Amid Asian, European and Oceania qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2027™, four of the leading teams in North and South America battled it out in the 2026 SheBelieves Cup to gain valuable tournament experience ahead of the global showpiece.
USA emerged triumphant with three wins out of three, culminating with a 1-0 triumph over Colombia to seal the title on home soil. FIFA takes a look at how Argentina, Canada, Colombia and USA fared in the high-profile international tournament.
Argentina
La Albiceleste went into the SheBelieves Cup in high spirits after securing a third-placed finish at the 2025 Copa America Femenina but German Portanova’s team had a tournament to forget. A 2-0 opening defeat to USA was soon followed by a 1-0 loss to South American rivals Colombia. The team salvaged some pride in a goalless draw with Canada in their final match but they lost the ensuing penalty shootout 3-2 to leave the States empty-handed.
Argentina are currently in second place in the CONMEBOL Women’s Nations League, which serves as South America’s qualification tournament for Brazil 2027, but they are level on points with both Chile and Colombia. They must regroup quickly ahead of upcoming fixtures against Chile and top-of-the-table Venezuela in April.
Canada
Casey Stoney’s team were in desperate need of a reboot after suffering five consecutive defeats at the end of 2025 and they achieved just that with three creditable performances. Vanessa Gilles, Janine Sonis, Sydney Collins and Nichelle Prince were all on the scoresheet in the 4-1 victory over Colombia. Although Canada lost 1-0 to USA, they pushed Emma Hayes’ team all the way in a closely-fought contest. Nonetheless, they are winless in their last six match-ups against their North American rivals.
Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan was the star as she saved two penalties in the shootout victory over Argentina as Canada ended the tournament on a high note. “I had no doubt that we would win that penalty shootout. Not a single doubt,” Stoney said. Canada’s second-place finish matched their performance at the competition in 2024.
Colombia
Colombia pushed Brazil all the way in the 2025 Copa America Femenina final, losing 5-4 on penalties after a dramatic 4-4 draw during regulation time. But Las Chicas Superpoderosas failed to match the heights of the regional showpiece with a mixed display in the SheBelieves Cup. Ill discipline was a particular problem in their opening defeat to Canada, with Gisela Robledo given her marching orders after receiving two yellow cards.
The highlight was the 1-0 victory over Argentina which came courtesy of Linda Caicedo’s second-half strike at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Colombus, Ohio. In their finale, Colombia also performed well in a physical and relentless contest against USA, with Alyssa Thompson’s stunning late strike proving the difference for the Stars and Stripes. They next face Venezuela and Chile in the CONMEBOL Women’s Nations League in April.
USA
Three victories in three games, with four goals scored and none conceded. The SheBelieves Cup could not have gone any better for USA as they continue to build momentum for Brazil 2027. “I want them to feel like something was at stake, but they could also win something together. I think it is indicative of a new group post-Olympics. This is a team that we are building towards the World Cup qualification,” Hayes said after the tournament-winning victory over Colombia.
Among the star performers were Alyssa Thompson, whose dazzling strike secured the title for USA, and Ally Sentnor who once again shone in this tournament with the deciding goal against Canada. The goalkeeper’s jersey appears to remain a battle between Claudia Dickey and Phallon Tullis-Joyce, while the decision to leave Lindsey Heaps on the bench against Canada and Colombia indicates a changing role for the veteran midfielder. USA face Japan in three consecutive friendlies next month.
