WASHINGTON — For the first time in a while, the United States is not looking ahead to a Women’s World Cup as the quadrennial tournament’s reigning champion.
Instead, this month the Americans are getting a close-up look at those who currently wear the crown.
Patri Guijarro and Eva Navarro scored in the first 14 minutes, and Adriana Nanclares stopped a second-half penalty kick to lift Spain to a 2-0 victory over the U.S. on Saturday in a clash between the world’s top two teams in the FIFA women’s rankings.
It was the first of two meetings in a four-day span between Spain, which won its first Women’s World Cup title three years ago, and the Americans, who own a record four such championships and won the gold medal in women’s soccer at the most recent Olympics in 2024.
“They’re world champions for a reason,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “You’re not going to just roll them over. But you can’t give them a head start either.”