Who do USWNT play next at W Gold Cup and can they qualify on matchday two?

After beginning their CONCACAF W Gold Cup campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of the Dominican Republic, the United States women’s national team now turn their attentions to their second Group A game. The USWNT take on Argentina, one of four South American countries invited to take part in the new competition, in a matchday-two clash that could well see Twila Kilgore’s side wrap up quarter-final qualification.

What do the USWNT need to do to qualify against Argentina?

After Argentina drew 0-0 with Mexico in Group A’s other matchday-one fixture on Tuesday, the USWNT sit top of their section with a two-point lead over the Albiceleste and the Mexicans, and with the Dominican Republic bottom on zero points. The US will therefore open up an unassailable lead over third place if they beat Argentina, whatever happens between Mexico and the Dominicans.

The first two teams in each of the W Gold Cup’s three round-robin-stage groups qualify automatically for the quarter-finals. In addition, the two best third-placed nations likewise progress to the last eight, so if the US don’t beat Argentina, a draw would still leave the tournament hosts on four points and likely to qualify even if they dropped to third in Group A on matchday three.

At the women’s Olympic soccer tournament, whose group stage follows the same system as the W Gold Cup, every third-placed finisher with four points has qualified for the knockout phase since the format was introduced at the 2004 Summer Games.

A draw against Argentina could even be enough to all but secure the USWNT’s place in the top two - as long as Mexico lose to the Dominican Republic. La Tri would be left three points behind the US and in need of a huge matchday-three win over the Americans to knock them out of the automatic qualification spots, as the Stars and Stripes currently hold a +5 goal-difference advantage over Pedro López’s side. Argentina and the Dominicans would be the only sides still in a position to win more points than the USWNT, but could not both leapfrog the leaders as they meet in the final round of group-stage matches.

As Mexico are 72 places higher than the Dominicans in the FIFA world rankings, however, they appear - on paper, at least - unlikely to lose on matchday two.

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When do the USWNT play Argentina in the W Gold Cup?

The USWNT face Argentina on Group A matchday two on Friday 23 February 2024, with kick-off scheduled for 10:15pm ET/7:15pm PT at Dignity Health Sports Park. TV viewers in the US will be able to watch English-language coverage of the match on Paramount+, while Spanish speakers can tune in on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.

If you want to go to the Game in Carson, California, you can purchase tickets on the CONCACAF website.

USWNT vs Argentina: live with AS USA

You also have the option of following live-text commentary of the USWNT vs Argentina, right here at AS USA. Joe Brennan will be building up to the game from about an hour ahead of kick-off in Carson, before talking you through the action as it happens.

Watch - USWNT has green screen fun:

What is the USWNT’s record against Argentina?

Friday’s clash at Dignity Health Sports Park will be the USWNT’s fifth meeting with Argentina, and their first at a major tournament.

So far, the four-time world champions have won every game they’ve played against the South Americans, with the teams’ most recent meeting coming at the SheBelieves Cup in 2021. The US thumped the Argentinians 6-0 in Orlando, Florida, thanks to goals by Megan Rapinoe (two), Carli Lloyd, Kristie Mewis, Alex Morgan and Christen Press.

And not only have the USWNT never failed to beat Argentina, but they also boast a near-perfect record in Games played in California. Tuesday’s win over the Dominican Republic was the team’s 50th victory in 54 run-outs in the Golden State; the four Games they didn’t win were all drawn.

US need to be more ruthless in attack - Kilgore

Looking ahead to the USWNT’s second group fixture, interim head coach Kilgore - who will hand over to permanent appointment Emma Hayes ahead of this summer’s Paris Olympics - called on her players to be quicker to go for the jugular in attack.

“I’d like to see a bit more efficiency,” Kilgore told reporters after her team’s win over the Dominican Republic. “We asked them to play with sort of this ‘patient urgency’; we knew that if we did our job, we’d pushed them back into their defensive third.

“You have to move the ball quickly, and try and move and shift them and create these goalscoring opportunities. [But] I think we were actually a little too patient; we could have served in a few more crosses with fewer [previous build-up] passes, and created a few more opportunities.”