What's next for USWNT after winning SheBelieves Cup? Focus turns to 2023 World Cup

Now for the tournament the U.S. women really want to win. 

Having swept Olympic champion Canada, Brazil and Japan to win the SheBelieves Cup for a fourth consecutive year Wednesday night, the USWNT’s focus turns to this summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The Americans are seeking their third consecutive World Cup title, which would be a first for any team, men’s or women’s, and fifth overall. Only the Brazilian men, with six, would have more.

While the USWNT wasn’t perfect at SheBelieves – Mallory Swanson and coach Vlatko Andonovski both talked about needing to work on the “details” – they showed glimpses of how dominant they can be when they put everything together. Swanson outscored the other three teams on her own, finishing with four goals. When the USWNT broke Brazil’s press, the flow that followed was impressive. Brazil’s goal in the 90th minute Wednesday night was the first conceded by the USWNT in five games this year.

“It’s about preparation for the World Cup,” Andonovski said. “The fact we were able to do well against such great opponents, all three of them, is very motivating us. We believe we still have a few things to fix and get better from it.”

There are only two games left before Andonovski names his 23-woman roster – don’t get me started on why it’s 23 and not 26 like the men had at their World Cup – and for all the answers he has after SheBelieves, questions remain.

Is the USWNT roster set?

Not even close.

At most, there’s probably a dozen players who can be considered locks for the World Cup. Some, like Swanson, are obvious. She creates opportunities for herself, and there isn’t much opponents can do to stop her. Her goal against Brazil was her seventh of the year already, matching her team-high total from all of last year.

There also are others Andonovski has suggested are going, either by his lineup choices or his praise for what they bring to the team. Outside back Emily Fox played all 270 minutes of the SheBelieves Cup, the only American who did, and has appeared in all but four of the USWNT’s last 27 games going back to October 2021. Andonovski has raved about Megan Rapinoe’s leadership, and Swanson said the in-game adjustments she’s gotten from the veteran have been a factor in her success.

But it’s hard to accurately predict much of the roster because so many of the USWNT’s key players have been injured. Tierna Davidson (torn ACL) trained with the team during SheBelieves and should be back to full strength by the next camp. Catarina Macario (torn ACL), Sophia Smith (foot) and Kelley O’Hara (hip) are close to returning, and Christen Press (torn ACL) and Tobin Heath (leg) could be back in the mix, too.

“I feel pretty confident we are going to be prepared,” Andonovski said. “All these players have been with us before, they understand and know our principles.”

What's next for the USWNT?

The USWNT will host Ireland for two games during the last international window before the World Cup, U.S. Soccer announced Thursday. The teams will play April 8 in Austin, Texas, and April 11 in St. Louis.

Australia/New Zealand is Ireland’s first World Cup, and it is currently ranked No. 23 in the world.  The Irish are unbeaten in their last nine matches, including a 1-1 draw with Sweden in World Cup qualifying. But the USWNT has won all 13 games the teams have played and, let's be honest, the opponent isn't nearly as important as the opportunities these games provide.

It's a chance to do the fine-tuning Andonovski and Swanson mentioned. And for the players who've been sidelined by injuries, this is their big chance to make a case for why they should be on the roster.

"While there will be plenty of (NWSL) games for us to watch after April, these will be the final matches for our players with the national team before we have to pick the World Cup roster, so they will carry that importance,” Andonovski said.

The USWNT also will play a send-off game, typically against a team not playing in the World Cup, before it leaves for New Zealand.

Does the USWNT know who it's playing in the World Cup yet?

Yes! The USWNT has known since October’s draw that it will face the Netherlands, its opponent in the last World Cup final, and Vietnam in Group E. Portugal earned the final spot in the group Wednesday with a playoff win over Cameroon.

This is the first World Cup for both Vietnam and Portugal, which should make for an easy path out of the group for the USWNT.

What's the USWNT's schedule at the World Cup?

The tournament begins July 20, and the USWNT opens against Vietnam on July 22 in Auckland, New Zealand. The Americans play the Netherlands on July 27 in Wellington, New Zealand, and return to Auckland to wrap up the group stage against Portugal on Aug. 1.

The USWNT's round of 16 game would be Aug. 6 regardless if it finishes first or second in the group. Its quarterfinal game would be Aug. 11, and it would play in the semifinals Aug. 15.

The World Cup final is Aug. 20 in Sydney.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USWNT turns focus to World Cup after winning SheBelieves Cup