The U.S. women’s national team are back in action after winning gold this summer in the Paris Olympics. The squad will host Iceland at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas on Thursday in game one of a three-match celebration series. The victory tour will feature two games against Iceland and close out against Argentina. Head coach Emma Hayes has named a 26-player roster for the October international window as the group prepares for the 16th meeting overall between the two sides.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match against Iceland:
Viewing info
- Date: Thursday, Oct. 24 | Time: 7:30 pm ET
- Location: Q2 Stadium — Austin, TX
- TV: TBS | Stream: MAX
- Odds: USWNT -250; Draw +420; Iceland +580
Storylines
USWNT: Last time the world saw the USWNT they were standing on the top podium with gold medals around their necks. Hayes only had a four-game run-up to the Olympics, and now 10 matches later, she and the team are on a victory tour. There are 18 players from the Olympic roster available for selection, while some gold medalists are missing due to lingering injuries. Forward Trinity Rodman is not in camp with a back injury, and Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson are available as two parts of the “triple espresso” attack.
Hayes has been vocal about the early phases of planning for the 2027-28 cycle, and that includes expanding the player pool. She plans on utilizing the entire player list throughout the window, and with six players in this camp without a senior appearance, there is a strong indication that multiple debuts are a possibility.
Projected XI: Campbell; Malonson, Sonnett, Girma, Fox; Coffey, Horan, Sanchez; Ryan, Smith, Swanson.
Iceland: The Stelpurnar okkar (Our Girls) are winless against the USWNT in their previous 15 meetings with 13 losses and two draws. They’re currently ranked 13th overall in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings and are fresh off qualifying for the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro — a fifth consecutive achievement for the national team. Iceland Manager Thorsteinn Halldórsson named 23 players for the October friendlies against the United States, with a majority of the players part of the Euro qualifying squad. Forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir will be a frequent mark for defenders as the 23-year-old is the roster’s leading scorer with 12 goals in 40 international appearances.
Prediction
First games back in the international mix can be stagnant to start. Add in some rotation and player management and maybe this one is more narrow than some expect. Pick: USWNT 1, Iceland 0
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