The United States Women’s National Team is well on the way to capturing an eighth SheBelieves Cup title, having opened the annual invitational with victories against Argentina (2-0) and Canada (1-0). The tournament slate closes with a match against Colombia, and Emma Hayes’ side can secure first place with a draw or a win. The South American foe is firmly established as the second dog in the regional federation, seeking to eventually leapfrog Brazil for dominant status. Harrison, New Jersey’s Sports
Illustrated Stadium – a 25,000-seat state-of-the-art soccer-specific facility with a recently installed grass surface – hosts the fixture.
This is the 15th all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USWNT holding a 12-0-2 advantage and claiming the most recent result at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup (2-0). Ranked 20th internationally by FIFA, Colombia registered a second-place finish at last summer’s Copa América, falling in the final to Brazil in penalties (4-4 [4-5]). Las Chicas Superpoderosas (The Powerpuff Girls) are third in the table of the ongoing CONMEBOL Nations League, which doubles as qualifying for the 2027 World Cup, with a win over Peru (4-1), a victory in Ecuador (2-1), and a beguiling draw with Bolivia (1-1). The current competition opened by falling to Canada (1-4) and topping Argentina (1-0).
Replacing Nelson Abadía without “official announcement or pomp,” Ángelo “Popeye” Marsiglia ascended to the manager role in October of 2023 before the appointment was made permanent in March of the following year. The 40-year-old Colombian has “known the group and the players for a long time” and is “going step by step and still building on making history,” almost achieving his designs at the last Copa América. He has earned the loyalty of his squad, having provided “the capabilities, the tasks, [and] the tools for [them] to be able to [perform] in the field with the best decision-making,” but there is a challenge to manage “the intensity and attitude” of his players during the long qualifying campaign.
Marsiglia initially named a 23-player roster for the SheBelieves Cup, a group that is almost entirely based abroad. The domestic Liga Femenina Profesional de Fútbol Colombiano is home to one call-up; additionally, six apiece compete in Liga MX and the Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino, five are scattered at various European clubs, and four are on the books of the National Women’s Soccer League. Notable absences include Lorena Bedoya, Catalina Usme, and Mayra Ramírez. Carolina Arias was dropped after picking up an injury with América de Cali; Maithe López was later added.
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GOALKEEPERS (3): Catalina Pérez (RC Strasbourg), Katherine Tapia (Palmeiras), Natalia Giraldo (América de Cali)
DEFENDERS (7): Ana María Guzmán (Palmeiras), Daniela Arias (San Diego Wave), Daniela Caracas (Espanyol), Jorelyn Carabalí (Boston Legacy), Manuela Vanegas (Brighton), Mary José Álvarez (Marseille), Yirleidis Quejada (Pachuca)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Daniela Montoya (Grêmio), Gabriela Rodríguez (Cruzeiro), Gisela Robledo (Corinthians), Ilana Izquierdo (Tigres), Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit), Marcela Restrepo (Monterrey)
FORWARDS (6): Greicy Landazury (Palmeiras), Liced Serna (Pumas), Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid), Manuela Pavi (Toluca), Valerin Loboa (Portland Thorns), Wendy Bonilla (Pumas), Maithe López (Vancouver Rise)
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Marsiglia can deploy a few different formations that “ensure adequate defensive cover” with a “well-organized” set-up that “works immensely hard to maintain compactness when pressing.” His versatile attack seeks to “have a lot of the ball” and transition with speed into the attack, although there can be “unreliability” in the build-up. He is willing to shake things up with drastic tactical changes in the midst of proceedings, relying on his group’s “mental maturity” and individual talents to adjust and make decisions.
Katherine “Kate” Tapia was the number one during 2025 and should continue to hold the role, having nabbed the Golden Glove and a Best XI selection at the Copa América. The 33-year-old Palmeiras goalkeeper won a domestic treble last season and brings a potent mix of athleticism and quickness, charging on and off her line at a seemingly chaotic pace. Rangy at five feet, ten inches tall, she is always in control by hitting the right steps and making the correct decisions, even if an awkward rebound or an indelicate touch forces her into improvisation. Her distribution is sublime, with immediate heads-up throws to an outlet and a driven drop kick sparking the counter-attack, the latter of which can reach three-quarters of the length of the field.
Daniela Arias is embarking on her second season in the NWSL, having played a mere seven minutes spread across two appearances in 2025 despite being “a proven talent with strong defensive instincts.” The 31-year-old San Diego Wave centre-back has excellent pace, balance, and agility with a ball-winning mentality that sees her springing into 50-50 challenges and physical shoulder battles. Exported from the Women’s Super League to provide veteran leadership and experience during Boston Legacy’s expansion campaign, Jorelyn Carabalí brings “tactical intelligence and versatility in a variety of roles” along with the potential for the occasional superlative finish. She racks up the tackles and projects calmness on the ball, side-stepping the initial pressure with a tight turn or quick cut and picking the correct passing option, often into the attack. Brighton’s Manuela Vanegas has racked up her fair share of goals for Colombia and is lauded for her “reliable” two-way play and “energy and creativity” in all phases. Strong in her duels and capable in the air at five feet, seven inches tall, Target Scouting cites her aptitude on set pieces and willingness to test the opponent with her distribution.
Daniela Caracas has a dynamic style facilitated by her speed and skill with the ball, using her attacking instincts to serve as another wide option breaking into the final third. The 28-year-old Espanyol defender sprints up and down the touchline, wins the necessary one-on-one duels, and will find the freedom that enables her to launch crosses into the box. Pachuca’s Yirleidis Quejada won the Clausura title last spring in Mexico and is gradually becoming a more influential presence within the Colombia set-up. With solid performances and aerial success, her star should be on the rise as older members of the squad age out. Ana María Guzmán is on loan at Palmeiras from Bayern Munich and started the first two matches of the tournament, still seeking to recover her career momentum from a knee injury but boasting “playmaking abilities and versatility in wide areas.” She exhibits “composure with the ball and strong spatial awareness” as well as “constantly [being] seen in advanced areas” and “dropping back to engage in one-on-one duels” as the “archetypal Colombian defender.”
Fresh off a college career at Southern Miss and Mississippi State, Ilana Izquierdo headed to the professional ranks, first with Atlético San Luis and now Tigres, bringing “reading, organization, and quality.” She provides “competency in possession and work rate off the ball” as well as “forward passing accuracy” and “runs from deep” that make her an asset in the final third. Marcela Restrepo of Monterrey can find the back of the net and adds “intelligence, patience, and a strategic nature” to the squad, also willing to engage in physical battles. Another versatile tool in the formation, her preference is to play a fast game and get involved in both sides of the action, whether in the middle or the wide areas. Gabriela Rodríguez is a “sensation” who is “capable of producing magic” by “frequenting the spaces between the opponent’s lines” and serving as more of a set-up to the set-up. The 20-year-old Cruzeiro midfielder has a quick burst of speed and excellent control when making untracked runs past the forwards into the final third, picking her moments with shrewdness. Grêmio’s Daniela Montoya “pulls the strings” with a high passing accuracy from the double pivot while also having the range to get involved in all areas of the field. The Medellinense works hard to force turnovers with interceptions in advanced zones and has a rocket of a right foot, launching efforts from distance with minimal set-up.
Leicy Santos turned up her production last year with five goals split across the Copa América and Nations League but also continued to display her abilities as a keen ball progressor. The 29-year-old Washington Spirit attacker is both a “hard-working player” and a “maestro” with the constant drive to make herself available for teammates and the finesse to craft magic. The Portland Thorns’ Valerin Loboa is one of the world’s top young prospects, as the teenager has already competed for several seasons at the professional level in her home country. She has a jaunty lope when darting past defenders and can finish in a variety of ways, with a deft or powerful touch on the ball or rising above the crowds to win a header. Wendy Bonilla of UNAM Pumas has a “powerful shot,” coming at the end of her long runs that start deep in the defensive half before seeing her break out into the counter. With a fluid formation and interchangeable positioning, the sometime-winger will find herself in the middle of the box and ready to pounce on any opportunities.
Linda Caicedo brought Colombia to the brink of history with four goals in the Copa América, including the opener in the final, but her time will come, particularly as the talent develops around her. The 21-year-old Real Madrid forward recently signed a contract extension and has steadily increased her production since moving to Spain in 2023, always “demanding the ball” and pushing for more. Whether lined up at striker or winger, she is dynamic when dribbling with a full head of speed, has the pace to break past defenders on the counter, and displays the panache to fuel her audacious attempts. A delicate first touch and excellent flexibility enable her to corral possession even while under pressure, and a lethal combination of shot power and placement caps off plays. Toluca’s Manuela Paví has a creative spark and will “drift into different positions and interchange with [teammates],” cutting around challenges with a deft touch on the ball and supreme agility. Her low center of gravity helps her to absorb contact and pinball through a crowd of lunging defenders before placing her shot or squaring to an open teammate.
Colombia is an ascendant program that should begin to challenge for a spot in FIFA’s upper echelon, particularly once the boogeyman of Brazil is exorcised. However, for now, the USWNT is the superior side and likely to claim victory by a multi-goal margin. A win will secure yet another SheBelieves Cup and continue the momentum building toward World Cup qualification.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, truTV, HBO Max, Universo, Peacock, and FuboTV (free trial).
