USWNT roster, squad vs. Portugal, New Zealand: Rodman, Macario headline list for October 2025 friendlies

Emma Hayes has once again dug deep into the USWNT player pool as the U.S. women commence international play for the first time since June with a trio of October international friendlies against Portugal and New Zealand.

Since a rare defeat to Brazil back in April, Hayes has led the U.S. to five straight victories in friendly matches, coming by a combined score of 18-0 across that span.

Most of the games throughout the new winning streak have come against lower-ranked opponents, as Hayes remains committed to testing out the depth of the available USWNT talent before eventually ramping up preparations for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.

The Sporting News takes a closer look at the squad which Hayes has called in for the three fall games against overseas opponents.

MORE: Full USWNT schedule, results, and highlights for 2025

USWNT roster, squad for friendlies vs. Portugal, New Zealand

Emma Hayes has called in 26 players to contest the three international friendlies during the October, 2025 international window, with the roster released on October 15.

While there are notable veterans present within the squad, with captain Lindsey Heaps returning to the mix, the roster features a host of inexperienced players as Hayes looks to build the player pool and get a look at as many potential contributors as possible.

Age, caps as of roster release prior to October matches against Portugal and New Zealand. All clubs listed are NWSL sides in the United States unless otherwise noted.

USWNT October 2025 fixtures vs. Portugal, New Zealand

The U.S. will contest three international friendlies during the October international break.

The first two will come against Portugal, who are ranked 23rd in the world, with both games on the east coast.

Emma Hayes will then lead the team to Kansas City where they will play one match against 33rd-ranked New Zealand to conclude the busy week.

The matches can be viewed on TNT and truTV, with streaming available on Sling and Max.

Rodman, Macario lead USWNT attack still missing Swanson

Veteran attackers Trinity Rodman and Catarina Macario headline the U.S. forward unit, as the dangerous goal scorers will provide the most attacking threat for the USWNT in these three matches.

Rodman is in good club form of late, having bagged four goals and two assists in her last six matches for the Washington Spirit, who sit second in the NWSL table through 24 games this season. Macario, meanwhile, has yet to score for Chelsea through the first six games of the WSL season but does have two assists in her last three games.

Both players were left out of the squad for the June friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Canada but have been brought back into the fold.

One attacking star who still has yet to return is Mallory Swanson, who has been absent since the 2024 Olympics as she navigates her first pregnancy with husband Dansby. Having announced their pregnancy back in May, Swanson is likely due to give birth later this fall or into the winter.

Another household name still on the outside is Jenna Nighswonger, whose inability to even see the matchday squad at Arsenal this season has begun to create a stir. Arsenal boss Renee Slegers said that it "hurts" to leave Nightswonger out each game, blaming a bloated squad for the unfortunate circumstance which she calls "a burden I have to carry."

USWNT goalkeeper race in full swing

The battle to replace the now-retired Alyssa Naeher continues, with rising star Phallon Tullis-Joyce finally called up by Emma Hayes after fans repeatedly pushed for her inclusion in the squad.

The 28-year-old made waves at Manchester United, taking over the starting role following Mary Earps' departure in the summer of 2024. Still, she’s had limited chances to stake her claim for the USWNT’s No. 1 spot, earning just three caps and keeping two clean sheets, including one in her debut against powerhouse Brazil.

Joining Tullis-Joyce are NWSL standouts Claudia Dickey and Mandy McGlynn, both returning from the summer roster. The two lead the U.S. top flight in saves, with Dickey’s 83 narrowly edging McGlynn’s 81.

Yohannes, Bugg headline long list of inexperienced call-ups

The experimentation period ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup continues unabated for USWNT head coach Emma Hayes, who has been outspoken about building the player pool as aggressively as possible for as long as they are able.

There is the most noticeable rotation along the defensive line, where only two players — veterans Emily Fox and Emily Sonnett — have more than eight international caps. The group is headlined by 19-year-old center-back Jordyn Bugg who earned her first international call in the summer and appeared in two of the games.

The group also includes uncapped Kennedy Wesley, a former collegiate standout at Stanford who has helped return the San Diego Wave to playoff prominence.

In midfield, there are four individuals with under 10 international caps, led by 18-year-old Lily Yohannes, who was just nominated for the Golden Girl award, given out annually by Italian publication Tuttosport. At this point Yohannes feels like a veteran to fans who have long been keen on her generational talent, but still sports single-digit appearances and is still developing into a regular for the side. Fellow teenager Claire Hutton is also aboard, as she provides hope of stability at the No. 6 position.

Up front, 20-year-old Alyssa Thompson continues to carve out a role at Chelsea after joining this offseason, well established straightaway as a starter and bagging her debut goal and assist for the Blues on the day of the roster announcement. She is joined by 24-year-old Emma Sears who sits fourth on the NWSL goal scoring chart with 10 on the year.