The United States Women’s National Team is back in action, with three friendlies against two different opponents as Emma Hayes states that there is “much work to be done before qualifying next year.” The roster continues to take shape as new players are incorporated into the group, determining their potential chemistry and best fit for the manager’s tactics. Two matches against Portugal are first on the schedule, with the European side described as “a growing team that will be highly motivated,”
having qualified for a first-ever World Cup in 2023. Chester, Pennsylvania’s Subaru Park, “a state-of-the-art 18,500-seat stadium” with a natural grass surface, hosts the opener; Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field – a 36,000-seat open-air venue located in East Hartford, Connecticut with a Kentucky Bluegrass turf – is the location of the latter fixture.
These are the 12th and 13th meetings between the two sides, with the USWNT holding a 10-0-1 record and the most recent match ending in a draw (0-0) during the group stage at the 2023 World Cup. Ranked 23rd internationally by FIFA, Portugal have endured a dismal 2025, starting with a fourth-place finish below Spain (2-4, 1-7), England (1-1, 0-6), and Belgium (1-0, 0-3) in Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League Group A. Subsequently, A Selecção das Quinas crashed out of Euro 2025, falling to the bottom of Group B at the hands of Spain (0-5), Italy (1-1), and Belgium (1-2).
In February of 2014, a then-32-year-old Francisco Neto was appointed to the manager role and has continued to hold onto the position for over a decade. His tenure has seen the program venture through a period of increased “success, evolution, and growth,” with a focus on deepening the player pool and tactical improvements. He took responsibility for a poor showing at last summer’s European Championship but noted “gradual improvement in defensive balance” and more control over the games over the course of the group stage.
Neto named a 24-player roster for the international window, a group that features four newcomers. The domestic Campeonato Nacional Feminino provides 13 of the call-ups, while seven are on the books at other European clubs. Notable absences include Ana Capeta, Telma Encarnação, Andreia Norton, Joana Marchão, Ana Borges, and Ana Seiça.
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GOALKEEPERS (3): Inês Pereira (Deportivo La Coruña), Patrícia Morais (SC Braga), Sierra Cota-Yarde (AFC Toronto)
DEFENDERS (9): Alice Marques (Sevilla), Bárbara Lopes (SCU Torreense), Beatriz Fonseca (Sporting Lisbon), Carole Costa (SL Benfica), Carolina Correia (SCU Torreense), Catarina Amado (SL Benfica), Diana Gomes (SL Benfica), Érica Cancelinha (Sporting Lisbon), Lúcia Alves (SL Benfica)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Andreia Jacinto (Real Sociedad), Andreia Faria (Al Nassr), Dolores Silva (Levante), Fátima Pinto (Strasbourg), Kika Nazareth (Barcelona), Maria Alagoa (SC Braga), Tatiana Pinto (Juventus)
FORWARDS (5): Carolina Santiago (Sporting Lisbon), Diana Silva (SL Benfica), Jéssica Silva (Al-Hilal), Maísa Correia (Sporting Lisbon), Stephanie Ribeiro (Pumas)
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Neto utilizes a 3-4-1-2 formation with a “solid defensive unit” and the necessary tactical flexibility to “utilize different ideas,” shifting in and out of different set-ups during matches; the intention is for a mix of central and wide play while adding numbers in the final third. Despite a focus on organization, the team has struggled with “individual and collective errors” and been “less than competent” when contending with set pieces. The attack tends to be “possession dominant” and attempts to “break opponents down with fluid passing and positional movements,” although direct play is also occasionally pursued.

Braga’s Patrícia Morais is the traditional long-tenured veteran: sizeable at five feet, ten inches tall, composed and resolute when coming off her line, and capable of making the necessary stops with methodical efficiency. She has a good read on crosses and uses her footwork well in order to take the correct route to the ball, playing a game defined by security by parrying away shots instead of forcing catches and surrendering ugly rebounds. Inês Pereira continues to push for the number-one role with an aggressive style, ambitious long-range distribution, and a high level of athleticism when pulling into fantastic diving saves. The 26-year-old on-loan Deportivo de La Coruña goalkeeper is praised as “excellent with her feet” and comes far off her line, whether to be an active participant in the build-up or to beat the opponent to the ball.
One of the program doyennes, Carole Costa provides “experienced leadership” and keeps the squad organized with a calming presence during the build-up and the willingness to cover key attackers. The 35-year-old Benfica defender is more than just a supervisor and takes an active role with regular clearances and shot blocks, continually getting called into action throughout Neto’s tenure. Diana Gomes is a nuisance with her interceptions and looks to beat players off the dribble while also contributing the occasional finish, notably notching an equalizer against Italy at the Euros. Total Football Analysis praises her “containment” in the one-on-one that helps to force turnovers, enabling her sides to engage in the press and shut down dangerous counter attacks. Typically deploying as a midfielder at the club level, Fátima Pinto has been lining up on the back line for Portugal, bringing excellent distribution, coolness under pressure, and the ability to win headers in the box. She can step forward into the advanced areas and has a knack for selecting the right pass, dipping the ball over the opponents and into the path of an onrushing teammate. Torreense’s Carolina Correia picked up a start in the 3-0 loss to Belgium in the Nations League, bringing a very active style that enables her to chase down pacy wingers and glide into challenges. Her timing, awareness, and anticipation grant her a head start of a few steps when stepping forward, pairing with athleticism on headers and dangerous long-distance distribution into the box.
Catarina Amado provides a balanced profile with a high level of involvement and a drive to join in the attack, displaying a natural evasiveness with her winding dribbling. The 26-year-old Benfica fullback buzzes to the ball and has an excellent first touch that enables her to quickly handle errant passes or clearances and dance out of danger before the opponent can force a turnover. For another front-foot option, Beatriz Fonseca dices and slices through the lines and charges into the final third, making diagonal runs into the center and getting onto the end of long distribution and crosses. The Guarda native thrives in transition with a quick first step and breaks into the open space, making shrewd decisions with her distribution and drawing attention before finding a teammate across the box. Lúcia Alves can at times be a “revelation” when overlapping on the outside of the formation and taking an active role in the final third with the potential to slide around defenders and rack up assists. A decent finisher, Tactics Beyond Borders praises her versatility and ability to “adapt between different shapes and systems,” while also providing a “pace that proves to be the undoing of so many sides.”
Juventus’ Tatiana Pinto is “super aggressive” and takes an active role in the build-up with constant passing and regular finishing in a “box-to-box role,” displaying supreme confidence in the final third. She is constantly on the move and looks to break onto the counter with long vertical runs, quick combination play, long distribution, and the occasional shot from the top of the box. With a sharp reading of the game, Francisca “Kika” Nazareth “makes her team click in possession” with pinpoint distribution, line breaking, and “twists and turns away” from defenders. Fresh off a solid debut season with Barcelona, Total Football Analysis praised her agility, “excellent decision-making,” and two-footed nature, excelling in the short-range situations and fighting through crowds. Described as Portugal’s “prodigy,” Andreia Jacinto of Real Sociedad is quickly becoming a key figure with a high level of involvement and serving to connect the entire formation. Recognized by her headband, her heat map covers the length and width of the field, finding ways to advance or popping up in danger areas and using her five-foot-ten frame to register a challenge. Dolores Silva is a playmaker who came off the bench three times during the Euros, becoming more of a supporting and change-of-pace option when entering into her mid-30s. The captain has “tremendous” speed and can take advantage of “overly aggressive” adversaries, typically lining up in the defensive role, agilely regaining control, and stepping ahead into the available space. Andreia Faria took on a fresh challenge and moved to Al-Nassr, taking an intense style of downhill running, vertical movement, and charging trackbacks to the Saudi Women’s Professional League. Her complete skill set enables her to make an impact in all zones: regaining possession with physical play, pinging combinations in crowded areas or loops over the top, sprinting into transition, and providing a final touch on net.
With a few more productive outings and some luck, the industrious Diana Silva should cement herself as the program’s all-time leading scorer with “speed, tactical intelligence, and finishing ability.” The 30-year-old Benfica striker has a light touch and is equally effective when charging ahead on the counter, opening space with quick combinations, creating her shot with tight dribbling, or leaping high in the air for headers and overcoming her five-foot-three height. Jéssica Silva is a dynamic talent who dances through opponents with a variety of cuts and moves, typically drifting to the wings and spreading out the defense before darting into the center. Despite being more of a progressor and set-up option who does most of her work outside of the area and has a penchant for flashy Rabonas, her production can come in bunches. Sporting Lisbon’s Carolina Santiago is in the midst of a breakout season, with seven finishes in the first few months and recently signed a new contract through 2029, promising to continue bringing her speed and determination to every contest. She has a delicate first touch to settle in the box and the presence of mind to shield away opponents, displaying intelligent movement, clever interplay, and a fox-in-the-box’s instincts to always be in the right spots.
The USWNT has the talent edge on Portugal, a program that is still developing but enduring a poor year with disappointing results. Two friendlies provide the opportunity for the managers to utilize their full rosters and test out different tactics, while also allowing for the potentially unexpected result in the latter fixture. The hosts should easily claim both matches, but the long-term yield remains more important.
The first match is scheduled for Thursday, October 23rd at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, truTV, HBO Max, Peacock, and FUBO TV (free trial).
The second match is scheduled for Sunday, October 26th at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, 1:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, truTV, HBO Max, Universo, Peacock, and FUBO TV (free trial).