This Week In Women's Soccer, Recommendations 3/13/26

With the return of club football and the start of the NWSL season this week, plus the Asian Cup knockout rounds, this is by far the busiest week of recommendations we've had for this newsletter. For new readers, my standards are this: I want to recommend matches with the best teams and players and/or the highest stakes. 

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In practice, this tends to mean top-level matches from the USA, Mexico, France, England, Spain, and Germany. There are also two continental competitions (UEFA Women's Champions League and CONCACAF W Champions Cup), and important international matches when those happen.

Unlike the other leagues with their extremely top-heavy history and structure, the NWSL is designed for parity. The bottom teams have world-class stars, the top teams have to lose big names to stay under the salary cap. In terms of recommendations, this means that pretty much every NWSL match is worth watching by my standards. But that's an extremely long recommendation list, so at least until the European season is done, I'm gonna limit every league to three matches of recommendations per round of matches, barring something notable.

Also remember to check out my NWSL preview in two parts, the west and the east! 

A final note on the NWSL: it is streamed on a LOT of different platforms. Too many different platforms. The easiest way to figure out where to watch is on the NWSL schedule page on their website. Also note that NWSL+, ION, and Victory+ are all free, although the latter may require registration.

MATCH RECOMMENDATIONS

I've separated the Asian Cup matches out below, but those are exciting matchups and highly recommended. So are some of these! 

1. Washington v Portland (Fri 5pm PST, Prime) - Easily the most exciting match of the opening weekend of the NWSL, a rematch of last year's semifinal. Some of the biggest stars in the league are here, with Washington having resigned Trinity Rodman in the offseason and Portland getting Sophia Wilson back from maternity. I'm also tremendously excited about Portland's Olivia Moultrie, who had an incredible end to the season last year, and might be poised for international superstardom. 

2. Boston v Gotham (Sat 9:30am PST, ABC/ESPN) - The defending champions Gotham take on one of the league's two brand new teams in Boston. Gotham is largely healthy and Boston has put together a high-variance team that seems like it'll have some growing pains, so I'm expecting a Gotham win….except that Boston striker Amanda Gutierres might be one of the very best in the world capable of single-handedly surprising the champs. 

3. America v Toluca (Mon 7pm PST, Vix/YouTube) - The pick of the Mexican matches this week. Club America expects to be a championship contender but only sits sixth in the table, while Toluca has been demonstrating ambition by signing players like Eugenie le Sommer and Sofia Jakobssen. NWSL fans may recognize Club America's Scarlett Camberos and Sarah Lubbert, and everyone with good eyes will recognize that Club America may have some of the best kits in the world. 

THE SICKO ZONE

Most of the other weekend matches aren't quite superteams vs superteams, but a lot of good important matches, so here's some quick hits:

4. Arsenal v London City (Sun 4:45am, ESPN) - London City is a rapidly-rising supremely ambitious club but they haven't been able to take points off any of England's Big 4. Arsenal need to win to keep the title race going.

5. Real Madrid v Real Sociedad (Sat 10:30am, DAZN) - Second versus third in Spain, with a win for Sociedad putting them level on points with giants Real Madrid. Madrid star Colombian sensation Linda Caicedo, while Sociedad can put out young Portuguese midfielder Andreia Jacinto. 

6. Orlando v Seattle (Sun 1pm PST, Victory+) - There are only two NWSL matches between playoff teams from last year, this is the second. Orlando's superstar striker Barbra Banda has been activated after missing the latter half of last year from injury, which adds a lot of excitement here. 

7. Wolfsburg v Leverkusen (Sun 10:30am PST, DAZN) - Leverkusen are pushing for the third Champions League spot in Germany, while superclub Wolfsburg are in danger of being dragged into that fight if they lose matches like this. 

8. Manchester City v Aston Villa (Sun 4:45am, ESPN) - Manchester City are closing in on the title, so every match is crucial for them. Aston Villa started strong this season but have collapsed in 2026 so they'll be desperate for a result. 

9. Werder Bremen v Frankfurt (Sat 6am, DAZN) - Another big match in the race for third place in Germany. Frankfurt has the stars but hasn't had the results until recently, they need to win this one. 

10. Toluca v Pumas (Fri 5pm PST, Vix/YouTube) - If you aren't or can't watch Washington against Portland, this is a good match from Mexico. Wait, Toluca's got two matches against other playoff teams this weekend? That's not ideal! 

11. Chivas v Pachuca (Sun 10am, Vix/YouTube) - Another playoff team matchup in Mexico. Pachuca are a joy to watch when they get their passing game going. 

MIDWEEK MATCHES

Because I put out this newsletter on Friday afternoon, I end up recommending Friday evening matches twice. And there's a real good NWSL doubleheader set for a week from today!

1. Portland v Seattle (Fri 7pm PST, Prime) - The biggest game in the NWSL for much of its history, it's the Cascadia Rivalry! I'm suddenly a lot higher on Seattle after some great last-minute moves like getting Canadian forward Holly Ward, this should be fun.

2. Washington v Louisville (Fri 5pm PST, Victory+) - Another playoff rematch, Louisville runs a tough pressing and counter-attack system that can fluster bigger teams like Washington, and has Emma Sears who can score anytime.

3. Chelsea v Brighton (Wed noon PST, ESPN) - Chelsea are in a dogfight for the Champions League spots in England, Brighton are an ambitious smaller club that's had a disappointing season. But they do have Chiamaka Nnadozie, one of my favorite goalies in the world.

4. Frankfurt v Hoffenheim (Wed 10am PST, DAZN) - Another major match for Champions League qualification in Germany. Hoffenheim star striker Selina Cerci leads Germany in goals. 

THE ASIAN CUP

We're in the meat of the Asian Cup now, with one quarterfinal complete last night (Australia beating North Korea). In addition to the tournament itself, each of the quarterfinals serves as a direct qualifier to the World Cup – win and you're in. Lose, and you go to the qualifying matches, where if you win you're in, but a loss sends you to the intercontinental qualifying round. So all eight of these teams CAN get into the World Cup, six of them definitely WILL, and the last two MIGHT.

Now the recommendations, in chronological order:

1. China v Chinese Taipei (Fri 10pm PST, YouTube) - The geopolitical implications here are fun enough, with China taking on Taiwan in a tournament where Taiwanese pride has been suppressed. China is one of the favorites, led by the playful, occasionally trolling Wang Shuang. Chinese Taipei has been one of the tournament's few surprises, with a solid organization allowing them to survive Japan then beat Vietnam and India to give themselves a good chance of World Cup qualification.

2. South Korea v Uzbekistan (Sat 2am PST, YouTube) - South Korea demonstrated that they were a genuine contender for the championship by winning their group with hosts Australia and another WWC team in the Philippines. Uzbekistan made it to this point by minimizing the damage against the bigger nations and thrashing fellow minnows Bangladesh, but they're likely the least powerful team remaining. South Korea's Kang Chae-Rim was a game changer when she came on against Australia, let's see if she gets the start. 

3. Japan v Philippines (Sat 10pm PST, YouTube) - Japan has lived up to their tournament favorites status, winning all three group matches, the latter two in dominant fashion. Japan is filled with stars from across the world, not even finding a spot to play NWSL Midfielder of the Year Manaka Matsukubo (shockingly to me). If you enjoy clever passing and interchanges and banger goals, and I can't imagine you don't, Japan's the team for it. The Philippines were a great story at the World Cup, even sneaking a win against New Zealand, but they've pretty much just defended in depth against the big teams this Asian Cup. Goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel is heroic between the pipes but it would take a miracle. 

In midweek, the semifinals happen first, then the WWC qualification games. Obviously I don't know the winners of the QFs, but given the disparity between the teams in most of the matches, I'll note the likely favorites. 

1. Semi-Final 1, Australia v likely China (Tue 3am PST, YouTube) - If China gets through, you've got a great matchup between the defending champions and the hosts. Chinese Taipei's defensive organization could also prove tough for a Matildas team that's lacked passing and creativity this year.

2. Semi-Final 2, likely Japan v South Korea (Wed 2am PST, YouTube) - Probably the two most impressive teams in the tournament, both Japan and Korea have played attacking, fluid football with a defensive spine. 

3. WWC Qualifier 1, North Korea v likely Uzbekistan (Wed 8pm PST, YouTube) - There were five clear contenders for the trophy across the group stage, which meant that one would be left out of the semi-finals. That one was North Korea, despite outplaying Australia in their match. Their consolation prize is a World Cup qualifying match they should win against a plucky Uzbekistan team.

4. WWC Qualifier 2, likely Chinese Taipei v Philippines (Tue 2am PST, YouTube) - Philippines were one of the most surprising teams at WWC 2023 and acquitted themselves well. Taiwan was a power in Asian women's football in the 70s and 80s (!) trying to get back to the WWC for the first time since 1991. 

IN OTHER NEWS

Iran's women's national team went to the Asian Cup and then found their home country in an undeclared war against the United States, an Australian ally. They quickly found themselves used as political footballs, with Iranian state TV declaring them traitors for not singing the national anthem loudly enough in their first match, and their potential for defection becoming a cause celebre for right-wing warmongers. Several of the players did defect – and good for them, it's probably bad when state TV calls you a traitor! – but the rest of the team is now waiting in Malaysia while trying to get home. 

It sucks that the far right, including President Trump, has turned these women into symbols of their warmongering. In a just world, they might notice that "not showing enough respect during the anthem" is a thing they've used as a cudgel to beat their own political enemies in the past. This isn't a just world. 

In less important news, the NWSL completed several transfers as the season comes to its beginning. Utah signed Mexican star forward Kiana Palacios, Kansas City picked up attacker Penelope Hocking from Bay to shore up their injury-riddled attack, Chicago bought Canadian striker Jordyn Huitema from Seattle, then the Reign turned around and used some of that money to pick up a breakout player from the Northern Super League, winger Holly Ward. Whew. 

GOALS OF THE WEEK

Alyssa Thompson breaks a deadlock in a fairly dull match against Colombia on the weekend with a near-post banger that observers called "Christen Press-like." 

Japan put on an absolute goalscoring clinic against India in the Asian Cup, scoring eleven goals, many of them absolutely fantastic. The first, with crafty midfielder Hinata Miyazawa sneaking a pass to winger Yuzuki Yamamoto who cuts inside with a nutmeg and then lashes the ball past the keeper, is my favorite. Highlights here.

China and North Korea played a brutally physical match in to end the group stage, with North Korea taking an early lead and then Chen Qiaozhou immediately hit a beautiful daisycutter to level it, and China would eventually in 2-1. Check it out here.

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