The path to Brazil goes through Texas for the U.S. women’s national team and other Concacaf nations dreaming of a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The confederation announced on Tuesday, April 21 that its 2026 W Championship will take place in Mansfield, Texas and Houston. Every match until the final and third-place game on Dec. 5 at Houston’s Shell Energy Stadium will take place at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium.
The tournament returns to the U.S. after the last edition took place in Nuveo Leon, utilizing the stadiums of both Monterrey-area Liga MX clubs.
This time around, the tournament will begin with an eight-team knockout stage. The winners of those four matches will qualify directly for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The losers go into a play-in — which will also take place in Mansfield — for the right to take part in FIFA’s intercontinental playoff. The winners of those mini-tournaments will go to the World Cup.
That means the pressure will be on in the first match. A win means the planning for Brazil begins. A defeat means the road is much longer.
The tournament is seeded based on FIFA ranking, meaning the world No. 2 U.S. meets El Salvador. That game is schedule to be the opening match on Nov. 27. Jamaica and Costa Rica also play for a spot in the World Cup that day. The next day, Mexico meets Haiti and Canada plays Panama.
The tournament also serves as Concacaf qualification for the 2028 Olympics. With the games taking place in Los Angeles, the U.S. already is qualified as the host nation. That means an American win in the quarterfinals would put the other three semifinalists through to the Olympics, too.
“This competition represents an incredible opportunity for our region’s top women’s national teams to compete at the highest level and secure coveted berths in global tournaments,” Concacaf president Victor Montagliani said in a statement.
“We have already seen outstanding competition throughout the qualifiers, and I look forward to crowning a champion on Dec. 5 in Houston, a moment that will celebrate the continued rise of women’s football in Concacaf.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
United States National Team Stars Uniform
US Soccer Stars kit
US Soccer Stripes kit
US Soccer Stars Kit
Diego Luna, Stripes kit
Tyler Adams, Stars kit
US Soccer Stripes kit
US Soccer Stripes kit
US Soccer Stars kit
US Soccer Stripes kit1 / 15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
United States National Team Stars Uniform
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars kit
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars Kit
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
Diego Luna, Stripes kit
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
Tyler Adams, Stars kit
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars kit
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
2026 Concacaf W Championship bracket
2026 Concacaf W Championship schedule
There are still two international dates on the calendar before the must-win matches kick off in November, but the margin for error becomes much smaller in the W Championship. The first games kick off Nov. 27 and Nov. 28 with semifinals being played Dec. 1. The final and third-place game will be played on Dec. 5.
Winners will be able to prepare for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, which kicks off June 24 and concludes July 25.
Quarterfinals
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QF1: United States (1) vs El Salvador (8) – Nov. 27, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
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QF2: Canada (2) vs Panama (7) – Nov. 28, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
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QF3: Mexico (3) vs Haiti (6) – Nov. 28, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
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QF4: Jamaica (4) vs Costa Rica (5) – Nov. 27, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
Play-in round
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PI1: Loser QF1 vs. Loser QF4 – Dec. 2, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
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PI2: Loser QF2 vs. Loser QF3 – Dec. 2, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
Semifinals
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SF1: Winner QF1 vs. Winner QF4 – Dec. 1, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
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SF2: Winner QF2 vs. Winner QF3 – Dec. 1, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
Third place
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Loser SF1 vs. Loser SF2 – Dec. 5, Shell Energy Stadium
Final
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Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2 – Dec. 5, Shell Energy Stadium
Kickoff times and broadcast information will be announced closer to the tournament.
Where is Texas Health Mansfield Stadium, where USWNT plays El Salvador?
Every match before the final and third-place game will take place at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium, a new facility set to open this summer. It is located in Mansfield, a Fort Worth suburb not far from the more familiar Arlington, Texas, where 2026 men’s World Cup matches will take place at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
In addition to hosting North Texas SC, FC Dallas’ MLS Next Pro squad, the Mansfield site will serve as a base camp for Czechia during the 2026 World Cup.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USWNT to face El Salvador in Texas for World Cup place
