The world No. 2 USWNT kicked off 2026 in style on Saturday, taking down No. 46 Paraguay 6-0 behind a bombardment of five second-half goals — all scored in a span of 12 minutes.
Portland Thorns forward Reilyn Turner opened scoring in first-half stoppage time — earning her first international goal in her USWNT debut — before a brace from Kansas City's Ally Sentor plus goals from Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman and Racing Louisville's Emma Sears combined with a Paraguay own goal to silence the opposition.
"There was a lot of inexperience for us, and there's a lot of nerves that come with that," USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said postgame. "But I thought the team handled themselves really well."
With Rodman wearing the captain's arm band for the first time, the USWNT's starting XI on Saturday averaged just 9.6 international caps — the most inexperienced US lineup in 25 years.
"Having done 25 years as a coach during preseason, it's the perfect game to play," Hayes said as the team gears up for the 2026 SheBelieves Cup in March. "These players are building towards the start of their season."
Prior to their emphatic Saturday victory, the team honored retired two-time World Cup champion Christen Press in a pre-game ceremony, with Press and her wife and former teammate Tobin Heath in attendance.
How to watch the USWNT this week
The No. 2 USWNT will close out their January friendlies against No. 47 Chile at 10 PM ET on Tuesday, airing live on TBS.
A young USWNT will kick off in California on Saturday, as the world No. 2 takes on No. 46 Paraguay in the first of two January friendlies to open the 2027 World Cup qualifying year.
"It's really exciting to see the opportunity presented to a lot of players in this camp," said midfielder Olivia Moultrie prior to Saturday's match, which will pull from a 26-player USWNT January lineup that boasts an average age of just 24.1 years old. "It's players that I've played with on youth teams, and just seeing kind of start coming into the league."
This month's camp falls outside an official FIFA window, leaving the US without both European club players and Gotham FC's squad as the 2025 NWSL champs prepare to contend in the first-ever FIFA Women's Champions Cup in London next week.
"There is no question we will keep — I hope — improving what we're doing," said USWNT manager Emma Hayes. "You don't do that gradually, you don't do that by changing things all of the time."
Additionally, Saturday's match will honor two-time World Cup champion Christen Press with a pregame ceremony, after the star forward announced her pro soccer retirement at the end of last season.
How to watch the USWNT vs. Paraguay on Saturday
The USWNT will take on Paraguay at 5:30 PM ET on Saturday, kicking off live on TNT.
USWNT manager Emma Hayes is eager to see star forward Trinity Rodman back on the pitch, as the 23-year-old forward returned to the national team roster for the first time since April this week.
"This week, I said we've missed you in many ways, most of all because she just brings a little bit of color," Hayes said on ESPN's Futbol W on Wednesday. "She's got a great personality and she injects that into the environment."
"I've given her some responsibility this week and I think it's good for her," Hayes continued. "And she wants that, she's ready to take the next steps in her career."
A lingering back injury compounded by a late-season MCL sprain saw Rodman's USWNT appearances severely limited in 2025.
The NWSL free agent also made headlines when this month's non-FIFA window US training camp roster dropped, with Rodman listed as "unattached" as she negotiates a new contract with the Washington Spirit.
"I think the thing for her this year is she's got to take responsibility, not just on the field but off the field," Hayes said of Rodman's recovery. "It's all about the other 22 hours, and what you do with that. If she can nail that, then I expect her to continue to thrive."
How to watch Rodman with the USWNT this week
The world No. 2 USWNT will take on No. 46 Paraguay in the team's first 2026 friendly on Saturday.
The clash will kick off live at 5:30 PM ET on TNT.
The world No. 2 USWNT is getting the band back together, as head coach Emma Hayes named her 26-player roster ahead of the team's January friendlies against No. 46 Paraguay and No. 47 Chile.
Forward Trinity Rodman will join the squad for the first time since April 2025, after an MCL sprain limited her NWSL postseason availability last fall.
"When it comes to the playing front, I don't know where she's at [physically]," Hayes told reporters following Thursday's roster drop. "But if she gives me the thumbs-up, which she has done, to say, 'I'm good, I'm in a good place,' I have to take that at her word."
With the January USWNT camp taking place outside one of the official FIFA windows, only NWSL-based players were available for roster selection, with Gotham FC athletes also getting a pass due to their upcoming FIFA W Champions Cup commitments in London.
Averaging just 6.6 caps per player, this month's lineup continues Hayes's trend of elevating fresh talent, as the manager tapped four first-timers in forwards Maddie Dahlien (Seattle Reign) and Reilyn Turner (Portland Thorns), and midfielders Riley Jackson (North Carolina Courage) and Sally Menti (Seattle Reign).
"Once again, our roster presents opportunity, for the coaching staff to evaluate players and for some NWSL players we haven't seen as much in the National Team environment, as well as for some first-time call-ups, to show they can contribute in 2026, 2027, or beyond," said Hayes.
The January 2026 USWNT roster
- Goalkeepers: Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign) Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC)
- Defenders: Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Gisele Thompson (Angel City), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave), Kate Wiesner (Washington Spirit)
- Midfielders: Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current), Riley Jackson (North Carolina Courage), Lo'eau LaBonta (Kansas City Current), Sally Menti (Seattle Reign), Sam Meza (Seattle Reign), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns)
- Forwards: Maddie Dahlien (Seattle Reign), Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars), Trinity Rodman (Unattached), Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ally Sentnor (Kansas City Current), Reilyn Turner (Portland Thorns)
How to watch the USWNT friendlies this January
Hayes will first test her January roster against Paraguay at 5:30 PM ET on Saturday, January 24th, airing live on TNT.
The USWNT will then take on Chile at 10 PM ET on Tuesday, January 27th, with live coverage airing on TBS.
The USWNT set the 2026 SheBelieves Cup scene this week, announcing the annual friendly tournament's full four-team field as well as scheduling details ahead of its 11th iteration.
The world No. 2 US will host No. 30 Argentina in Nashville, Tennessee, No. 10 Canada in Columbus, Ohio, and No. 20 Colombia in Harrison, New Jersey, this March as they continue to hone their roster ahead of November's World Cup-qualifying Concacaf W Championship.
"These are three teams that will likely be in the World Cup in 2027, and of course we'll likely see Canada in World Cup qualifying at the end of the year," said US manager Emma Hayes in Wednesday's press release. "Focusing on our continued preparations and growth as a team, the SheBelieves Cup is of great value."
The grand finale of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup will also double as a retirement tribute, with the USWNT set to hold a pre-match ceremony honoring legendary forward Tobin Heath in her home state of New Jersey.
Heath earned 181 caps for the US from 2008 to 2021, scoring 36 goals while picking up two World Cup wins (2015, 2019) and two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012).
The USWNT will drop its January camp roster on Thursday, tapping the lineup that will contend in two international friendlies against No. 46 Paraguay and No. 47 Chile at the end of the month.
How to attend the 2026 SheBelieves Cup
A myriad of presales for the annual tournament kick off on Thursday, with all tickets going on sale at 10 AM local venue time on Monday.
Fans can snag seats to all SheBelieves matches at USSoccer.com.
The latest FIFA women's soccer rankings dropped on Thursday, with Spain widening their lead at No. 1 after winning a second consecutive UEFA Nations League title earlier this month.
The USWNT held steady at No. 2, ceding 7.48 points after losing an October friendly to No. 22 Portugal before going on to secure four straight wins over Portugal, No. 35 New Zealand, and No. 13 Italy to close out 2025.
Elsewhere in the FIFA Top 10, No. 3 Germany and No. 6 Brazil both saw boosts after successful fall runs, while Canada skidded to No. 10 amid a recent five-match winless streak, with Les Rouges's last victory coming against No. 43 Costa Rica last June.
The biggest changes, however, occurred outside the top ranks, as No. 96 Nicaragua, No. 118 Burkina Faso, and No. 137 American Samoa all rose by 16 spots.
Notably, upcoming USWNT opponent Paraguay saw the largest drop in this month's Top 50, sliding five spots to No. 46.
Ultimately, as the USWNT battled to keep pace in a year of roster experimentation — and without a major competition on the team's 2025 docket — the many international competitions in Europe benefitted victors and challenged losers in this week's FIFA rankings update.
The USWNT is gearing up for the new year, with US Soccer announcing Tuesday that the world No. 2 team will take on No. 45 Chile in the second of their two January friendlies.
Three days following their 2026 debut against No. 41 Paraguay in Los Angeles, the USWNT will face Chile some 100 miles north at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara on January 27th — the senior national team's first-ever match in the California city.
"Playing in a city for the first time is not a common occurrence at this point in our history, so I know our players will enjoy being in beautiful Santa Barbara," US manager Emma Hayes said in Tuesday's press release.
"Our staff are really looking forward to January camp and these matches against two tough South American countries," Hayes continued. "This is the start of an important year for our team and, as always, we're focused on maximizing every minute we get with the players."
While Chile already began their 2027 World Cup journey in their confederation's ongoing qualifying tournament, the USWNT will spend much of 2026 gearing up for November's final eight-team Concacaf competition to punch their ticket to the Brazil-hosted world championship.
The most recent of the US's three total clashes with Chile came at the the 2019 World Cup in Paris, resulting in a 3-0 group-stage win for the USWNT.
How to buy tickets to the January 2026 USWNT friendlies
A myriad of presale opportunities for both January 2026 friendlies will become available starting at 1 PM ET on Wednesday, with general sales opening at 1 PM ET on Friday.
Fans can purchase tickets to both matches via US Soccer.
The world No. 2 USWNT ended 2025 with a bang on Monday night, shutting out No. 12 Italy yet again behind first-half goals from young stars Catarina Macario and Jaedyn Shaw.
Macario's masterful 20th-minute chip shot continued a scoring tear for the 26-year-old, marking her fifth US goal in the last three matches while bringing her 2025 tally to a team-leading eight.
"[I'm] finally finding some consistency," Macario said after Monday's 2-0 win, commenting on her history of lingering knee injuries. "Considering everything that I've been through for the past three years, that is definitely the thing I'm most proud of."
Shaw then capped the match's scoring in the 41st minute, when the 21-year-old blasted a bullet from the top of the box to double the US lead.
The USWNT officially ends 2025 with 12 wins, three losses, and zero draws, tying the team record for most home defeats in a calendar year while shaking up the player pool and honing their style of play.
"I watched the product in the last two games, and I'm like '[Italy] was a team that nearly made the [2025] Euro final,'" USWNT manager Emma Hayes said postmatch. "We've got patience, we could control the game in the right moments, we can attack in a variety of different ways…for me the pride is in all of it."
"It's what we're striving for every game," said 19-year-old midfielder Claire Hutton, one of three teenagers to start Monday's friendly. "We want to put more goals up — two isn't enough for us — but if we can end in a shutout and with a win, it puts us on the front foot going into January."
How to watch the USWNT in 2026
After a brief break, the USWNT will return to action with a pair of friendlies next month, kicking off their 2026 campaign against No. 41 Paraguay on Saturday, January 24th, before taking on a still-unknown opponent on Tuesday, January 27th.
The US's first match of 2026 will kick off at 5:30 PM ET, airing live on TNT and HBO Max.
With two games left on their 2025 docket, the USWNT is already setting sights on 2026, announcing two friendlies as part of the team's January training camp.
The world No. 2 US will first kick off against No. 41 Paraguay on Saturday, January 24th, before taking on a still-unknown opponent on Tuesday, January 27th.
"I was pleased with the progress we made as a team in 2025, but we still have a ways to go to get to where we want to be heading into the Concacaf W Championship in the fall," said USWNT manager Emma Hayes.
The US will honor two-time World Cup winner Christen Press in a pre-game ceremony before the January 24th showdown, celebrating the longtime USWNT star's recent pro soccer retirement.
Press's hometown of Los Angeles will play host, as the team takes over MLS side LA Galaxy's Dignity Health Sports Park, with the first 2,000 fans taking home a commemorative CP23 bobblehead.
"January camp is a vitally important part of our yearly schedule, especially with 2026 being a year that will host World Cup qualifying," Hayes continued. "We don't get many training days together during any given year, so there is a high value in getting a whole week of training as well as two matches."
How to buy tickets to the January 2026 USWNT friendlies
Though a myriad of presale opportunities are currently available, tickets to both January 2026 friendlies will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday.
Tickets will drop at 1 PM ET online.