The United States Women's national team (USWNT) will begin life after their World Cup heartbreak with a friendly match against South Africa at the TQL Stadium on Thursday.
The USWNT could only make it to the Round-of-16 of the 2023 FIFA World Cup wherein they lost the game on penalties to Sweden. Sweden went on to lose to eventual champions Spain. The competition was disappointing as a whole for the team and they will be looking to bounce back with a win over South Africa under interim boss Twila Kilgore.
Like the USWNT, South Africa also exited the World Cup at the Round-of-16 stage with a defeat against the Netherlands and haven't played a game since. They are set to play the USWNT back-to-back and will be hopeful of starting their post-World Cup journey on a positive note.
Here GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch, including TV channel, streaming details and more.
USWNT vs South Africa kick-off time
| Date: | September 22, 2023 |
| Kick-off time: | 12:30 am BST |
| Venue: | TQL Stadium |
The game between USWNT and South Africa will be played at the TQL Stadium on Friday. Kick-off is at 12:30 am BST for fans in the UK.
How to watch USWNT vs South Africa online - TV channels & live streams
Live on GOAL | GOAL | Live updates |
The match will not be televised in the UK, but live updates can be accessed here on GOAL.
Team news & squads
USWNT team news
USWNT is set to bid farewell to two stars in their squad. Julie Ertz is set to participate in the final match of her career. Her illustrious career with the USWNT will conclude with a total of 123 appearances.
Megan Rapinoe will bid her farewell on the international stage in three days' time and she could potentially accumulate as many as 204 caps by the end of her career. Rapinoe will also aim to improve on her remarkable record of 63 international goals before bidding adieu to international competition.
Out of the players who represented the United States in the 2023 Women's World Cup, a total of twenty-one members have received a call-up for upcoming friendlies. Unfortunately, forward Sophia Smith from the Portland Thorns and Gotham midfielder Kristie Mewis will not be available due to injuries.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers: | Naeher, Murphy, Kingsbury |
| Defenders: | Dunn, Sonnett, Davidson, Krueger, Fox, Huerta, Cook, Girma, Vignola |
| Midfielders: | Horan, Ertz, Sullivan, Sanchez, Coffey, DeMelo |
| Forwards: | Morgan, Rapinoe, Williams, Purce, Rodman, Hatch, Thompson, Fishel, Shaw |
South Africa team news
South Africa's squad consists of 22 players, and notably, 19 of them were part of the 2023 World Cup squad. Among these players, Thembi Kgatlana stands out as the leading scorer, boasting an impressive record of 26 goals in 72 international appearances. She is one of two players on the roster who are currently competing in the United States. Kgatlana is now in her first full season with Racing Louisville FC in the National Women’s Soccer League.
In addition to Kgatlana, another noteworthy inclusion in the squad is midfielder Sinoxolo Cesane. She is a junior at East Tennessee State University and has been called up for these games against the USA. Interestingly, she is joined by her twin sister, Noxolo, in representing South Africa in these matches.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers: | Swart, Dlamini, Moletsane |
| Defenders: | Dhlamini, Magama, Ramalepe, Makhubela, Mhlongo, Matlou, Gamede |
| Midfielders: | Motlhalo, Biyana, Kgoale, Holweni, Moodaly, Cesane |
| Forwards: | Salgado, Seoposenwe, Cesane, Kgadiete, Shongwe, Magaia, Kgatlana |
Head-to-Head Record
| Date | Match | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| May 2019 | USWNT 3-0 South Africa | Friendly |
| July 2016 | USWNT 1-0 South Africa | Friendly |