The 35,000-capacity Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California is the venue for the first ever W Gold Cup final between the United States Women’s National Team and Brazil, with Twila Kilgore and Arthur Elias hoping to be the first coach to get their hands on the trophy.
Brazil’s perfect group-stage record, U.S. beaten by Mexico
Brazil won all three of their games – against Panama, Puerto Rico and Colombia – in the opening round to top Group B with nine points. They then swept Argentina and Mexico aside in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively, reaching the final with an unblemished record.
The USWNT, meanwhile, somewhat surprisingly ended up as runners-up to the Mexicans, who they lost to, in Group A, finishing on six points thanks to wins over the Dominican Republic and Argentina. In the knockout rounds, they had little difficulty beating Colombia in the last eight but needed a penalty shootout to get past Canada in the semis.
Possible USWNT lineup against Brazil in W Gold Cup final
Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher
Defence: Jenna Nighswonger, Tierna Davidson, Naomi Girma and Emily Fox.
Midfield: Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey and Lindsey Horan
Attack: Jaedyn Shaw, Alex Morgan and Trinity Rodman
Interim coach Twila Kilgore is intent on winning the W Gold Cup trophy at all costs, so she will send out her strongest possible team, which will contain a mix of youth and experience. The main selection question appears to be whether Sophia Smith starts in attack or begins on the bench.