Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson both took to the field as the United States secured a 2-1 victory against Japan, marking their tenth consecutive win. Meanwhile, Kadeisha Buchanan played a pivotal role in Canada’s decisive 4-0 triumph over Zambia during the 2026 FIFA Series.
The match took place in San Jose, California, serving as the first of three encounters between the U.S. and Japan during this international break. Emma Hayes, the head coach, opted for a seasoned lineup for this friendly match.
Girma was positioned in defense while Thompson played in attack for the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT). The Americans took the lead early, with Rose Lavelle scoring a volley just nine minutes into the match after Trinity Rodman assisted by guiding the ball across the goal.
Thompson had a promising chance to extend the lead midway through the first half but was unable to convert. The U.S. did manage to score again shortly after halftime, with Lindsey Heaps finding the net from 12 yards out.
Japan responded in the 61st minute when Riko Ueki scored, shortly after the introduction of Blues forward Maika Hamano, currently on loan at Tottenham. However, the U.S. maintained their composure to secure the victory.
In a parallel match, Buchanan played 78 minutes as Canada achieved a commanding 4-0 win over Zambia in their opening game of the 2026 FIFA Series, an invitational tournament featuring teams from various continental confederations.
Hosted in Cuiaba, Brazil, the match saw Nichelle Prince score twice in the last ten minutes of the first half, establishing a strong lead for Canada. Annabelle Chukwu added two more goals in the final moments, ensuring that Les Rouges walked away with three points.
Canada’s next match is scheduled for Tuesday, where they will face South Korea.
Bildquelle: funky1opti from Wolfsburg, Deutschland via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
