2025 SheBelieves Cup begins tonight in Houston: What to watch for
(image via US Soccer)
International football returns to Shell Energy Stadium tonight with a SheBelieves Cup doubleheader. Japan will take on Australia in the first match with the United States and Colombia taking part in the nightcap.
When: Thursday, February 20 | 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM CT
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: Universo, Max, Peacock (also TBS for USWNT v Colombia)
Four of the Best
This year’s SheBelieves Cup brings four of the world’s best teams to Houston. Reigning Olympic Champion and the world’s top ranked USWNT headlines the field. Alongside them will be the world’s number 7th ranked team, Japan, 15 ranked team, Australia, and 21st ranked Colombia. All four teams competed in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The United States beat Australia in Group Play and knocked Japan out in the quarterfinals. The US has won the last five SheBelieves Cups and seven in total. Japan is back in the tournament for the third consecutive year and fifth time overall. Colombia and Australia will be making their debut in at this year’s edition.
World Stars
All four teams in the tournament will feature stars from around the world. Each team will have players from the National Women’s Soccer League on their roster. 16 of the 23 players on the United States roster currently play in the NWSL, including two from the Houston Dash in goalkeeper Jane Campbell and forward Yazmeen Ryan. Australia’s roster will feature Portland Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, Angel City defender Alanna Kennedy, and San Diego Wave forward Kaitlyn Torpey. Japan will call on Washington Spirit midfielder Narumi Miura, North Carolina Courage forward Manaka Matsukubo, and Utah Royals forward Mina Tanaka for their roster. Colombia has three NWSL players on their team, including defender Angela Baron from Racing Louisville, defender Ana Guzman from Utah, and star midfielder Leicy Santos from Washington.
In addition to the players playing in America, there are a number of stars from big clubs around the world taking the field in Houston tonight. Americans Emily Fox and Jenna Nighswonger, who both previously in the NWSL, now play for Arsenal in England. Korbin Albert and Linday Heaps, nee Horan, play in France for Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyon respectively. Australia also features Arsenal players Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Caitlin Foord. Manchester City teammates Mary Fowler, from Australia, and Ayaka Yamashita, Yui Hasegawa, and Aoba Fujino from Japan will take part in the tournament as well. Colombia’s big name is striker Mayra Ramirez who stars at Chelsea in England and previously was coached by USWNT boss Emma Hayes.
USWNT Back in Houston
The headliner for the SheBelieves Cup is of course the United States Women’s National Team. The four-time World Cup winners and five-time Olympic gold medalists will bring a strong crowd to Shell Energy Stadium, even in the cold. This will be the 14th match for the USWNT in Houston and the 11th at what is now known as Shell Energy Stadium. The US women have never lost or even drawn at the Dash’s home stadium. The most recent matches in Houston came in 2021. The USWNT beat Portugal 1-0 on June 10 of that year and followed that with a 4-0 win over Jamaica on June 13. They’ll look to stay unbeaten in Houston and unbeaten under Hayes as they take on Colombia tonight.
