Hello! International men`s soccer action wrapped up dramatically on Tuesday with Argentina`s impressive victory over Brazil. Meanwhile, the US Women`s National Team is preparing for upcoming international matches with a newly announced roster.
Argentina`s Four-Goal Performance Against Brazil
Despite playing without Lionel Messi, Argentina, the current world champions, delivered a strong 4-1 victory against Brazil on Tuesday. This win also secured their qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Argentina quickly established a 2-0 lead within the first 12 minutes with goals from Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez. Although Matheus Cunha scored for Brazil in the 26th minute, Argentina maintained control with further goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Giuliano Simeone, ensuring a dominant home win.
Argentina concludes this international break leading the qualifying group by eight points over Ecuador. Their early World Cup qualification, with five games remaining, highlights their successful campaign. While Messi is the top scorer in the CONMEBOL qualifiers with six goals, coach Lionel Scaloni has effectively tested the team`s strength without him. Tuesday`s victory demonstrated the team`s depth and capability.
Football analyst Chuck Booth commented that Argentina showcased their depth even with the absence of Messi and striker Lautaro Martinez, who was injured. Alvarez and Fernandez celebrated their goals in honor of Martinez, highlighting the team spirit. Each of Argentina`s four goals was scored by a different player, reflecting a strong team effort. Brazil`s defensive errors contributed to Argentina`s goals, but these errors were also a result of Argentina`s effective passing game, which even involved defender Nicolas Tagliafico in an assist.
Brazil finishes the month in fourth place in the qualifying standings, within the automatic qualification spots for the 2026 World Cup. They are comfortably ahead of Venezuela and Bolivia, suggesting their qualification is still likely. However, their performance raises questions about their competitiveness in the upcoming World Cup. Despite a strong attacking lineup including Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Raphinha, Brazil managed only three shots against Argentina, with Cunha`s goal being their only shot on target.
Argentina is among the first non-host nations to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, joining Japan, New Zealand, and Iran. Currently, 41 spots are still available for the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Trinity Rodman Returns to USWNT Roster
Trinity Rodman is set to rejoin the US Women`s National Team for the first time since the Olympic Games last summer. She will participate in friendlies against Brazil next month. Rodman is one of the more experienced players in a roster that includes many new faces, as coach Emma Hayes continues to experiment and build towards the 2027 Women`s World Cup.
Here is the full USWNT roster:
- Goalkeepers (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United)
- Defenders (8): Alana Cook (Kansas City Current), Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC)
- Midfielders (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Heaps (Olympique Lyon), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current), Jaedyn Shaw (North Carolina Courage), Lily Yohannes (Ajax)
- Forwards (7): Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC)
Coach Hayes will work with 11 players who have fewer than 10 international appearances, including potential debutants Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Avery Patterson. Alana Cook and Ashley Hatch could also play their first minutes under Hayes, as she focuses on expanding the player pool. This includes collaboration with the U-23 USWNT, who will have a concurrent camp similar to the Futures camp in January.
As Hayes tests new players and strategies, the goalkeeper position remains a key area of focus following Alyssa Naeher`s retirement. Hayes intends to finalize her choice for the starting goalkeeper by June, emphasizing the importance of current opportunities for the goalkeepers to prove themselves at both club and national levels.
Hayes stated that solidifying a number one goalkeeper takes time, even before Naeher became the established starter. She believes there are several high-quality goalkeepers competing for the spot. The current camp and upcoming matches will be crucial for them to demonstrate their abilities and influence her decision-making process.
The USWNT will first play Brazil on April 5 at SoFi Stadium, followed by a second match against Brazil on April 8 at PayPal Park in San Jose.
Additional News
- USWNT`s Experience Gap: Emma Hayes is addressing the experience difference between veteran and new USWNT players by establishing a leadership council and conducting unique team-building exercises.
- Boston Legacy FC: Boston`s new NWSL team is now named Boston Legacy FC, changing from its initial name BOS Nation FC.
- Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid: Trent Alexander-Arnold may join Real Madrid when his Liverpool contract ends, seen as a potentially good move for both the player and club.
- Davies ACL Injury: Alphonso Davies of Canada suffered an ACL tear, sidelining him for six months.
- Banda Targeted by Hateful Language: Barbra Banda of Orlando Pride faced hateful language from a fan, with support expressed by teams and the NWSL.
- USMNT Review: Some USMNT players` performances were below expectations, making the upcoming Gold Cup crucial for impressing before the 2026 World Cup.
- England`s Continued Wins: England, under Thomas Tuchel, achieved their second win in World Cup qualifiers, marking a strong start.
- Teams of the Week: Debhinha stood out in NWSL, and Kelvin Yeboah was recognized in the MLS team of the week.
- Juventus` Situation: An overview of the changes at Juventus, including the hiring of Igor Tudor after Thiago Motta`s departure.
- U.S. Open Cup on TV: CBS Sports will broadcast the U.S. Open Cup through 2026.
