5 Things we learned from USWNT’s two friendlies against Spain

The US Women's National Team endured a challenging international window against Spain, suffering a 2-0 defeat before salvaging a 2-2 draw via an 86th-minute goal from Mallory Swanson. Manager Emma Hayes faced defensive struggles and goalkeeping uncertainties, as neither Claudia Dickey nor Phallon Tullis-Joyce decisively secured the primary starting role ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifying fixtures.

Writer Bryan Zarpentine argues that Spain currently represents the team to beat heading into the 2027 World Cup. The analysis highlights the critical absence of injured key players Naomi Girma and Sam Coffey, while crediting the American squad's resilience for overcoming two-goal deficits during the friendly matches.