FIFA WWC: The 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup will have 48 teams

On Friday, May 9, FIFA announced that the 2031 Women’s World Cup — which will most likely be hosted by the United States of America, plus other Concacaf nations — will have a field of 48 teams. That is an increase of 50% compared to its present size of 32. The decision was made by the FIFA Council (fifa.com).

The idea of expanding the Women’s World Cup to 32 teams had been discussed seriously by those within the FIFA Council since at least September 2024.

As to what a 48-team Women’s World Cup would look like, see this article from September 2024. That article includes a section on the potential field of teams as well as the potential pots for the draw that would determine the groups.


FIFA press release: “FIFA Council takes landmark decisions on the future of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and on the fight against racism” (9-May-2025)

U.S. Soccer press release: “U.S. Soccer and Concacaf Partners to co-host 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup” (3-Apr-2025)

USWNT: The USA will play Jamaica on Tuesday, June 3, instead of China PR

For the next international window, which begins in late May, the United States Women’s National Team will only play China PR once, as for some unspecified reason, China PR “could play only the first match”, which is on Saturday, May 31.

From U.S. Soccer’s press release (11-Apr-2025):

After initially agreeing to play two matches during the upcoming FIFA window, the Chinese Football Association subsequently informed U.S. Soccer that its Women’s National Team could play only the first match.

For the second match, on Tuesday, June 3, the USWNT will now Jamaica, which is currently ranked #40 in the FIFA rankings and is the fourth-highest Concacaf team, behind the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The time, venue, and broadcast details for the match have not changed.

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USWNT: TV and Streaming details for Tuesday’s USA-Brazil friendly

On Tuesday, April 8, the United States Women’s National Team will host Brazil for the second friendly of this month’s two match series. That friendly has a start time of 10:30 p.m. EDT (7:30 p.m. PDT).

In the United States, English-language coverage on TBS and via Max will begin at 10:00 p.m. EDT.

TV & Streaming Details

English-language

Spanish-language


In the first friendly, on Saturday, April 5, the USWNT won 2-nil via a Trinity Rodman goal and a Lindsay Heaps penalty kick (YouTube highlights).

During the next international window, which starts in late May, the USWNT will host China twice. Then, in late June, the USA hosts the Republic of Ireland for a pair of matches, followed by one friendly against Canada in early July.

USWNT: Brazil roster for the friendlies with the USA

For its first encounter with the United States Women’s National Team since last year’s gold medal match in the 2024 Summer Olympics, Brazil will have nine starters from that clash available, compared to just six for the USA. Overall, 12 of Brazil’s 22 players from last year’s Olympics have been named by head coach Arthur Elias to their roster for the upcoming friendlies against the USWNT.

Among the nine gold medal match starters are all three front line players: Gotham FC’s Gabi Portilho, who had the game-winner in the quarterfinals against France (NBC highlights) and also scored against Spain in their semifinal (NBC highlights). Ludmila, now of the Chicago Stars, was a dangerous presence in the gold medal match, where she could have had a goal in the second minute and later had a goal cancelled by the offside flag (NBC highlights). The 23-year-old Jheniffer, who joined Tigres of the Liga MX Femenil in January (Instagram), scored against Japan during the group stage, via an assist from Ludmila (NBC highlights).

Also on the present roster is Adriana, who won the double with Orlando Pride last season, but now plays in Saudi Arabia. During second-half stoppage time of the gold medal match, Adriana had a diving header saved by USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (NBC highlights). However, Adriana was not denied in Brazil’s semifinal, where she headed home what would be the game-winner against Spain (NBC highlights).

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Streaming: USWNT and USMNT matches no longer available on the Max “Basic With Ads” plan

zoomed screenshot of the Max app interface showing the USWNT-Brazil April 5 match page with the flags of both countries.  The page has "Unavailable with your current plan" plus a large "Switch Plans" button.

As announced in late February, the Max streaming service has removed live sports from its “Basic With Ads” plan.

Thus, in order to watch international soccer friendlies involving the United States Women’s and Men’s National Teams, viewers who have relied on the Max streaming service will either need to upgrade to its “Standard” plan or use NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service, which shows USA friendlies with Spanish-language commentary. For details about pricing and alternatives, see this help guide.

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USWNT: The USA will play Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C.

The United States Women’s National Team’s third match during the June-July international window will be against Canada on July 2. The friendly will be played at Audi Field, the home of the Washington Spirit.

Canada is currently ranked 7th overall in the FIFA rankings and is the second-highest ranked Concacaf team, behind the USWNT.

This will be the first USWNT-Canada match for the head coaches of both teams, Emma Hayes, and Casey Stoney, respectively.

For sponsorship reasons, the match will be branded as the third edition of the “Allstate Continental Clásico” (“Allstate” = Allstate Insurance Company). That gratuitously Spanish moniker was first used for a 2023 friendly between the United States Men’s National Team and its Mexico counterpart (USSF match page). In the 2024 edition, the U.S. Men hosted Brazil (USSF match page). Both matches ended in 1:1 draws.

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USWNT: Roster announced for Brazil friendlies — Trinity Rodman returns, Avery Patterson receives first call-up

Update (31-Mar-2025): As expected, center-back Tierna Davidson has been withdrawn due to her knee injury. Outside-back Gisele Thompson has been called from the U-23 USWYNT as a replacement. (U.S. Soccer press release) On 5-April-2025, the rest of this post was been updated accordingly.


Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman is back with the United States Women’s National Team for the first time since the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The addition of Rodman is just one of several changes from February’s SheBelieves Cup roster that USWNT head coach Emma Hayes has made for the squad that will face Brazil twice in early April. Defenders Jenna Nighswonger and Gisele Thompson; along with forwards Lynn Biyendolo, who has a minor lower leg injury, and Emma Sears have not been called up.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, defender Alana Cook, and forward Ashley Hatch also return to the official USWNT fold. Hatch most recently attended the January 2025 USWNT camp. Both Hatch and Cook have not appeared in a USWNT match since 2023.

The Houston Dash’s Avery Patterson is receiving her first call-up to the USWNT. Patterson attended the January 2025 U-23 USWYNT “Futures Camp”, where she was listed as a forward. Here, the versatile flank player is listed as a defender, so she will likely be trialed as an outside-back, a position she has played for the Dash, as well as her former NCAA team, the North Carolina Tar Heels.

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U-23 USWYNT: 24 Players called up for the second Under-23 camp of 2025

Update (31-Mar-2025): Outside-back Gisele Thompson has been called up to the full USWNT as a replacement for the withdrawn Tierna Davidson. Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie will take Thompson’s spot in the U-23 camp. The rest of this post has not yet been updated.


For its second camp of 2025, the United States Under-23 Women’s Youth National Team will have a significantly different roster compared to the earlier “Futures Camp” that was held in January. From that camp, three players will be with the United States Women’s National Team for this current window: Midfielder Claire Hutton, forward Michelle Cooper, and defender/forward Avery Patterson. Meanwhile, thirteen players will be attending their first U-23 camp of the year, including five players who have apparently received their first proper call-up to a U.S. national team camp.

Three of the 24 players called-up have previous trained with the full USWNT:

  • Paris Saint-Germain center-back Eva Gaetino, who has one USWNT cap and attended a few camps in 2024,
  • Angel City outside-back Savy King, who was a training player during the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, and
  • Angel City outside-back Gisele Thompson, who was capped twice during the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.
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USWNT: The USA will play the Republic of Ireland twice in June

On Monday, both U.S. Soccer and the Football Association of Ireland that the United States Women’s National Team will host 26th-ranked Republic of Ireland for two friendlies this June. The first match will be on Thursday, June 26, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, which is just east of Denver. Then, on Sunday, June 29, the two teams will play again at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Republic of Ireland did not qualify for this year’s UEFA Women’s EURO, as the team lost a playoff series against Wales, which will be playing in its first Women’s EURO. Ireland’s roster for the June friendlies should include a couple of NWSL players: Kyra Carusa of the San Diego Wave and Denise O’Sullivan of the North Carolina Courage.

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