The US Women’s National Team will kickoff their 2026 SheBelieves Cup campaign against Argentina. Emma Hayes has called in a solid squad for the competition, so Argentina will start the tournament with its biggest challenge. Of course, Argentina are in a good spot to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, so they will relish the opportunity to challenge themselves against one of the best in the world. As the match approaches, let's look at this Argentina side and how they might approach the US.

Argentina is bringing a solid squad to the SheBelieves Cup, but they will be missing some of their younger talent due to the U20 South American Championships, which wraps up on February 28th. Still, this is a very strong squad that Argentina has called for the competition.

Among the absences due to the U20 competition, the most notable are attackers Kishi Nuñez and Annika Paz. Nuñez is a 19 year-old striker with Boca Junior. She has been present in the full national team for awhile now. Paz is an 18 year old striker who just recently signed with Inter Milan from River Plate. She has only recently been called up to the full national team, but she’s already scored at that level and has all the makings of a future star. Both tend to start on the bench when representing the full national team, but they would have been nice additions, and it is a bummer we don’t get to see them at this competition. The other absence I’d note is Gremio striker Yamila Rodriquez. She has been in Gremio’s recent match squads, so I am unsure why she wasn’t called up.

The strength in this side is with the midfielders and attackers. They have a number of versatile players that can get into the attacking third and both facilitate buildup and score goals.

Argentina typically lineup in a 4-4-2, but that will often morph into something closer to a 4-2-2-2 when attacking. They will also sometimes use a 4-3-3. My guess at their starting lineup against the USWNT is as follows:

In this lineup, when defending, Argentina will play tight, low block with the midfield four and defensive four aiming to prevent space by staying close and compact. In attack, the wide midfielders will often push centrally into the attack. Width will come from the outside backs pushing forward and the two forwards drifting wide.

Within my projected lineup, there really isn't a proper defensive midfielder, but Vanina Preninger will carry some of those responsibilities. When attacking, she will often remain the deepest laying midfielder. She will be the player who shuttles the ball from defense into attack and will handle the playmaking abilities from a deeper position. Falfán will help with these responsibilities, but she will also push forward and attack.

Out wide, Bonsegundo and Maricel Pereyra can run in the wide channels, but they will often drive inside and occupy the spaces you typically expect from an attacking midfielder or forward. It is not uncommon to see that pair making runs and scoring goals that a traditional 9 makes. When attacking, they won’t necessarily both make those central runs at the same time, on Bonsegundo will go centrally more often then Pereyra, but both make those attacking runs.

To maintain width, the outside backs will push forward into those wide, attacking channels. Also, the two forwards will also drift wide. In particular, Holzheier will often move all over the attacking third looking to find space and draw defenders out of shape for her midfield runners. She's also a good passer, so she can help with the buildup. As noted above, it is Bonsegundo who tends to drift in from the left, so Eliana Stabile will often push up that left from defense, but Sofia Dominguez plays a lot of midfield since moving to FC Basel, so I won't be surprised if they leverage her in attack as well.

Within my predicted lineup, the position I’m least certain about is the second attacker joining Holzheier. I’ve put Troncoso there because I expect her to start, but she was injured during the Copa Libertadores in November, so she hasn’t played much of late. But I’d still expect her to get the start over the youngster, Singarella.

4-3-3

If Argentina opts to have more presence in the center of the field, they may play a 4-3-3. In this lineup, they’ll likely play Bonsegundo as the central attacker, but have her drop deeper to act like a false 9. This also allows Argentina to bring in someone like Agustina Vargas or Margarita Gimenez to play more of a defensive midfielder role. Preininger and Falfán will still handle the deeper playmaking and connecting defense to offense, but I think this will ask more of that front trio to develop attack on the counter.

Against the US, this may make sense, but I suspect Argentina will stick to the 4-4-2 for that stronger low block. In the 4-4-2 they can still use movement from the wide mids and forwards to counter, and bring the outside backs into play if they get sustained possession.

Like with the Chile match, where I think the USWNT can best get at this Argentina side is attacking their center backs. They are solid backs, but they aren’t particularly fast and they can be out-muscled. If the US is willing to invite a little pressure, especially letting Argentina’s outside backs get forward, they should be able to attack that space in behind with Alyssa Thompson, Trinity Rodman, or Jameese Joseph.

If Argentina goes ultra-defensive with their 4-4-2 and keeps a very compact, low block the lack of an elite defensive midfielder can be exploited. Yohanes, Heaps, Lavelle, Moultrie, and Shaw may become key to possessing in tighter spaces.

Finally, Solana Pereyra is a perfectly adequate goalkeeper, but she’s one of the weaker among the regular national team starters in South America. The US should test her, as they may find her wanting.

For the US’s defense, the key will be keeping a disciplined shape considering Argentina's movement up front. Coffey or Hutton will be important to clog up that central space Argentina tries to open. Lastly, although I suggested the center backs can be exploited, Aldana Cometti is quite good in the air, and the US needs to be ready to cover her on set pieces for Argentina. They will look for her on corners and free kicks, and she will put her headers on goal.

There are two players I am most excited to watch play against this US team.

Agostina Holzheier - 22 years old - Forward - Racing Club

Holzheier has a lot of positive qualities, and she was instrumental in Racing Club reaching the final of the closing season in Argentina last season. She will score goals, but she's most adept at bringing other players into attack from her forward position. She will move all over the attacking third to both find space and create space for her teammates. He's regularly paired with another attacker who will often reap the benefits of movement. Yamila Rodriguez and Kishi Nuñez have both profited at the national team level from partnering with Holzheier. Against the US, she’ll be facing I higher level of defense, but I look forward to her taking on that challenge.

Vanina Preininger - 29 years old - Midfielder - São Paulo

Preininger has been a late bloomer when it comes to establishing herself on the national team. She had some rando caps in 2021 and 2022 (playing at center back in one match and forward in another), but she properly established herself with the national team in 2024 and helping Argentina finish third in the 2025 Copa America. Likewise, she was a key part of Boca Junior’s success between 2022 and 2024. What she brings to this side is a bit of the ‘metronome’ possession playmaker that can be so essential to transitioning from defense to offense. Preininger doesn't wrack up a bunch of assists because that's not her role. She's the one pulling the strings from a deeper position that sets up the assists. As with Holzheier, playing against the US will be a big step up from her usual quality of competition. Don’t get me wrong, she currently plays in Brazil, and she’s had multiple runs in the Copa Libertadores. She's been in challenging matches, but this will be a big ask, and I'm excited to see how she handles it.

Overall, I expect the US to handle Argentina. The recent matches against Paraguay and Chile were dominating victories for the USWNT. This could go similarly if Argentina allow it to get out of hand. I don't expect that to happen, but I would still predict a multigoal victory for the US. Something like a 3-0 or 4-1 would not surprise me. I do think Argentina will trouble the US a bit, but the Americans should handle it.

USA vs Argentina is scheduled for 5pm EST on Sunday, March 1st at Geodis Park in Nashville, TN. In the US, the match can be watched on TNT (in English) or Universo (in Spanish). It can also be streamed on HBO Max (in English) and Peacock (in Spanish).

I will be back with a similar preview of the Colombia Women’s National Team. Yes, that means I'm skipping previewing Canada, but I feel like Canada is a fairly known entity. I also plan on recapping the U20 South American Championships and checking in on the various leagues in action.