SheBelieves Cup 2026: The First Checkpoint
Photography by: Gabriel Bayona Sapag, Matias Cerisola, & Brandon Koodish
The World Cup in Brazil may still be over a year away, but for the USWNT, the 2026 SheBelieves Cup feels like the first true checkpoint in the lead up to this tournament.
The 11th edition of the annual invitational kicks off March 1 and runs through March 7, with the US welcoming Argentina, Canada, and Colombia for a three-game, round-robin tournament across Nashville, Columbus, and Harrison, New Jersey. And it’s been one of our favorite competitions to cover over the past few years.
The format is straightforward — three points for a win in regulation, and if a match ends level, a penalty shootout awards two points to the winner and one to the loser. After three matchdays, the team atop the table lifts the trophy.
Historically, that’s been the United States. The Americans have captured seven SheBelieves titles since the tournament’s inception in 2016 and have never lost an opening match.
They’ll begin this year’s campaign against Argentina at GEODIS Park in Nashville, a city that has become something of a lucky charm. The USWNT owns a 5-0-1 record there and has twice delivered defining SheBelieves moments in front of Tennessee crowds.
But this year’s edition is all about solidifying the squad.
Head coach Emma Hayes has made no secret that 2026 is about building toward November’s CONCACAF W Championship — the gateway to the 2027 World Cup. After expanding the player pool significantly in 2025, Hayes brings a 26-player roster that blends Olympic gold medal mainstays with a wave of emerging talent. Eleven players have 10 caps or fewer, yet the spine remains familiar: Trinity Rodman in attack, Lindsey Heaps and Rose Lavelle in midfield, and a defensive core anchored by Naomi Girma and Emily Fox.
The January camp offered a glimpse of the direction Hayes wants to take. Back-to-back shutout wins over Paraguay and Chile sharpened tactical themes and reestablished rhythm after the offseason. Now comes the tournament test: three matches in seven days, quick turnarounds, and the mental strain that only a cup competition can bring.
“SheBelieves has always given us that tournament feeling,” veteran defender Emily Sonnett said recently. “You’re managing recovery, preparation, and pressure all at once.”
The opposition will provide varied challenges. Canada, ranked 10th in the world, remains the region’s fiercest rival and could very well be a World Cup qualifying opponent later this year. Colombia, fresh off a strong Copa América Femenina run in 2025, brings athleticism and attacking flair. Argentina, still seeking its first SheBelieves win, offers a disciplined, physical test in the opener.
Beyond the standings, there’s symbolism too. Before the final match in Harrison, New Jersey, USWNT legend Tobin Heath will be honored in a pregame retirement celebration, a nod to the past as a new generation takes center stage.
The World Cup may be over a year away. The Olympics sit further still. But when the whistle blows in Nashville, the path toward both will feel just a little more real.
