The U.S. women’s national team is back in action on October 10, marking the squad’s first action since a pair of chippy friendlies versus Brazil in early June. While Brazil served as a difficult test for the USWNT, their next opponent will not make things any easier.
Spain is the opponents this time around, taking on the U.S. in a pair of friendlies located in Washington D.C. and Chester, Pennsylvania. With the 2027 World Cup fastly approaching, there’s perhaps no better test for the USWNT than taking on the defending World Cup champs.
Talent at Three Levels
This Spain roster is filled with world-class talent at every level, but it starts in the midfield with Alexia Putellas. Off her surprising offseason move to London City, Putellas has the most caps of any player in Spain’s history at 148. Even despite this, the two-time Ballon d’Or Féminin winner is still at the peak of her powers at 32 years old, coming off a season in which she posted seven goals in Barcelona’s Champions League campaign.
Spain’s attack is one that will have the U.S. back line on their heels throughout the duration of both games, which in large part is due to Mariona Caldentey. The 30-year-old spent a decade with Barcelona, before making the move to Arsenal in 2024, where her production has continued. With Spain, Caldentey has notched 31 goals in 104 appearances, which included a start in the 2023 World Cup Final.
The Spanish back line would prove to be a worthy test for the Americans, with captain Irene Paredes serving as the unit’s anchor. Paredes brings the experience of over 500 appearances at the club level, with Barça, PSG, and other prominent clubs. Perhaps more importantly, the captain has another 128 caps with her national team, proving to be one of Spain’s most reliable players for well over a decade now.
Riding the Winning Wave
Spain brings a healthy mix of young talent and veterans– but what is undeniable is the winning nature that head coach Sonia Bermúdez inherited upon taking over coaching duties in 2025. Just within the last three or four years, the accolades this national team has accrued are no joke.
Of course, this conversation has to start with winning that 2023 World Cup-winning squad, which included 13 players that are on the roster for the two friendlies versus the U.S. In that tournament, the Spanish won back-to-back thrillers against the Netherlands and Sweden in the knockout rounds, before defeating England 1-0 to win the country’s first ever Women’s World Cup.
Riding the momentum of the World Cup victory, Spain would go on to win two consecutive Nations League titles in 2024 and 2025. Just when it felt like they couldn’t lose, Spain lost a heartbreaker to England in the 2025 Euro Final on penalties. This marked the first time this national team had shown any sort of weakness in a few years– showing the world that they are indeed mortal.
A Potential Summer Preview?
So what does all of this mean for the USWNT? Spain is about as good of a test as you can have as you get ready for the 2027 World Cup. With world-class talent at every level of the field, and the momentum of accolade after accolade, it’s hard to find a more dangerous team in the world.
This side is not unbeatable though– England proved that in the 2025 Euros, and being without all-world midfielder Aitana Bonmatí as she returns to full health doesn’t help the Spanish cause either.
Regardless, the fans are getting treated to a pair of games between the two top teams in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking. For two sides who have their eyes firmly set on bringing home another World Cup in 2027, these two friendlies could serve as a little sneak peek into a potential matchup this summer.
Featured image via @alexiaputellas
_
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS