'We still have much work to do' - Emma Hayes' USWNT to play three friendlies in October, two against Portugal, with Alex Morgan and Alyssa Naeher to be honored

The U.S. women’s national team will return to the field in October to play three matches during the FIFA international window, with games scheduled against both Portugal and a yet-to-be-announced second opponent.

Emma Hayes' side will play Portugal twice - first on Oct. 24 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, and then again on Oct. 26 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.

A third match will be held in in Kansas City on Oct. 29. The opponent for that game has yet to be announced.

This will be the first time since the final match of group play at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup that the USWNT will take on Portugal. The two teams played to a 0-0 draw, sending the USWNT to the knockout round.

The first match will feature a pregame retirement celebration for USWNT legend, Alex Morgan. She will be honored in the same stadium where she scored her first international goal - she ultimately had 123 in her career.

In the second meeting against Portugal, former USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher will have her halftime moment. Naeher will be recognized in her home state. The USWNT legend is the only goalkeeper in soccer history to earn a shutout in a World Cup final and an Olympic gold medal match.

“Portugal is a growing team that will be highly motivated for these matches, but as always, these three games are more opportunities to work on us," Hayes said in a statement. "I’m very impressed with the progress we’ve made since the Olympics and I want to give a lot of credit to the players for embracing our culture and ideas. But our staff and the players know we still have much work to do before World Cup qualifying next year.”

Because soccer never stops, many of the UNSWT players will be returning to their respective clubs ahead of the October camp.