USWNT beats – The U.S. women’s national team held off Brazil 1-0 in a contentious friendly in Fortaleza, where the match featured eight red cards and 15 yellow cards. Sophia Wilson scored the decisive goal in the 63rd minute after her shot deflected off Isabela Chagas for a
Sophia Wilson knew something was wrong when the contact landed and she stayed down on the pitch for several minutes. Brazil’s defense had already been under pressure in the U.S. win. but the friendly at Arena Castelão in Fortaleza turned into a test of control—one that played out with eight red cards and 15 yellow cards.
The United States held on for a 1-0 victory on Tuesday. the second matchup between the two sides in three days. With the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil approaching. USWNT head coach Emma Hayes had pushed her team to manage and contain the “madness” of playing Brazil on its home turf. The Americans carried that message into a match that never settled.
Both teams started physical from the opening kickoff, and the score stayed level through the first 45 minutes. The game shifted at 63 minutes. when Wilson broke the deadlock with a shot from distance that deflected off Brazil’s Isabela Chagas for an own goal. The strike stood as the game-winning goal.
The second half is where restraint became hardest to sustain. Brazil head coach Arthur Elias and several members of his staff were shown red cards at the 76th minute. Moments later. Bia Zaneratto picked up a second yellow in stoppage time for shoving American Emily Sonnett. and Tarciane received a red card shortly after for elbowing Wilson in the mouth. Wilson remained down on the pitch while the intensity kept escalating around her.
By the final whistle, Brazil was playing with only nine players. After the match ended, Kerolin and Ludmila received red cards from the referees, and more chaos followed on the field. Brazilian players had to be separated from the referees as security guards entered in riot gear to diffuse the tension.
“If this is any indications of what the World Cup might be like next summer, it’ll be quite a tournament,” HBO Max play-by-play announcer Luke Wileman said.
USWNT Brazil women's national team Sophia Wilson Emma Hayes Arthur Elias NWSL women's soccer World Cup 2027 red cards friendly match
8 red cards?? That’s not a friendly, that’s WWE on grass.
So Wilson scored and it somehow became an own goal? I’m confused, like wasn’t it still her shot? Either way Brazil did Brazil things I guess.
I saw the highlight of her staying down and I’m like… why keep playing the game if she’s hurt? Also Emma Hayes talking about “madness” like ok yeah but the ref let it get out of control.
Fortaleza games always seem crazy, and why does this keep happening with women’s soccer too? They said 8 reds and then after the game more reds?? Sounds like poor officiating and honestly refs just wanted the attention. I’m all for physical play but elbowing someone in the mouth is just insane. World Cup 2027 might be even worse if the refs don’t clamp down immediately.