The international break is often a slow period for ardent fans of domestic soccer. But with February comes an exception. The highly anticipated SheBelieves Cup returns for the 2024-25 campaign, marking the 10th edition of the six-game, three-matchday, friendly tournament. Once again, the United States Soccer Federation will host a new lineup of top nations from February 19 to 27. With excitement building, many are eager to learn more about the competing teams, tournament history, and past winners.

Meet the participants of the 2025 SheBelieves Cup

This year, we’ll be seeing the USWNT (#1 in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings) face Japan (#7), Australia (#15), and Colombia (#21). Interestingly, Australia and Colombia are participating in the SheBelieves Cup for the very first time. These two nations have never been part of this annual competition, despite the fact that both sides have faced the 4-time World Champions on several other occasions.

The USWNT has played against Las Chicas Superpoderosas 12 times, securing 10 wins and 2 draws. Meanwhile, against the Maltidas, the Stars and Stripes have a record of 27 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss. On the contrary, Japan has been quite familiar not just with the tournament but also with the host nation. Returning for their third consecutive SheBelieves Cup and fifth overall, they have historically struggled against the U.S., recording 14 losses, 5 draws, and just 1 win.

History and past winners

2016 – Nashville, Tampa, Boca Raton (Florida)

The USWNT invited Germany, France, and England to take part in the inaugural tournament and the following two editions. Call it host advantage but the Americans won all of their three games to lift their first-ever SheBelieves Cup. But that doesn’t mean the tournament was a cakewalk for everyone. Five of the six matches were decided by a single goal, with only one ending in a draw. The decisive moment came when the U.S. edged past Germany in a winner-takes-all final group match.

2017 – Chester (Philadelphia), Harrison (New York), Washington DC

In the 2017 SheBelieves Cup, the USA defeated Germany 1-0 in the opening match. However, the hosts fell to England 1-0 and France 3-0. On a more interesting note, Les Bleues defeated the Lionesses 2-1 and drew 0-0 with Germany, eventually securing them the trophy. Meanwhile, Germany, England, and the USWNT finished second, third, and fourth, respectively.

2018 – Harrison (New York), Columbus, Orlando

The 2018 edition was all about goals galore compared to previous editions, with 16 goals netted across six matches. The USWNT edged past Germany 1-0, drew 1-1 with France, and locked in another narrow 1-0 win over England. The Lionesses claimed second place after a dominant 4-1 victory over a France side featuring several reserves and a 2-2 draw with Germany. France finished third, capping off their campaign with a 3-0 triumph over Germany, while the Germans finished fourth without having recorded a single win.

2019 – Chester (Philadelphia), Nashville, Tampa

This time, the invitations were extended to two new nations, Brazil and Japan, with England retaining their place. This edition saw the Lionesses claim their first-ever title, with victories over Brazil (2-1) and Japan (3-0) while drawing 2-2 against the USWNT. The Americans also faced a tough challenge from Japan, settling for another 2-2 draw, though they managed a narrow win over Brazil. Japan finished third after defeating Brazil 3-1, while the South Americans ended at the bottom of the table without a single win. The tournament set a new record for goals, with 19 scored across all matches.

2020 – Harrison (New York), Orlando, Frisco (Texas)

This was the final competition of the year, as the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the beautiful game and the whole world soon after. The USWNT claimed the title with a perfect record, defeating England 2-0, Spain 1-0, and Japan 3-1. Tournament debutants Spain impressed, finishing second with victories over Japan (3-1) and England (1-0). Spanish star Alexia Putellas, who netted two goals during the competition, was honored as the inaugural SheBelieves Cup Visa MVP.

2021 – Orlando

The 2021 edition saw the U.S. clinch its fourth SheBelieves Cup title and become the first back-to-back champion in the tournament’s six-year history. The Americans registered wins over Canada (1-0), Brazil (2-0), and Argentina (6-0) and in the process became the first team to keep clean sheets in all their matches at the competition. USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle was voted the Visa SheBelieves Cup MVP. Brazil finished second in the tournament with wins over Canada (2-0) and Argentina (4-1), improving on their 2019 showing.

2022 – Carson (California), Frisco (Texas)

The USWNT began its campaign with an unexpected stalemate against the Czech Republic. However, they bounced back in dominant fashion, thrashing New Zealand and Iceland 5-0 each to win the tournament. Notably, the match against New Zealand saw an unusual occurrence—one player scored three own goals. It was defender Meikayla Moore who was behind that series of freak accidents. On a more positive note, Catarina Macario earned MVP honors for her excellent performances. Furthermore, Iceland had an impressive showing, finishing second after edging New Zealand 1-0 and defeating the Czech Republic 2-1. Meanwhile, both the Czechs and the Football Ferns ended the tourney winless, placing third and fourth, respectively.

2023 – Orlando, Frisco (Dallas–Fort Worth area), Nashville

The USWNT won all three of their matches, defeating Canada 2-0, Japan 1-0, and Brazil 2-1, claiming their fourth consecutive and sixth overall SheBelieves Cup title. Meanwhile, the remaining teams each finished with three points, but goal difference determined their final standings. Japan took second place despite suffering two narrow defeats, thanks to a 3-0 win over Canada. Brazil followed in third after losing 2-0 to Canada, which ultimately left the Canucks in fourth place. USWNT forward Mallory Swanson made tournament history by being the first player to score four goals in a single edition of the tournament, a feat that earned her MVP honors.

2024 – Atlanta (Georgia), Columbus (Ohio)

Interestingly, the 2024 SheBelieves Cup followed a modified four-game, two-date format due to FIFA’s adjusted timeline for the Olympic year. In the semifinals, the U.S. edged past Japan with a 2-1 victory. Meanwhile, Canada and Brazil played a 1-1 draw, with the Canadians prevailing 4-2 in the penalty shootout. The final also ended in a 2-2 draw, but the U.S. sealed the deal with a 5-4 win on penalties. In the third-place match, Japan and Brazil finished 1-1 in regulation time, but Brazil dominated the shootout, with a 3-0 victory.

The winners so far

Clearly, the USWNT has established itself as the dominant force in the SheBelieves Cup. They did so by winning the last five editions and amassing a total of seven titles. The only other teams to have lifted the trophy are France in 2017 and England in 2019. Neither team is present at this year’s tournament, so will this be win number 7 for the U.S.? New head coach Emma Hayes will certainly hope so. The USWNT will kick off their campaign against Colombia, aspiring to set even more tournament records and outdo their past performances.