USWNT Returns to Action with Champions Match against Iceland

Following a golden summer in France, the U.S. Women’s National Team returns to the field for its first match since defeating Brazil 1-0 in the Olympic Final, facing off against Iceland on Oct. 24 at Q2 Stadium in Austin. The Champions Match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT with broadcast coverage available on TBS, Universo, Max and Peacock.

The Americans head to Austin having captured the program’s fifth gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, capping off a remarkable six-game stretch in which the U.S. never trailed and outscored the opposition 12-2.

Following the game in Austin, the U.S. and Iceland will travel to Nashville, Tenn. for an Oct. 27 matchup, presented by AT&T. Sunday’s game at GEODIS Park will kick off at 5:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. CT (TNT, truTV, Universo, Max, Peacock).

Fans can also follow the action via X (formerly Twitter - @USWNT),Instagram (@USWNT), Facebook and the official U.S. Soccer App. Click here for more information on how to follow Team USA in action at the 2024 Olympics.

THE GALS ARE BACK

Eighteen members of the U.S. Olympic Team were named to the 26-player roster for these October matches, including Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson, who along with Trinity Rodman formed the “Triple Espresso” front line which combined for 10 of the USA’s 12 goals at the Olympics and five of the nine assists. Rodman will not attend training camp as she will stay with her club to continue her rehabilitation from a back injury while attackers Alyssa Thompson and Ashley Sanchez, both members of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Team, return to the USWNT fold.

Head coach Emma Hayes named six uncapped players to this roster, two of whom were at the Olympics with the USA in midfielder Hal Hershfelt and defender Emily Sams. The other uncapped players are Paris Saint-Germain center back Eva Gaetino, who makes her second USWNT roster, and first-time call-ups defender Alyssa Malonson and forwards Yazmeen Ryan and Emma Sears, all of whom have distinguished themselves in the NWSL this season. Midfielder Olivia Moultrie and defender Hailice Mace complete the roster for these October matches. Gold Medalists Croix Bethune, Tierna Davidson and Crystal Dunn were unavailable for selection for this camp.

The roster also does not include any players from the U.S. Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team that finished third in late September at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia as those players are being given time to reintegrate with their clubs and colleges.

U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; CAPS/GOALS) – OCTOBER FRIENDLIES 2024

GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 8), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 19), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 112)

DEFENDERS (9): Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 57/1), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 0/0), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 40/0), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit; 56/0), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current; 8/0), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 15/2), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 0/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 99/2)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 18/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 24/1), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 156/35), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 106/24), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 4/2), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 27/3)

FORWARDS (7): Yazmeen Ryan (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 0/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 16/7), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 56/23), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars; 100/38), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 9/0), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 71/19)

GOLDEN SUMMER

The USWNT reeled off six straight wins at the 2024 Paris Olympics, advancing through the tournament in impressive fashion, downing Zambia (3-0), Germany (4-1) and a defensive-minded Australia (2-1) in group play and then winning two 1-0 matches in overtime, beating Japan in the quarterfinal and Germany in the semifinal. The 1-0 victory over Brazil in the championship game capped a glorious tournament that was led by the “Triple Espresso” front line of Swanson (4 goals, 2 assists), Smith (3 goals, 2 assists) and Rodman (3 goals, 1 assist), which scored 10 of the USA’s 12 goals during the tournament. Forward Lynn Williams and midfielder Korbin Albert added one goal each as the USA’s won its record fifth gold medal in women’s soccer and the program’s first since 2012. Defensively, the U.S. didn’t allow a single goal during the knockout stages and center back Naomi Girma played every minute of every match while goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher became the first goalkeeper to earn a shutout in a Women’s World Cup Final and an Olympic gold medal game.

SERIES HISTORY: USA vs. ICELAND

Thursday’s return to action in Austin will be the 16th meeting all-time between the USA and Iceland and the first since squaring off in the final match of the 2022 SheBelieves Cup in Frisco, Texas. The USA prevailed 5-0 in that match behind two goals each from Catarina Macario and Mallory Swanson, along with a late goal from Kristie Mewis. Midfielder Ashley Sanchez, who returns to this U.S. roster for the first time in nearly a year, recorded the first two assists of her international in the victory over Iceland, helping the U.S. secure its third consecutive SheBelieves Cup title.

The U.S. leads the overall series with Iceland 13W-0L-2D, playing to scoreless draws in April 2000 and at the 2015 Algarve Cup. Before squaring off at the SheBelieves Cup, the previous five meetings between the U.S. and Iceland all took place at the Algarve Cup in Portugal, with the USA going 4-0-1 over that span and outscoring Iceland by an overall margin of 10-2

The U.S. has kept a clean sheet in 12 of its 15 all-time meetings with Iceland, including each of the last three head-to-head meetings between the teams.

LONE STAR STATE OF MIND

The USWNT will be playing its third match all-time at Q2 Stadium, home of Austin FC in Major League Soccer. In 2021, the USWNT played the first-ever match at Q2 Stadium in Austin, defeating Nigeria 2-0 in front of a sold-out crowd in the lead up to the delayed Tokyo Olympics. In 2023, the USWNT defeated the Republic of Ireland 2-0 on April 8 behind goals from Emily Fox and Lindsey Horan.

The USWNT has a perfect record when playing in Texas, winning all 33 of its matches in the Lone Star State and doings so by a combined score of 134-13. The only other states where the USWNT has played at least five times and won every match are New York (13), Georgia (10) and Virginia (6).

SONNETT ON VERGE OF CENTURY MARK

World Cup and Olympic champion Emily Sonnett enters these October matches with 99 international appearances and is on the verge of becoming the 45th player in USWNT history to reach the 100 cap mark. A versatile and dynamic competitor, Sonnett has spent time in both the midfield and backline since making her international debut in October of 2015. A two-time Olympian, Sonnett helped the U.S. to bronze in Tokyo and played a key role in the run to Olympic gold in Paris, seeing action in all six games while starting two.

USWNT TO END YEAR IN EUROPE

These October friendlies, which will be capped off by an Oct. 30 meeting with Argentina in a match presented by Jim Beam at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky (7 p.m. ET on TNT, Universo, truTV, Max and Peacock), mark the final home matches for the USWNT of 2024.

The U.S. will finish its 2024 schedule with two matches in Europe, facing 2022 European Champions and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup finalists England on Saturday, Nov. 30 at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London (12:20 p.m. ET / 5:20 p.m. London Time on TNT, Max, Universo and Peacock) followed by a Dec. 3 match against the Netherlands at the ADO Den Haag Stadium in The Hague (2:45 p.m. ET / 8:45 p.m. local time on TNT, truTV, Universo, Max and Peacock).

2024 MEDIA GUIDE

The 2024 USWNT Media Guide is available for viewing and download. The Media Guides features all the history and statistics for the USWNT, as well as full bios on technical staff and the current top players, information on the USA’s Youth Women’s National Teams and general important information on U.S. Soccer.

USA TEAM & ROSTER NOTES

• Four of the players on this roster have 100+ caps, led by Lindsey Horan with 156. Alyssa Naeher has 112 international appearances followed by Rose Lavelle (106 caps) and Mallory Swanson (100). Emily Sonnett enters the match in Austin with 99 caps and will join the 100 club in her next appearance.
• Six players on this roster have yet to be capped – Eva Gaetino, Hal Hershfelt, Alyssa Malonson, Yazmeen Ryan, Emily Sams and Emma Sears.
• This roster averages 26.2 years of age and features three teenagers – Olivia Moultrie, Jaedyn Shaw and Alyssa Thompson, all aged 19.
• Fifteen different clubs – three from Europe and 12 from the NWSL – are represented on this roster. NJ/NY Gotham FC leads the way with five players.
• Fourteen of the 22 NWSL players on the roster play for clubs that have qualified for the playoffs while seven are on teams still vying for a post-season berth.
• Swanson is the top scorer on this roster with 38 career international goals, followed by Horan with 35 goals, Rose Lavelle with 24 and Sophia Smith with 23.
• Horan leads the USA with 1,482 total minutes played in 2024, followed by Alyssa Naeher (1,440 min) and Emily Fox (1,363).
• Thirteen different players have scored so far for the USWNT in 2024 – led by eight goals from Smith, six from Swanson, five from Shaw, four from Horan and three from Rodman. Alex Morgan, Olivia Moultrie, Tierna Davidson, Lynn Williams and Jenna Nighswonger have two goals each while Crystal Dunn, Lily Yohannes and Korbin Albert have one goal apiece on the year.
• Rodman, Smith and Swanson lead the U.S. with four assists apiece this year, followed by Horan and Lavelle with three assists each and Midge Purce with two. Nine other players have one assist on the year.
• Overall, 19 different players have been directly involved in a goal for the USA in 2024, led by 12 goals involvements from Smith (8 goals, 4 assists) and 10 goal involvements from Swanson (6 goals, 4 assists).

IN FOCUS: ICELAND | FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Current FIFA World Ranking: 13
UEFA Ranking: 8
World Cup Appearances: N/A
Olympic Appearances: N/A
Record vs. USA: 0W-13L-2D (6 GF; 53 GA)
Last Meeting vs. USA: Feb. 23, 2022 (5-0 USA win in Frisco, Texas)
Head Coach: Thorsteinn Halldórsson (ISL)

ICELAND WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM – ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Cecilía Rúnarsdóttir (Inter Milan, ITA), 12-Fanney Birkisdóttir (Valur), 13-Telma Ívarsdóttir (Breiðablik)

DEFENDERS (8): 3-Sandra Jessen (Thor/KA), 4-Glódís Viggósdóttir (Bayern Munich, GER), 6-Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir (Brøndby IF, DEN), 11-Natasha Anasi (Valur), 18-Guðrún Arnarsdóttir (FC Rosengard, SWE), 19-Sædís Heiðarsdóttir (Valerenga, NOR), 20-Guðný Árnadóttir (Kristianstads DFF, SWE), 21-Hafrún Halldórsdóttir (Brøndby IF, DEN)

MIDFIELDERS (8): 2-Berglind Ágústsdóttir (Valur), 7-Selma Magnúsdóttir (Rosenborg BK, NOR), 8-Ásdís Halldórsdóttir (LSK Kvinner FK, NOR), 10-Karólína Vilhjálmsdóttir (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), 15-Katla Tryggvadóttir (Kristianstads DFF, SWE), 16-Hildur Antonsdóttir (Madrid CFF, ESP), 17-Heiða Viðarsdóttir (Breiðablik), 22-Amanda Andradóttir (FC Twente, NED)

FORWARDS (4): 5-Emilía Ásgeirsdóttir (FC Nordsjælland, DEN), 9-Diljá Zomers (OH Leuven, BEL), 14-Hlín Eiríksdóttir (Kristianstads DFF, SWE), 23-Sveindís Jónsdóttir (VfL Wolfsburg, GER)

ICELAND TEAM NOTES

• Ranked 13th overall in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings, Iceland comes into these matches against the USA on the heels of qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. Iceland qualified for the Women’s Euro, its fifth consecutive, by virtue of its second-place finish in Group 4 of qualifying League A.
• Drawn into a group alongside Germany, Iceland and Poland, Iceland went 4W-1L-1D during its six qualifying matches, the lone defeat coming on the road against Germany in April. Iceland drew Austria 1-1 in late May and pulled off an impressive 3-0 victory over Germany on July 12 to secure its ticket to the Euros before closing out qualifying with a 1-0 win over Poland.
• Iceland’s best showing at the Euro came in 2013 in Sweden when it advanced out of the group and reached the quarterfinal. In its most recent showing at Euro 2022 in England, Iceland failed to make it out of the group after drawing all three of its group stage games.
• Iceland head coach Thorsteinn Halldórsson has selected 23 players for the matches against the USA, putting together a roster comprised of many players from Iceland’s Euro qualifying campaign.
• Seventeen of Iceland’s 23 players are playing for top clubs across Europe in Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Netherlands.
• Defender Glódís Viggósdóttir is by far the most experienced player on this roster with 128 international appearances and is one of the most capped players in the history of the Iceland Women’s National Team. One of 30 players named nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or Féminin alongside the USA’s Lindsey Horan, Alyssa Naeher, Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson, Viggósdóttir plays her club soccer for Bayern Munich in Germany, helping the club win the Frauen-Bundesliga each of the last two seasons.
• Forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir is the leading scorer on this roster with 12 goals in 40 international appearances. The 23-year-old led Iceland with three goals during the recent Euro qualifying campaign, including goals in the July victories over Germany and Poland. The 2021 Icelandic Women’s Footballer of the Year, Jónsdóttir plays for VfL Wolfsburg in Germany and helped the club win the league in 2022 and reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final in 2023. Her father is Icelandic father and her mother is Ghanaian.
• Defender Natasha Anasi, is an American who attended Duke University and is a former player for the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team, playing for the USA in 2012 and 2013. She also played for the U.S. U-18 WNT.
• The native of Arlington, Texas moved to Iceland in 2014 to play professionally – she played for four Icelandic clubs and one in Norway – and received Icelandic citizenship in December 2019.
• Anasi made her international debut for the Iceland in March of 2020 and has six caps and one goal for her adopted country.