The U.S. Women’s National Team is coming back to Colorado.
U.S. Soccer announced the USWNT will return to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on June 26 for an international friendly against the Republic of Ireland — the first of two matches between the nations this summer. The other will be three days later at FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium.
The U.S. is undefeated all-time against Ireland — currently ranked 26th globally by FIFA — in 15 meetings.
“Ireland is one of the most difficult European teams to play against, so I’m happy we could get these games,” USWNT coach Emma Hayes said in U.S. Soccer’s news release. “We need to play teams that will push us and create an environment where our players have to solve problems and play under pressure.
“We’re still early in our process of building towards World Cup qualifying for ’27 and we still have a lot of growth to go as a team and as individuals, so these summer matches at these great soccer venues will once again provide a platform for the players to show their abilities to excel at a high level.”
The USWNT visit comes on the heels of Denver being awarded an expansion franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League in January.
It will be the 10th time overall and the third time in four years that the national team has made a trip to Colorado. The USWNT has never lost in the Centennial State, winning all but one game — a 3-all tie with Japan in 2016.
Last year, USWNT coach Emma Hayes made her debut with the U.S. in Colorado and led the team to a 4-0 victory over a formidable Korea Republic team. In that game, star forward and Colorado native Mallory Swanson scored twice — her first two tallies for the national team after returning from a torn patellar tendon.
The team went on to win gold in women’s soccer in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. That team featured three Coloradans: Swanson, Golden native and USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps (née Horan), and Windsor native Sophia Wilson (née Smith).
Wilson will likely not feature in the matchup, as she announced earlier this month she’s expecting her first child with her husband, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson, later this year.
Combined, the three Colorado stars have 308 appearances, 98 goals and 79 assists for the national team.
The match will kick off at 7 p.m. and will be televised on TBS, TruTV and Max (Universo and Peacock for Spanish broadcasts). Tickets will go on sale on Friday, March 28.
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