When Does the USMNT and USWNT Play Next? National Team Schedules Explained

Do you consider yourself a U.S. Soccer fan, but only follow along during major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and Olympics?

Have you ever wondered how the National Team schedules work, so you can make sure to follow the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams throughout the year?

Great, then you’re in the right place. We’ll go over everything you need to know to keep up with the USMNT and USWNT.

The important thing to remember is that outside of major tournaments like Concacaf and FIFA events, the U.S. senior teams play international friendlies during FIFA windows year-round.

Friendly matches are announced in spurts throughout the year, rather than all at once in a single season schedule, as seen in MLS, NWSL or any other league. Be sure to follow U.S. Soccer on social media to see if the National Teams are coming to a city near you. Or become an Insider for free to keep up with all the action.

What are FIFA International Windows?

FIFA International Windows are segmented periods on the global soccer calendar when professional clubs are required to release players for National Team duty. During these windows, teams often compete in international friendlies, but FIFA windows also encompass World Cup Qualifying matches and Confederation tournaments. The United States competes in the Concacaf region which includes 41 countries from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

For the USWNT, these windows are scheduled six times each year and seven in a year that holds a World Cup or the Olympics while the USMNT also has six or seven windows a year, depending on the year.

These windows are scheduled by FIFA years in advance to ensure all countries have equal opportunities to compete and prepare for major tournaments. While the men’s and women’s calendarsoperate in similar fashions, they are organized slightly differently.

Men’s FIFA Windows in 2025:

• March – Window often for Concacaf Nations League or friendlies
• June/July– Window for tournaments like Concacaf Gold Cup, FIFA World Cup, World Cup Qualifying or friendlies
• September — Window for friendlies or World Cup Qualifying
• October — Window for friendlies or World Cup Qualifying*
• November — Window for friendlies or World Cup Qualifying

*After 2025, this window will be combined with September camp

Women’s FIFA Windows in 2025:

• February/March – Window often used for the SheBelieves Cup or regional tournaments
• April – Window for friendlies
• June/July – Window for major tournaments such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup or the Olympics
• October – Window for friendlies or World Cup/Olympic Qualifying
• November/December – Window for additional friendlies or regional tournaments or World Cup/Olympic Qualifying

What is an International Friendly?

When the National Teams aren’t competing in tournaments, they play international friendlies. These are exhibition matches and not part of an official competition, but often allow teams to integrate new players, tactics and lineups. Friendlies are especially useful for preparation ahead of major competitions and for building team chemistry. U.S. Youth National Teams also often hold training camps and matches in these windows. In a commitment to the U.S. Way, these serve as pathways to develop talent to reach the senior levels.

As the USMNT prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the squad is getting valuable time against World Cup-qualified nations in the friendlies to close out 2025.

One notable exception is when the USA plays friendlies in January during a period that is outside any FIFA International Window. For the MNT, the January camp typically features some new players and domestic-based players since European clubs aren’t required to release their players outside official FIFA windows. For the women, the January camp also features most domestic-based players, but it usually includes more “core” players as so many of those are playing in the NWSL.

What Tournaments Should I be Following?

The senior National Teams compete in international tournaments over what are generally four-year cycles. The USMNT and USWNT both compete in FIFA World Cups and Concacaf championships. The USWNT plays in the Olympics — in which they’ve won gold five times. The men’s Olympic tournament is a youth competition featuring the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team in which each nation is allowed three overage players.

USMNT tournaments:

• FIFA World Cup – The world’s major tournament, held every four years
• Concacaf Gold Cup – The confederation championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean, held every two years
• Concacaf Nations League – A regional competition held over a two-year cycle
• Copa América (guest nation) – A South American championship held every four years that U.S. has occasionally participated in when invited
• World Cup Qualifying – A prolonged tournament that determines qualification for the next World Cup. The USA did not have to participate in World Cup qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as it is one of the three host nations

USWNT tournaments:

• FIFA Women’s World Cup – The world’s major women’s tournament, held every four years, and the biggest sporting event globally for women’s team sports
• Olympic Games – Another major women’s tournament, held every four years
• Concacaf W Championship — Confederation tournament that serves as qualifiers for FIFA Women's World Cup and the Olympic Games
• Concacaf W Gold Cup – The premier confederation championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean, held every four years.
• SheBelieves Cup – An annual invitational tournament hosted by U.S. Soccer featuring top teams from around the world
• World Cup and Olympic Qualifiers – In the past, these were two different qualifying tournaments, but now Concacaf has combined them into one event – the Concacaf W Championship — where teams qualifying for the upcoming World Cup and the Olympics the following year