SoFi stadium will host its first women's professional sporting event when the two sides meet April 5
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USWNT book two matches against BrazilRematch of Gold medal finalSoFi to host first women's pro sports eventFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
The U.S. women's national team and Brazil's women's national team played in a thrilling gold medal match in the 2024 Summer Olympics, which the Americans won 1-0. Both sides will do it all over again in California – twice – in friendlies in Los Angeles and San Jose, U.S. Soccer announced Monday.
The first encounter on April 5 will be an historic affair as SoFi Stadium, an estimated $6 billion venue, has never previously hosted a women's sporting event. There will then be a quick turnaround as the two sides will play again just three days later at San Jose's PayPal Park.
The U.S. is currently ranked No. 1 in FIFA's world rankings while Brazil, who saw their icon Marta retire from international duty in 2024, is No. 8.
AdvertisementAFPWHAT HAYES SAID
“These are matches against a top team in fantastic stadiums that will be as fun for the players as they are for the fans,” said coach Emma Hayes in a statement from U.S. Soccer. “To play the first… women’s professional match at Sofi Stadium is a great honor and one worthy of this team. We’re very much looking forward to spending this trip in California which has produced so many players for the U.S. Women’s National Team and so many great moments in our history.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
This is the first time the two sides will have met since the gold medal final in Paris, with the U.S. deciding the match on a 1-0 result thanks to a winner by Mallory Swanson. It's not the only final the two teams have met in.
A Lindsey Horan header gave the U.S. another 1-0 result earlier in the year in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup match on March 10 in San Diego. The USWNT is 33W-3L-5D all-time against Brazil. The teams have never met before in the Greater Los Angeles area.
DID YOU KNOW?
The SoFi stadium match will be a big potential test for FIFA ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The organization is debuting a natural grass test system in March for the Nations League finals in March, and the USWNT-Brazil match will be the third test of that system.