The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) has gained an unexpected advantage ahead of its upcoming friendlies against Spain, as the reigning World No. 1 side will be without two crucial players due to injury. Just a day before the first match scheduled for Saturday at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., Claudia Pina and Mapi León were ruled out and will return to Spain to recover, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed.
Both players traveled with the squad to the United States on Tuesday; however, neither participated in training sessions leading up to the game. Pina, a forward for Barcelona, was already experiencing physical discomfort before making the trip, while León, a central defender currently playing for London City Lionesses, has been a cornerstone of Spain’s defense since her return to international competition.
Spain Faces Growing Injury Woes Ahead of High-Stakes Matches
These absences add to an expanding list of injuries and setbacks for Spain’s head coach, Sonia Bermúdez, complicating preparations for two friendlies against Emma Hayes’ USWNT, the two highest-ranked women’s national teams in the world. León, who has earned 62 international caps, has been a near-automatic starter alongside defender Irene Paredes, and her absence leaves a significant gap at the heart of Spain’s backline. Among the potential replacements to fill her role is María Méndez.
Meanwhile, Pina, who has 30 caps for Spain, will also miss out on the opportunity to contribute on the attacking front. The RFEF’s official statement confirmed that both players will depart on Saturday to begin their recovery processes, ruling them out of both upcoming friendlies.
The USWNT, preparing under Emma Hayes, will face a Spanish side that is currently forced to adapt to these last-minute changes, which could influence the dynamics of the matches. Spain’s injury challenges underscore the physical toll on their squad as they gear up to compete against the defending world champions on American soil.