2026 SheBelieves Cup: U.S. women's national team open with convincing win over Argentina

The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) delivered a convincing performance to beat Argentina 2-0 in their first football game of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup in Nashville on Sunday (1 March).

It was the hosts who enjoyed much of the ball in the opening stages, with the first big chance falling in their favour. Lindsey Heaps flicked a deft ball in-behind the opposing defence and into the path of Emma Sears, who looked set to break the deadlock but for a lung-busting recovery run from Sophia Braun.

The resulting corner from the deflected effort amounted to nothing, but it wouldn’t be long before the first goal of the evening. Heaps, at the heart of everything for her side, was instrumental as she teamed up with Sears once more.

After regaining possession deep inside the Argentina half, Sears burst into the box uncontested before pulling it back to Heaps on the edge of the area. The U.S. captain showed absolute composure, guiding the ball beyond on-rushing defenders and into the back of the net.

Emma Hayes’s side came close to a quick-fire double after Jameese Joseph, leading the line, appeared to score their second. The 23-year-old was ultimately deemed to be offside by officials, chalking her effort off.

Argentina had their fair share of bright spells in the opening 45, though were unable to test Claudia Dickey between the sticks with each of their efforts falling wayward.

2026 SheBelieves Cup: All results, scores, and standings

Following the interval, it was the South Americans who had the first clear-cut chance of the second half. Florencia Bonsegundo found herself through on goal, on the receiving end of a lofted free-kick, but fired her effort straight at Dickey who parried it away with ease.

It proved a pivotal moment in the game, because just four minutes later the U.S. team went down the other end and added their second of the night after a cleverly worked corner-kick routine.

Quick passing on the edge of the area saw the ball eventually fall into the feet of Jaedyn Shaw, who opened up her body for a sweeping effort that flew straight through the gloves of Solana Pereyra in goal.

Things didn’t get any easier for Argentina, with a plethora of changes seeing the likes of Alyssa Thompson, Naomi Girma, and Trinity Rodman enter the fray. It was a significant moment for the latter, who missed the majority of 2025 with persistent injuries, though struggled to see out the game after a back issue required treatment.

In the end, though, it was a convincing win for the United States, who now sit second in the 2026 SheBelieves Cup standings, trailing only on goal difference to rivals Canada.

The Canadians opened their campaign with a thumping 4-1 win over Colombia, kickstarted by Vanessa Gilles’s first-half opener. A flurry of goals after the break saw the North Americans earn all three points and the current top spot ahead of Wednesday’s games.

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