The U.S. women’s national team’s first trip to Brazil since 2014 ended in defeat.
Sophia Wilson scored her first USWNT goal since October 2024 but the Americans saw an early lead wiped away in a 2-1 road loss in São Paulo. It marked the USWNT’s second loss of 2026 and their fifth dating back to January 2025.
“It was an amazing atmosphere and it’s one that, as much as I can prepare my team for this, you don’t really know until you experience it,” USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said postmatch about the experience of playing a road match in Brazil. “I am sure for many of my players this is the first time they’ve ever experienced an intensity from the crowd.”
Wilson needed just two minutes to open the scoring for the visitors, stroking home from outside of the box. The veteran attacker raced upfield before drilling a low, left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner.
However, the USWNT’s lead would only last nine minutes as Brazil equalized through Tainá Maranhão’s header. Isabela sent in a dangerous cross and Maranhão got on the end of it to make it 1-1.
Three minutes later, Brazil would flip the scoreline in its favor as Dudinha played Bia Zaneratto upfield before the midfielder danced past several USWNT players and slotted home past Mandy McGlynn.
McGlynn was tested two additional times as the half went on, but kept the USWNT’s deficit at only one heading into halftime.
Claire Hutton and Wilson had second-half efforts denied by Leticia Izidoro as Brazil kept the Americans at bay for the remainder of the match. Izidoro finished the match with four saves as Brazil claimed a second-straight win over the USWNT.
Lindsey Heaps, Emily Fox, Emily Sonnett, Tierna Davidson, and McGlynn were the five USWNT players to play the full 90 minutes in the match. Emma Sears and Ally Sentnor were among the six substitutions that Hayes made in the match.
“You have to compete first,” Hayes said postmatch about the USWNT’s improved second-half performance. “You have to compete physically, one-vs.-ones. You have to win your duels. I think our players don’t necessarily get that exposure at the club level, so there’s a lot to work on for these players because this is a different type of game. Sometimes it feels like a different sport. But the realities are you have to earn the right to play, and I think both Avery Patterson and Michelle Cooper brought a physicality to our team.”
Luckily for the USWNT, they will have a chance to rebound against Brazil on Tuesday in Fortaleza.