USA vs. Brazil, SheBelieves Cup: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, and Match Thread

The United States Women’s National Team looks to take one win from three SheBelieves Cup matches tonight when the Yanks meet Brazil over in Tampa. The USWNT will need a Japan-England draw and a lopsided win to have a shot at repeating as tournament champions in what has been a disappointing series of matches. The U.S. is 0-0-2 in the competition, squandering scoring chances and making mistakes at the back.

Still, if the English and Japanese can’t decide a winner, the U.S. can win the SheBelieves Cup by forcing a three-way tie atop the table on five points. The Yanks would still need to win by three tonight to win the tiebreaker because Japan is +2 on goal differential (and would still be so after a draw) while the U.S. is dead even. The U.S. could only win by two if it scores enough goals to pass Japan on goals scored, with Jill Ellis’ team currently one behind Japan. Nevertheless, it’s all a moot point if Japan or England win.

Tonight’s match gets underway at 8 p.m. (FS1). These two sides last battled in last year’s Tournament of Nations, with the USWNT capturing the competition after a 4-1 win against the Seleção.

The U.S. is 1-1-2 in 2019 after splitting a pair of road friendlies in Europe in January, drawing 2-2 vs. Japan last Wednesday, and drawing England on Saturday, 2-2.

The Americans are 28-3-5 against Brazil in the all-time series. You might recall the thrilling 2017 Tournament of Nations match in which the Yanks stormed back with three goals in nine minutes to win, 4-3. The Canarinhas are the world’s No. 10 team according to the latest FIFA rankings and have qualified for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. But it’s been a rough event for Brazil, which has lost to both England (2-1) and Japan (3-1).

You’ll notice some familiar faces on the opposite side tonight if you’re an Orlando Pride fan. Brazil features Pride star Marta as well as former Pride defenders Poliana and Monica.

Orlando Pride striker Alex Morgan is still locked on 99 career international goals. She didn’t find the net on Saturday against England after bagging No. 99 last Wednesday against Japan. That goal seemed to be the game winner until the Japanese stunned the Americans in stoppage time.

SheBelieves Cup Rules

The tournament’s winner will, as usual, be based on total points (three for a win, one for a draw), with the first tiebreaker being goal difference, followed by goals scored, then head-to-head result. If teams are still tied, the next tiebreaker will be the Fair Play ranking. Each team is permitted six substitutes per game.

Rosters

USWNT (Caps/Goals)

Goalkeepers (3): 21-Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 1/0), 24-Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 19/0), 1- Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 41/0).

Defenders (8): 7-Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage; 34/0), 12-Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 16/1); 19-Crystal Dunn (North Carolina Courage; 79/24), 22-Emily Fox (UNC; 3/0), 5-Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC; 114/2); 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 152/0), 14-Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 27/0), 2- Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 29/0).

Midfielders (5): 8-Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 76/18); 16-Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 23/6), 3-Samantha Mewis (North Carolina Courage; 44/8), 6-Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 11/0), 25-McCall Zerboni (North Carolina Courage; 8/0).

Forwards (7): 17-Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 145/26); 10-Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 268/105), 20-Jessica McDonald (North Carolina Courage; 5/1), 13-Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 157/99), 23-Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 110/47), 11-Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 47/13), 15-Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC; 148/43).

Brazil

Goalkeepers (3): Aline (UD Granadilla Tenerife – Spain), Letícia (Corinthians – Brazil), Luciana (Ferroviária – Brazil).

Defenders (8): Érika (Corinthians – Brazil), Jucinara (Valencia – Spain), Kathellen (Bordeaux – France), Letícia (SC Sand – Germany), Monica (unattached), Poliana (São José – Brazil), Tamires (Fortuna Hjorring – Denmark), Tayla (Benfica – Portugal).

Midfielders (6): Andressa Alves (Barcelona – Spain), Formiga (Paris Saint Germain – France), Juliana (Flamengo – Brazil), Luana (KSPO Women Football Team – South Korea), Marta (Orlando Pride), Thaisa (Milan – Italy).

Forwards (6): Adriana (Corinthians – Brazil), Beatriz Zaneratto (Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels – South Korea), Debinha (North Carolina Courage), Geyse (Benfica – Portugal) Ludmila (Atlético de Madrid – Spain) Raquel (Sporting Club Huelva – Spain).

How to Watch

Match Time: 8 p.m. (ET).

Venue: Raymond James Stadium — Tampa, FL.

TV: FS1.

Streaming: FOX Sports GO.

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow @StarsStripesFC, @ussoccer_wnt, and @TheManeLand.

Match Thread Rules

This is your live thread for posting comments on the match. So use our comments section below to talk about the game in real time with other supporters. If you’re new, welcome to our happy home! While you’re here, please observe a few basic rules:

• Absolutely no links to illegal streams. They can get us in trouble, and no one wants that.
• Try not to be the person who spews nothing but venom and hate for the team. It’s OK to be critical, and, let’s face it, sometimes even the best teams can be frustrating to watch, but being overly negative relentlessly can sap the enjoyment for others.
• Keep it somewhat clean and fair when criticizing players / officials. You never know who might be reading.
• Do unto others in the match thread, the way you would have others do unto you. We are a fun community and want to keep it this way. We have a moderator, but we’d rather let him enjoy the game instead of having to play babysitter.

Enjoy the match. Go America!