy, but I'm enjoying the process."
Just days before her 32nd birthday, Putellas adds her new Nike Player Edition Phantom 6 boot to a resume stacked with a World Cup (2023), three UEFA Champions League trophies, and numerous Liga F titles as well as her two Ballons d'Or.
How to purchase the Alexia Putellas Nike Phantom 6 boots
The Nike Phantom 6 Alexia Putellas Player Edition boots are currently available for purchase in both adult and kids sizes at select retail stores and online at nike.com.
Star England defender Esme Morgan made an impression on her new Washington Spirit teammates even before she set foot on US soil — just by the sound of her voice.
"Looking at Es on social media before she came, I just thought her voice was so angelic," Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury told Just Women's Sports at NWSL Championship Media Day in San Jose. "Even the first weeks, I couldn't even focus on what she was saying — I'm like, 'I am in the presence of the Queen.'"
If the former Manchester City defender wasn't already the NWSL team's quintessential English international, she cemented her prowess after winning a European Championship with the Lionesses earlier this summer. Since joining the Spirit in 2024, the center back has become a player to watch on both sides of the Atlantic, after making a bet on herself by transferring to the notoriously fast-paced NWSL in search of greater responsibility on the pitch.
A die-hard NFL fan with a bubbly personality and loyal TikTok following, Morgan immediately took to life in the US. Her proper British accent belies a fierce competitor on the field. She's a force in the locker room, fusing social connections that greatly contributed to the Spirit reaching a second straight NWSL final. And she's also good for more than a little bit of banter.
"Es is just super entertaining, she's really good at getting under my skin," added Kingsbury with a laugh. "She brings… a lot of sunshine to the locker room, and obviously is just a fun person to play with."
But it's not all puppies and rainbows. Ceding last year's championship to the Orlando Pride still stings for Morgan. And she's turned that pain into intensity — one that's fueled her and her teammates all the way back to the precipice of NWSL glory.
How Esme Morgan energized Washington Spirit’s team culture
Washington's camaraderie is palpable, something midfielder Hal Hershfelt credits in part to Morgan's readiness to spend time with her teammates off the pitch, no matter the occasion.
"Honestly, she came to the team and we did a lot more team events and stuff like that," she said. "She's so extroverted, willing to get people together, get people grooving."
Morgan recalls a time early in the 2025 preseason, after Spirit captain Andi Sullivan announced she was pregnant with her first child ("the whole team had gone crazy," she remembered). A group of players had ridden their bikes to get ice cream, including recent signing Narumi Miura, who had only been in market for a few days.
"We were all just chatting about [Sullivan], and Rumi goes, 'I love this team!'" Morgan said. "She'd been here four days. We were like, 'Oh my gosh, Rumi, we love you too!' I think that speaks to the environment that we have."
The team's comfort with one another is also evident on the pitch, whether it's Morgan and midfielder Croix Bethune hitting Cam Ward's football celly in front of Audi Field's sold-out home crowd, or the trust permeating the defense as they confront ongoing injuries.
"We definitely hold each other to high standards," said Kingsbury. "We all really want to win, and we all really want to do well for each other."
Esme Morgan bets on the NWSL to elevate her England career
Morgan arrived in the US on a mission.
She was named to England's World Cup squad in 2023, but spent the tournament on the bench, watching on as an unused substitute as the Lionesses finished second to Spain.
So when she got the opportunity to transfer to the NWSL the following year, proving her national team worth was front of mind.
"She wanted to take a step forward, knowing that this league would challenge her," said Washington manager Adrián González. "I think she's done an amazing job, especially adapting herself to the type of games we have here."
The defender favors the NWSL's summer schedule, as it allows her to stay in shape for major international tournaments. And as she told JWS earlier this year, the US league's speedy, possession-oriented style has made her a better overall player. Morgan had always been good with the ball at her feet, but her time in Washington has significantly improved her off-ball positioning and ability to go toe-to-toe with the world's best attackers.
Her desire to improve only grew stronger after the Spirit fell short of last year's NWSL title. "That was something that at the time provided a huge fire inside me," she said. "I worked super hard in the off-season, doing things on the pitch that I knew would complement the areas of the game that I wanted to improve."
From Euros glory to NWSL grind: Esme Morgan returns to form
The work is paying off. She played a key role as a reserve center back in the Lionesses's successful UEFA Women's Euro defense this summer, replacing Gotham defender — and 2025 NWSL Championship opponent — Jess Carter in England's hard-fought semifinal victory over Italy. She went on to lift the trophy with her national team teammates, after avenging their World Cup loss against Spain in the European Championship final.
Winning a major international title accomplished a childhood dream, but Morgan had to quickly re-orient herself after rejoining the Spirit in DC.
"Immediately after the Euros was when I felt the most tired. It was just like a come-down after that high," she reflected. "But I've since rallied and [felt] fresh and ready coming into the last couple of games."
How team love fuels the Washington Spirit's NWSL Championship quest
Heading into tonight's NWSL Championship, Morgan's focus on winning hasn't changed. But the source of her desire has shifted some, a full year after last year's disappointing exit. Washington faced adversity due to injury this season, in many ways mirroring their 2024 arc. But they've also continued to prioritize joy — on and off the pitch.
"We've overcome lots of challenges as a group, but stuck together throughout," Morgan said. "Now my passion and desire to win this weekend comes not from me losing out last year. It comes from the love I have for this group and the desire to win with these girls."
Another thing driving her? A victory tonight would put Morgan in rare company, completing her 2025 trophy case with both an international and league.
"I had the best time in the summer, achieved a lifelong goal. And ever since I've come to the Spirit, I've wanted to win the championship," she said. "It would be the perfect year, really."
Sweden veteran defender Magda Eriksson is hanging up her international boots to focus on her health, with the 32-year-old officially announcing her retirement from her national team on Sunday.
Eriksson will continue competing at the domestic level for her German club, Bayern Munich.
The longtime captain sat out the most recent international window due to a head injury, watching as world No. 3 Sweden fell to No. 1 Spain in the two-leg 2025 Nations League semifinals.
"It's by far the toughest decision I've ever made," Eriksson said in her social media announcement. "But I'm listening to my body and mind instead of my heart."
"I've landed in the fact that unfortunately it's a decision that has to be made."
After an 11-year career with the Swedish senior national team, Eriksson retires as a two-time Olympic silver medalist, earning those podium finishes in Rio in 2016 and at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games.
Often leading Sweden through major tournaments where early domination dissolved into a third-place finish, Eriksson also helped her team eke onto the World Cup podium in both 2019 and 2023.
"It is heavy news," said Sweden head coach Tony Gustavsson after Eriksson announced her international retirement, calling her "one of our most important players for a long time."
"[Magda's] professionalism, courage, and heart have left a strong mark on the national team," he added.
The USWNT kicks off the first of their three October friendlies on Thursday night, facing Portugal as the team takes the pitch for the first time in nearly four months.
The matchup marks the first meeting between the two nations since the tense 0-0 group-stage finale at the 2023 World Cup that saw the USWNT narrowly advance to the knockouts.
"[Portugal] is a very good team," US midfielder Lindsey Heaps said earlier this week. "Many times that we've played them before, we get a tough game and a tough matchup."
The game also provides a glimpse of an evolving USWNT roster, bringing together NWSL standouts and European club stars ahead of next fall's World Cup qualifiers.
"That's the key right now — we need to finalize [the roster] in the next two years, and obviously leading up to qualification," continued Heaps. "That's an exciting process right now."
"It's just getting everyone together, everyone on the same page and know what the standards and levels are," she added. "What it takes to qualify for a World Cup."
How to watch the USWNT vs. Portugal on Thursday
The world No. 2 USWNT will kick off a trio of friendlies with a match against No. 23 Portugal at 7 PM ET on Thursday.
The clash will air live across TNT, Peacock, and HBO Max.
World No. 5 England are bringing football home once again, lifting their second straight UEFA Women's Euro trophy after defeating reigning World Cup champs No. 2 Spain in the 2025 championship match on Sunday.
Leading for a total of four minutes throughout the entirety of the knockouts, Sunday's win marked England's third consecutive comeback victory this tournament, as the Lionesses bested La Roja in a penalty shootout to become the first back-to-back European champions since 2013.
Armed with more confident knockout-stage results, Spain came out swinging in the first half, going up 1-0 behind Mariona Caldentey's 25th-minute strike.
However, England would not be denied, equalizing off a header from Alessia Russo in the 57th minute to eventually force extra time at a 1-1 deadlock.
The stalemate held through the additional 30 minutes, invoking yet another penalty shootout in true 2025 Euro fashion.
Spain struck first, but three uncharacteristic missed shots from Caldentey, reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, and 2023 World Cup breakout star Salma Paralluelo handed England control of the shootout.
Forward Chloe Kelly — the 2022 title-winning scorer — came through for the Lionesses again, sinking the final shot from the spot to secure England's second major tournament title.
Sunday's victory also added to Sarina Wiegman's personal perfect Euro record, as the England manager emerged from her third European Championship with a third straight title — two with the Lionesses and one with the Netherlands in 2017.
"She's amazing," Kelly said of Wiegman. "She is an incredible woman. What she's done for this country, we should all be so grateful."
Despite Spain's edge, England showcased the mentality it takes to cap an unlikely run with a fairytale ending — one that could fuel them down the path to another trophy as attention shifts toward the 2027 World Cup.
Sunday's UEFA Women's Euro Final will look familiar, as world No. 2 Spain and No. 5 England turn the 2025 European Championship into a redux of the 2023 World Cup title match.
"I feel like the hard work has paid off," Spain manager Montse Tomé said after the reigning World Cup champions' hard-earned semifinal win over No. 3 Germany on Wednesday.
"I can't believe what happened — the togetherness of this group is so special," said England star Chloe Kelly following the 2022 Euro champs' own semifinal thriller against No. 13 Italy on Tuesday.
While the pair of European powerhouse share a fairly even head-to-head history, with England claiming a slight edge behind an 8-5-6 (W/L/D) all-time record against La Roja, Spain owns the most recent 2023 high-profile win.
Since that 1-0 World Cup showdown, England and Spain have split their two matchups, taking one apiece in the 2025 UEFA Nations League competition with the Lionesses snagging a 1-0 February win before La Roja fired back with a 2-1 victory last month.
"[The Euro is] something we have never won and is something we are missing," said Spain and Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey. "We respect England, but we will go for it."
How to watch Span vs. England at the Euro Final
Spain will look to unseat 2022 Euro champs England when the pair meet in a 2023 World Cup final rematch on Sunday.
The 2025 Euro grand finale will kicks off at 12 PM ET, airing live on Fox.
World No. 2 Spain clinched their first-ever UEFA Women's Euro final berth on Wednesday, when the 2023 World Cup champions handed eight-time title-winners No. 3 Germany a narrow 1-0 extra-time defeat in their 2025 semifinal.
"I'm proud because we deserve it," winning goal-scorer Aitana Bonmatí told reporters afterwards. "We had a tremendous championship. It was the first time we beat Germany, and on top of that, we reached the final."
Entering the match with a 5-0-3 (W/L/D) all-time record against La Roja, Germany arrived shorthanded, as both injuries and suspensions forced them to start every available defender.
The squad's famed football mentality prevailed for more than 110 minutes in a 0-0 deadlock, with Spain struggling to break down a committed German defense led by reigning NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year Ann-Katrin Berger.
As the clock ticked down in extra time, however, an audacious 113th-minute strike from Bonmatí caught the Gotham FC keeper off-guard, earning La Roja both a first historic win over the Germans as well as a shot at their second major tournament trophy in three years.
The once-improbable 2023 World Cup final rematch is now a reality, as familiar foes Spain and No. 5 England gear up for another championship battle.
"I know what they can do," said Spain and Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey of the defending Euro champs. "It will be a hard game."
How to watch the 2025 Euro final
No. 2 Spain will next look to unseat 2022 champion No. 5 England when the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 final kicks off at 12 PM ET on Sunday.
The 2025 Euro grand finale will air live on Fox.
The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 semifinals kick off on Tuesday afternoon, as the four remaining nations — England, Italy, Germany, and Spain — battle it out for one of two tickets to Sunday's tournament final.
Notably, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final is still on the table, with both England and Spain advancing on opposite ends of the bracket.
Three of the four semifinal squads showcase a wealth of international experience and history, while surprise underdog Italy is surging in an attempt to shock the world.
- No. 5 England vs. No. 13 Italy, Tuesday at 3 PM ET (FOX): While Italy eyes their first major tournament final appearance since 1993, the 2022 Euro champion Lionesses will look to bounce back from their tightly contested quarterfinal clash.
- No. 3 Germany vs. No. 2 Spain, Wednesday at 3 PM ET (FOX): Expect the reigning World Cup champions to have an edge over a tested German side, but don't discount Germany's mental resolve after their own dramatic quarterfinal win.
A significant factor in the 2025 Euro semifinals will be athlete availability, as multiple teams continue to rotate their lineups deep into the tournament.
England will hope for captain Leah Williamson's return after the center back exited their quarterfinal with an ankle injury, while Germany and Spain navigate absences due to mounting yellow- and red-card violations.