When are the USWNT fixtures in 2021? U.S. team match schedule

Ameé Ruszkai

• 3 min read

The U.S. Women’s National Team are targeting gold at this summer’s Olympic Games and will hope to prepare accordingly for the tournament as international football begins in 2021.

The Summer Games, pushed back a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, carry huge significance in the women’s game, standing second only to the Women’s World Cup.

Back in 2016, Jill Ellis’ side were eliminated in the quarter-finals by a Sweden team led by former USWNT head coach Pia Sundhage. However, after winning their second successive World Cup title last summer, the United States, with Vlatko Andonovski in charge this time around, will be the favorites this summer as they aim for their fifth Olympic gold.

What games have the USWNT played?

The Covid-19 pandemic canceled a significant amount of international football in 2020, with the USWNT only returning to action at the end of the year with a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in November. It was their first outing since March last year, when they beat Japan 3-1 to clinch the 2020 SheBelieves Cup title.

The outbreak of coronavirus meant fixtures against Australia and Brazil, which were scheduled for April 10 and April 14, respectively, had to be cancelled.

However, Andonovski's team have started 2021 positively. They won two friendlies against Colombia in January and then retained their SheBelieves Cup title a month later, beating Canada, Brazil and Argentina.

A draw with Sweden in April was disappointing, but it didn't snap their unbeaten streak and they bounced back with a 2-0 win over France just three days later.

What games do the U.S. have to come?

There is a further international break in June before the Women's Olympic Football Tournament gets underway in Tokyo, Japan, on July 21. In May, U.S. Soccer announced that the team will place three friendly games in a six day period during that time, scheduling that will serve as perfect preparation for the Games.

Andonovski's side learned their group-stage opponents for the Olympic soccer tournament in April, the draw delayed due to the impact of coronavirus delaying two play-off ties. They will face Sweden again, as well as New Zealand and Australia.

Following the conclusion of the Games, the USWNT will reconvene between September 13 and 21, October 18 and 26 and November 22 and December 1.

There will be no qualifying games for the 2023 Women's World Cup to contest for Andonovski's team this year, as the Concacaf representatives at that tournament will be determined in 2022, via the Concacaf Women's Championship.