With the Ballon D’or ceremony coming up, I was thinking about the Puskas award and wondering if any women’s players have scored Puskas worthy goals this year. I watch a decent amount of women’s soccer — thus far this year I’ve been to 4 NWSL matches, 2 USWNT matches, and 1 FA Cup match — but I’m struggling to think of any truly “iconic” goals that were scored this year. Past goals that come to mind include Marta Cox’s 2023 screamer. Is there a match or a goal that I missed that you think fits the criteria? Please let me know!!

Informative insight from Ameé Ruszkai

Yikes. This guy seems unfit to coach any team at any level.

This schedule is for those matches available in the UK only airing on BBC/Sky/TNT/Dazn/YouTube.

UPDATES:

A-League starts on Saturday 17th October on TNT Sports.

FIFA U17 World Cup begins on Saturday 17th October, all matches on Dazn

Players Group Stage on Sunday 18th October: Newcastle vs Sunderland on WSL YouTube

FA Cup 1st Round Match (Exeter vs Hashtag United) on Sunday 25th October

Man City vs PSG Champions League on 29th October will now also air on BBC 2.

UK Kick Off Times Stated (check schedule for program start times)

Saturday 17th October 2026:

1.00am - Boston Legacy vs Racing Louisville (NWSL) - NWSL+

5.00am - Newcastle Jets vs Perth Glory (A-League) - TNT Sports 4 / HBO Max

5.00am - Western Sydney Wanderers vs Melbourne Victory (A-League) - TNT Sports 5 / HBO Max

7.00am - Brisbane Roar vs Central Coast West (A-League) - TNT Sports 4 / HBO Max

12.45pm - Arsenal vs Birmingham City (WSL) - Sky Sports Premier League / Sports Mix / Ultra / Sky Mix

4.00pm - Germany U17 vs Argentina U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

4.00pm - North Korea U17 vs Puerto Rico U1 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

5.30pm - Washington Spirit vs Gotham FC (NWSL) - TNT Sports 4 / HBO Max

7.00pm - Morocco U17 vs New Zeland U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00pm - Poland U17 vs Nigeria U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

11.30pm - Utah Royals vs Kansas City Current (NWSL) - NWSL+

Sunday 18th October 2026:

00.00am - North Carolina Courage vs San Diego Wave (NWSL) - NWSL+

00.15am - Wellington Phoenix vs Melbourne Victory (A-League) - TNT Sports 3 / HBO Max

1.45am - Denver Summit vs Angel City (NWSL) - NWSL+

6.30am - Sydney FC vs Adelaide United (A-League) - TNT Sports 4 / HBO Max

12.00pm - Chelsea vs Tottenham (WSL) - Sky Sports Football / Ultra / Sky One

12.00pm - Crystal Palace vs West Ham United (WSL) - Sky Sports Mix

2.00pm Rangers vs Hibernian (SWPL1) - BBC iPlayer / Sport Website

2.00pm - Newcastle United vs Sunderland (Women's Players Cup Group Stage) - WSL YouTube

2.00pm - Aston Villa vs Liverpool (WSL) - Sky Sports+ / WSL YouTube

2.00pm - Charlton vs Manchester United (WSL) - Sky Sports Mix

2.00pm - London City Lionesses vs Everton (WSL) - Sky Sports+ / WSL YouTube

2.30pm - Manchester City vs Brighton (WSL) - BBC 2 / iPlayer / Sport Website

4.00pm - Canada U17 vs Brazil U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

4.00pm - Japan U17 vs Zambia U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

5.00pm - Inter Milan vs Parma (Serie A) - Dazn

5.30pm - Mainz vs Wolfsburg (Frauen-Bundesliga) - Dazn

6.00pm - Houston Dash vs Orlando Pride (NWSL) - NWSL+

7.00pm - France U17 vs Venezuela U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00pm - Norway U17 vs Ghana U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

10.00pm - Bay FC vs Portland Thorns (NWSL) - TNT Sports 1 / HBO Max / NWSL+

Monday 19th October 2026:

00.00am - Chicago Stars vs Seattle Reign (NWSL) - NWSL+

4.00pm - Kenya U17 vs Chile U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

4.00pm - Spain U17 vs Mexico U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

5.00pm - Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart (Frauen-Bundesliga) - Dazn

7.00pm - Australia U17 vs Chile U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00pm - USA U17 vs Samoa U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

Tuesday 20th October 2026:

4.00pm - Argentina U17 vs New Zeland U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

4.00pm - North Korea U17 vs Poland U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00pm - Morocco U17 vs Germany U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00pm - Nigeria U17 vs Puerto Rico U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

Wednesday 21st October 2026:

4.00pm - Canada U17 vs Norway U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

4.00pm - Japan U17 vs France U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00pm - Ghana U17 vs Brazil U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00pm - Venezuela U17 vs Zambia U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.30pm - Glasgow City vs Rangers (SWPL1) - BBC Alba / iPlayer / Sport Website

Thursday 22nd October 2026:

4.00pm - China U17 vs Samoa U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

4.00pm - Spain U17 vs Australia U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00pm - Chile U17 vs Mexico U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00pm - USA U17 vs Kenya U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

Friday 23rd October 2026:

4.00pm - Nigeria U17 vs North Korea U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

4.00pm - Puerto Rico U17 vs Poland U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00PM - Argentina U17 vs Morocco U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00pm New Zeland U17 vs Germany U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

Saturday 24th October 2026:

1.00am - Chicago Stars vs Houston Dash (NWSL) - NWSL+

2.30am - Utah Royals vs Seattle Reign (NWSL) - NWSL+

3.00am - Portland Thorns vs North Carolina Courage (NWSL) - NWSL+

4.15am - Western Sydney Wanderers vs Brisbane Roar (A-League) - TNT Sports 3 / HBO Max

5.00am - Central Coast Mariners vs Canberra United (A-League) - TNT Sports 7 / HBO Max

7.00am - Adelaide United vs Perth Glory (A-League) - TNT Sports 8 / HBO Max

12.45pm - Tottenham vs Arsenal (WSL) - BBC 1 / iPlayer / Sport Website

4.00pm - Brazil U17 vs Norway U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

4.00pm - Ghana U17 vs Canada U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

5.15pm - Brighton vs West Ham United (WSL) - Sky Sports Football / Sports Mix

7.00pm - Venezuela U17 vs Japan U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

7.00pm - Zambia U17 vs France U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

11.30pm - Denver Summit vs Racing Louisville (NWSL) - NWSL+

Sunday 25th October 2026:

00.15am - Wellington Phoenix vs Melbourne Victory (A-League) - TNT Sports 7 / HBO Max

1.45am - Angel City vs Bay FC (NWSL) - NWSL+

6.45am - Sydney FC vs Melbourne City (A-League) - TNT Sports 2 / HBO Max

12.00pm - Exeter City vs Hashtag United (FA Cup 1st Round) - TNT Sports 1 / HBO Max

12.00pm - Crystal Palace vs Chelsea (WSL) - Sky Sports Mix

12.00pm - Watford vs Durham (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Birmingham City vs Charlton (WSL) - Sky Sports+ / WSL YouTube

2.00pm - Everton vs Aston Villa (WSL) - Sky Sports+ / WSL YouTube

2.00pm - Liverpool vs London City Lionesses (WSL) - Sky Sports Mix / WSL YouTube

2.00pm - Bristol City vs Wolves (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Burnley vs Sheffield Utd (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Ipswich Town vs Sunderland (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle Utd (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

3.00pm - Chile U17 vs Spain U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

3.00pm - Mexico U17 vs Australia U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

3.00pm - Leicester City vs Southampton (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

3.00pm - FC Nürnberg vs Bayer Leverkusen (Frauen-Bundesliga) - Dazn

4.00pm - Hamburg vs Union Berlin (Frauen-Bundesliga) - Dazn

4.10pm - Partick Thistle vs Glasgow City (SWPL1) - BBC Alba / iPlayer / Sport Website

6.00pm - China U17 vs USA U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

6.00pm - Samoa U17 vs Kenya U17 (U17 World Cup Group Stage) - Dazn

6.00pm - Manchester United vs Manchester City (WSL) - Sky Sports Football / Sky One

7.00pm - Orlando Pride vs Gotham FC (NWSL) - NWSL+

9.00pm - Kansas City Current vs Washington Spirit (NWSL) - TNT Sports 3 / HBO Max

11.00pm - San Diego Wave vs Boston Legacy (NWSL) - TNT Sports 1 / HBO Max

Wednesday 28th October 2026:

3.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group of 16) - Dazn

3.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group of 16) - Dazn

5.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group of 16) - Dazn

5.45pm - Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

5.45pm - Chelsea vs Roma (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

5.45pm - Servette vs OH Leuven (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

6.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group of 16) - Dazn

8.00pm - Arsenal vs Benfica (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Lyon vs Inter Milan (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

Thursday 29th October 2026:

3.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group of 16) - Dazn

3.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group of 16) - Dazn

5.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group of 16) - Dazn

5.45pm - Austria Wien vs Juventus (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

5.45pm - Paris FC vs Hacken (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

6.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group of 16) - Dazn

8.00pm - HB Koge vs Barcelona (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Manchester City vs PSG (Champions League Phase) - BBC 2 / iPlayer / Sport Website / Disney+

Saturday 31st October 2026:

4.00am - Brisbane Roar vs Sydney FC (A-League) - TNT Sports 4 / HBO Max

6.00am - Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide United (A-League) - TNT Sports 4 / HBO Max

12.45pm - Everton vs Manchester United (WSL) - Sky Sports Premier League

3.00pm - Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen (Pokal Frauen Round of 16) - Dazn

Sunday 1st November 2026:

4.00am - Canberra United vs Western Sydney Wanderers (A-League) - TNT Sports 3 / HBO Max

6.45am - Melbourne Victory vs Newcastle Jets (A-League) - TNT Sports 6 / HBO Max

10.45am - Perth Glory vs Wellington Phoenix (A-League) - TNT Sports 4 / HBO Max

12.00pm - Arsenal vs Aston Villa (WSL) - Sky Sports+

12.00pm - London City Lionesses vs Manchester City (WSL) - Sky Sports Premier League

2.00pm - Birmingham City vs Tottenham (WSL) - Sky Sports+ / WSL YouTube

2.00pm - Brighton vs Tottenham (WSL) - Sky Sports+ / WSL YouTube

2.00pm - West Ham United vs Liverpool (WSL) - Sky Sports+ / WSL YouTube

2.30pm - Charlton vs Chelsea (WSL) - BBC 2 / iPlayer / Sports Website

3.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group Quarter-Final) - Dazn

3.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group Quarter-Final) - Dazn

5.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group Quarter-Final) - Dazn

6.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group Quarter-Final) - Dazn

10.00pm - Angel City vs Boston Legacy (NWSL) - NWSL+

10.00pm - Bay FC vs San Diego Wave (NWSL) - NWSL+

10.00pm - Gotham FC vs Utah Royals (NWSL) - NWSL+

10.00pm - Houston Dash vs Portland Thorns (NWSL) - NWSL+

10.00pm - North Carolina Courage vs Denver Summit (NWSL) - NWSL+

10.00pm - Racing Louisville vs Kansas City Current (NWSL) - NWSL+

10.00pm - Seattle Reign vs Orlando Pride (NWSL) - NWSL+

10.00pm - Washington Spirit vs Chicago Stars (NWSL) - NWSL+

Monday 2nd November 2026:

5.00pm - Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim (Pokal Frauen Round of 16) - Dazn

Wednesday 4th November 2026:

3.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group Semi-Final) - Dazn

5.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group Semi-Final) - Dazn

Friday 6th November 2026:

8.00am - Adelaide United vs Wellington Phoenix (A-League) - TNT Sports 4 / HBO Max

Saturday 7th November 2026:

4.00am - Central Coast Mariners vs Newcastle Jets (A-League) - TNT Sports 3 / HBO Max

12.45pm - Chelsea vs Everton (WSL) - Sky Sports Premier League

12.45pm - Manchester City vs West Ham United (WSL) - Sky Sports Mix

3.00pm.00pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group Bronze Medal) - Dazn

6.30pm - TBC U17 vs TBC U17 (World Cup Group Final) - Dazn

Sunday 8th November 2026:

12.00pm - Aston Villa vs Manchester United (WSL) - Sky Sports Mix / WSL YouTube

12.00pm - Liverpool vs Arsenal (WSL) - Sky Sports Football

12.00pm - Durham vs Sunderland (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Crystal Palace vs Charlton (WSL) - Sky Sports+ / WSL YouTube

2.00pm - Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton (WSL) - Sky Sports Mix / WSL YouTube

2.00pm - Ipswich Town vs Bristol City (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Newcastle Utd vs Burnley (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Southampton vs Sheffield United (WSL) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Wolves vs Nottingham Forest (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.30pm - London City Lionesses vs Birmingham City (WSL) - BBC iPlayer / Sport Website

3.00pm - Leicester City vs Watford (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Rangers vs Hearts (SWPL1) - BBC Alba / iPlayer / Sport Website

Tuesday 10th November 2026:

5.45pm - Hacken vs Chelsea (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

5.45pm - Real Madrid vs Paris FC (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Inter Milan vs Manchester City (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - PSG vs Bayern Munich (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Roma vs Servette (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

Wednesday 11th November 2026:

5.45pm - Barcelona vs Arsenal (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

5.45pm - OH Leuven vs HB Koge (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Benfica vs Austria Wien (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Juventus vs Lyon (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

Saturday 14th November 2026:

12.45pm - Manchester United vs Crystal Palace (WSL) - Sky Sports Premier League

1.30pm - Chelsea vs Manchester City (WSL) - BBC 1 / iPlayer / Sport Website

2.10pm - Hearts vs Hibernian (SWPL1) - BBC Alba / iPlayer / Sport Website

3.00pm - Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton (WSL) - Sky Sports Premier League

5.15pm - Brighton vs Liverpool (WSL) - Sky Sports Premier League / WSL YouTube

6.00pm - Sheffield United vs Bristol City (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

Sunday 15th November 2026:

12.00pm - Celtic vs Rangers (SWPL1) - Sky Sports Football

2.00pm - Aston Villa vs Birmingham City (WSL) - Sky Sports Premier League

2.00pm - West Ham United vs Charlton (WSL) - Sky Sports Mix / WSL YouTube

2.00pm - Burnley vs Southampton (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Nottingham Forest vs Leicester City (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Sunderland vs Newcastle United (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Watford vs Ipswich Town (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Wolves vs Durham (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

4.30pm - Arsenal vs London City Lionesses (WSL) - Sky Sports Main Event / Premier League / Ultra

Wednesday 18th November 2026:

5.45pm - Hacken vs Manchester City (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

5.45pm - Real Madrid vs Inter Milan (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Chelsea vs PSG (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Juventus vs OH Leuven (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

Thursday 19th November 2026:

5.45pm - Austria Wien vs Bayern Munich (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

5.45pm - Paris FC vs HB Koge (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Arsenal vs Lyon (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Barcelona vs Servette (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Benfica vs Roma (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

Saturday 21st November 2026:

12.45pm - Liverpool vs Chelsea (WSL) - Sky Sports Premier League / Sports Mix

5.15pm - London City Lionesses vs Crystal Palace (WSL) - Sky Sports+

Sunday 22nd November 2026:

12.00pm - Birmingham City vs Manchester United (WSL) - Sky Sports+

12.00pm - Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur (WSL) - Sky Sports Mix

2.00pm - Charlton vs Aston Villa (WSL) - Sky Sports+ / WSL YouTube

2.00pm - Everton vs Brighton (WSL) - Sky Sports+ / WSL YouTube

2.30pm - Arsenal vs West Ham United (WSL) - BBC 2 / iPlayer / Sport Website

Sunday 13th December 2026:

2.00pm - Rangers vs Partick Thistle (SWPL1) - BBC iPlayer / Sport Website

Wednesday 16th December 2026:

8.00pm - Bayern Munich vs Barcelona (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - HB Koge vs Benfica (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Inter Milan vs Arsenal (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Lyon vs Hacken (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Manchester City vs Austria Wien (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - OH Leuven vs Chelsea (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - PSG vs Juventus (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Roma vs Real Madrid (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

8.00pm - Servette vs Paris FC (Champions League Phase) - Disney+

Sunday 20th December 2026:

12.00pm - Durham vs Ipswich Town (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

1.00pm - Glasgow City vs Hearts (SWPL1) - BBC iPlayer / Sport Website

2.00pm - Newcastle United vs Watford (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Sheffield United vs Sunderland (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

2.00pm - Southampton vs Wolves (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

3.00pm - Leicester City vs Burnley (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

4.10pm - Hibernian vs Rangers (SWPL1) - BBC Alba / iPlayer / Sport Website

Monday 21st December 2026:

5.00pm - Bristol City vs Nottingham Forest (WSL2) - WSL2 YouTube

CHESTER, Pa. — Mallory Swanson wanted more. 

The midfielder was subbed on after an hour of the United States’ second international friendly with Spain. By the 89th minute, she had put her stamp on it, scoring a critical equalizer — her first international goal since the 2024 Paris Olympics, in which the USWNT won gold — to help her side draw 2-2.

“Even after that, in the last few minutes, I wished the game could go on a little bit longer,” Swanson said after the match. “I felt the momentum.”

The USWNT are still on the hunt for their first win over Spain since 2020 (a three-game run). Facing the No. 1-ranked team in the world just outside of Philadelphia on Tuesday, they showed the tenacity and gall they lacked in their 2-0 loss on Saturday.

Substitutes raised the level considerably in both matches, as evidenced by the U.S. “winning” the second half of Tuesday’s match 2-0. Taking on Spain is one challenge, but with November’s Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal against El Salvador serving as a World Cup qualifying playoff, head coach Emma Hayes has another tough task ahead.

In the opening 10 minutes at Subaru Park on Tuesday, the USWNT looked more secure in their identity. They pressed with collective aggression, held possession for longer spells, and exploited the flanks. Fullback Gisele Thompson and midfielder Ashley Sanchez found joy down those wide channels, but there was a lack of support when they crossed into the penalty area. Spain was happy to absorb their efforts, easing the back-line duties of Irene Paredes and Maria Mendez in the center and Oihane Hernandez and Andrea Medina on the right and left. Traditionally, 35-year-old Paredes is the only regular starter for Spain.

Regardless, as midfielder Rose Lavelle told reporters in the mixed zone after the game, “If you give Spain an inch, they can individually solve and plan around you.” Spain once again showed they could punish even slight lapses in judgment, let alone clear errors. The U.S. committed both types of infractions in the first half on Tuesday.

In the 27th minute, after knocking the ball around near the right corner of their attacking third, Spain winger Salma Paralluelo laid the ball off to midfielder Patri Guijarro, who slipped it through to Clara Serrajordi. The 18-year-old Barcelona playmaker sent a low cross in the box that was uncontested save for Clara Pinedo’s dummy run, which gave Alexia Putellas, making her 150th senior cap, one of the simplest tap-ins of her career.

Read the rest for free here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7688943/2026/10/14/uswnt-spain-emma-hayes-substitutes/?unlocked_article_code=1.IlE.U8W9.ybt5tPjJZrC8&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

FIFPRO just released a study, and there's a lot that's so interesting in it, but a couple of things really caught my eye.

For one thing, 49% of players surveyed are considering leaving the sport early. On the one hand, that's a lot. But on the other, that's a HUGE drop from 90% in a survey done just nine years ago. That seems to say so much about how much advancement there's been in how women's footballers are being treated and compensated.

However, one thing that's even more fascinating to me is how many of those 49% of players say that psychological stress is a major reason why they're considering leaving early. And what stunned me is that this was only 13% in 2017. Like, it went from about 1 in 8 players considering leaving early to 1 in 2 of them in only nine years.

Why is this? The study brought up some good possibilities. One is that even though social media abuse can be so significant in this sport for both men and women, women are more likely to "rely heavily on social media to subsidize their incomes" and handle their social media themselves.

Not only that, but there's more external pressure on women's footballers to do well, to win, than there used to be. That might be a factor. And fixture congestion - more to the point, minutes congestion - could be another. For example, according to Sofascore, Alyssa Thompson played 356 of a possible 360 minutes in only 12 days for Chelsea from Sept. 19-30 before easing up a little with 25 minutes on Oct. 4 and then heading back to the States for the two friendlies with Spain.

Why do you think that so many fewer players are considering leaving the sport early than before? What can be done to keep lowering that percentage? And what about how much of a factor psychological stress has turned out to be? How can we turn that tide? I have so many questions swimming in my head right now and am unsure of the answers to them.

From the USA/Spain friendly on 13/10/2026.

From the friendly played 14/10/2026.

This goal places Foord third-all-time on the Matildas' scoring list.

From the USA/Spain match on 13/10/2026.

From the friendly played 13/10/2026.

https://youtu.be/_ApPvB62pKY

That opening Czech goal is a belter.

She also participated in Harder's own camp: We Play Harder.

Canada defeated Denmark in penalties.