Overview
- Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET at CPKC Stadium with TV coverage on TNT and TruTV and streaming on Max.
- Emma Hayes brought a 26-player roster for flexibility and has rotated extensively, including splitting goalkeeper minutes between Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Claudia Dickey.
- The team reset with a 3-1 win over Portugal, highlighted by an Olivia Moultrie brace and a Sam Coffey goal, after addressing defensive organization and set-piece lapses.
- New Zealand arrives after 1-0 and 2-0 friendly losses to Mexico, and the U.S. holds a 19-1-1 all-time edge in the series.
- Hayes has emphasized basics following a 113-day layoff and leaned on youth, with one recent starting XI averaging 20.7 years old, as player evaluations continue with qualifiers 13 months away.