The United States Women’s National Team will play an international friendly match against Colombia this Sunday, October 29 (2:30 p.m. PST), in San Diego. The USWNT previously played at the now-extinct SDCC Stadium, but this will be their first match at Snapdragon Stadium.

Snapdragon Stadium has the most consistent and largest audience in the NWSL for the San Diego Wave. Alex Morgan, Naomi Girma, and Jaedyn Shaw of the Wave are all currently on the USWNT and have an opportunity to feature in this match.

The Mission Valley fortress has broken NWSL attendance records, and a sold-out crowd is expected for Sunday. The United States is coming off a scoreless draw against Colombia in Sandy, Utah, where Alex Morgan missed a penalty that had the potential to be the match-winner.

Naomi Girma played 45 minutes in that match against the South American side, while Jaedyn Shaw played a few minutes to earn her USWNT debut. The 18-year-old Shaw is one of the most exciting prospects in the NWSL and in United States women’s soccer, as she may potentially be starting her first game for the U.S. this Sunday.

There is potential to see a good mix of the USWNT roster at Snapdragon Stadium, with players like Becky Sauerbrunn, Sophia Smith, Sofia Huerta, Alyssa Thompson, and Sam Coffey all on the bench in Utah.

It will be interesting to see if Alex Morgan gets a chance to play the bulk of the match in front of a San Diego crowd very dearly near to her and now seeking redemption after the missed penalty.

The USWNT is, of course, undergoing a transitional phase after a very disappointing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Some of the headliners in this new generation include Jaedyn Shaw, Naomi Girma, Alyssa Thompson, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman.

Colombia was one of the more intriguing teams at the 2023 World Cup, making it to the quarterfinals and narrowly losing to England 2-1. Las Cafeteras fielded a strong squad in Utah, and there is the potential to see an alternate squad in San Diego. 

One of the more interesting players on the South American side is Linda Caicedo, who has played in three World Cups in the past year. Several Colombian players play in Spain and locally in Colombia, as they showed the World just how potent they can be this past summer.

A stellar atmosphere is expected at Snapdragon Stadium as more and more high-profile soccer events feature at the Mission Valley fortress.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.