The United States Women’s National Soccer Team will end its 2025 schedule in Florida, hosting Italy in a two-match series that is designed to close the year with one more test for a young roster that is still being shaped under coach Emma Hayes.
In a recent news release, the USWNT announced a Nov. 28 match in Orlando, followed by a finale Dec. 1 in Ft. Lauderdale at Chase Stadium.
Team Italy will arrive in Florida as a 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro semifinalist, and an imposing foe for the Americans. The Italians led England 1–0 deep into stoppage time in that semifinal before giving up an equalizer, then eventually losing in overtime.
Their run confirmed Italy is no longer a mid-tier program in Europe, but one of the fastest-rising national teams in UEFA. The two sides have rarely seen each other. In fact, the U.S. and Italy have not played at all in 15 years.
The last meeting came in late 2010 during the Women’s World Cup qualification playoff series, when the U.S. won 1–0 on aggregate to qualify for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Even though it is an international friendly, facing Italy is strategic and intentional to prepare the team for the global stage.
“As we prepare for World Cup qualifying at the end of 2026, we want to play teams from all parts of the world with different styles and different strengths,” Hayes said in the news release. “So, getting to play Italy, one of Europe’s up-and-coming teams, will be a great way to end the year.”
With the 2027 World Cup in Brazil firmly on its radar, Team USA will enter these end-of-year matches coming off a strong October camp, including a 6-0 friendly win over New Zealand in Kansas City last week. The victory confirmed the team is moving in the right direction and beginning to look like the version of the U.S. that Hayes wants to create.
“We’re developing real competition in our squad,” Hayes said after the win. “Expectations have always been here for this team, but internally, the important thing is that we get to be ourselves and play the way we want to play.”
This year has also represented a shift toward a more fluid identity. Younger players have taken major steps, and several began earning more consistent minutes since the summer.
The Florida games will also be meaningful for local women’s soccer fans. The region is already home to the Fort Lauderdale United women’s team of the Gainbridge Super League, a club that is working in conjunction with the USWNT for the match. And though the U.S. held its 2025 January training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, the club has not played a game in the state since the end of 2023, when the Americans defeated China PR 3-0 at Chase Stadium.
Hayes believes these late-year matches matter far beyond 2025’s final scorelines. For her, facing rising programs like Italy is part of building a team that can respond to any adversity in any environment.
“If you want to win World Cups, you can’t just play the same teams the same way,” she said. “You need diversity.”
The national team first played in Central Florida during the 1996 Olympics. The Orlando matchup on Nov. 28 will be the ninth USWNT match at Inter & Co Stadium, and the 19th in the greater Orlando area, while the Dec. 1 meeting in Fort Lauderdale will be only the third USWNT game ever played at Chase Stadium, home of Inter Miami CF of MLS.
