The 10th SheBelieves Cup features three double-header matches between the U.S., Japan, Australia, and Colombia. The first set of matches take place Feb. 20 in Houston, Texas (5:00 p.m. ET for Australia vs. Japan and 8:00 p.m. ET for USA vs. Colombia – available on TBS, Max, Universo, and Peacock). 

The tournament then moves to Glendale, Ariz. on Feb. 23, and finishes in San Diego, Calif. on Feb. 26 with the winner determined by total points after three match days. 

Emma Hayes confirmed her 23-player roster last week, naming 12 of 22 gold medalists, as multiple senior team stars remain unavailable. That includes all three members of the “Triple Espresso” forward force that combined for 10 goals at the Paris Olympics (Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith), as well as midfield maestro Rose Lavelle and record-setting center back Naomi Girma. 

Hayes continues to focus on building experience for a wider talent pool as she builds toward the 2027 World Cup. For the team’s first international games of 2025, she’s named four uncapped players, and 10 players with four or fewer caps. 

19-year-old right-back Gisele Thompson (who earned her first call-up under Emma Hayes in June 2024) appears in her first competitive camp roster alongside her sister, Alyssa Thompson. The Thompson sisters (and Angel City FC teammates) are the third set of sisters to make the same USWNT roster (joining ranks with the inimitable Mewis sisters). 

Third-place Arsenal won the North London Derby against sixth-place Tottenham 5-0, in front of 55,000 fans at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s fifth goal was a 90th-minute rocket struck by none other than Virginia-born right-back Emily Fox (who said post-game that when Leah Williamson tells you to shoot, you do it). After 2,815 days, 27-year-old England forward Chloe Kelly made an emotional return debut for Arsenal, her original club, in the derby. 

Jamaican striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw scored two goals in Manchester City’s 4-0 win against Liverpool on Sunday. Shaw—who was the league’s top scorer last season, and tops the chart this year too—was the victim of racist abuse online, and made a powerful statement.

U.S. center back Naomi Girma (who broke the women’s football transfer record last month) is working back to fitness from a calf injury, and has yet to debut for her new club. But U.S. midfielder/forward Catarina Macario got the start in Chelsea’s 2-1 win against Everton on Sunday, which saw the Blues maintain their undefeated run at the top of England’s WSL. England’s Lauren James scored in the 93rd minute to seal the win. 

Manchester United maintained their hold on second place this weekend after beating Crystal Palace (who are in last-place of the WSL) 3-1.

France’s first-place juggernauts, Lyon, beat Guingamp 7-0. U.S. right back Sofia Huerta scored her first goal for Lyon in the win. 🇫🇷

Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga saw movement at the top of a closely-contested table this weekend. Frankfurt (who’d maintained a hold on first place while tied on points with teams below them) fell to second place after losing 6-1 to third-place Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg are now tied on points with Frankfurt, and both clubs are just three points short of Bayern Munich, who moved into the top position with a 1-0 win against Werder Bremen. 🇩🇪

While the USWNT prepares to host the 10th SheBelieves Cup 🇺🇲🇯🇵🇦🇺🇨🇴, international teams across the world are also in action this coming week. In Europe, the 2025 UEFA Women’s Nations League commences with matchday one of the League Phase. 

Canada will play their first games under former England captain and San Diego Wave’s inaugural manager, Casey Stoney, in the 2025 Pinatar Cup. This year’s tournament takes place in Murcia, Spain, and features Canada, Mexico, China, and Chinese Taipei. 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇨🇳🇹🇼 More: Sam talked with Casey Stoney about her new job with Canada, and her departure from San Diego on last week’s podcast. Watch their full conversation on YouTube here. 

The former head of Spain’s Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, is awaiting a verdict in Spanish court. Rubiales is on trial for kissing Spanish forward Jenni Hermoso in the immediate aftermath of La Roja’s 2023 World Cup victory.

Adidas have released their new away kits for Euro 2025 (🔥), and you know our friends at WorldSoccerShop are ready for them to kick off. THEY'VE GOT YOU COVERED ON ALL THE NEW KITS HERE.

From Nancy Armour in USA Today, ‘Emma Hayes is reimagining women’s soccer in America: the USWNT way’.

From Joshua Nichol in The Northern Echo, ‘EuroMillions winners make significant investment in Durham Women FC’.

From Jack Snape in The Guardian, ‘It’s pressure not to let people down: Lydia Williams makes leap from goalline to boardroom’

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