Matildas Abroad Preview: Aussies go head-to-head in pre-season friendly; USL Super League season starts

Aussies will go head-to-head as Arsenal hosts Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly. While the USL Super League 2025/26 season starts.

Read our preview of the Matildas Abroad action below.

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United States

The North Carolina Courage travel to Illinois to take on the Chicago Stars, as the Courage fight to keep their chances of finals hopes alive. Both teams had to settle for draws in their last NWSL outings, with Courage recording a 1-1 draw with the Thorns, while a 99th-minute equaliser from goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saw Chicago scrap in for a 3-3 draw with Seattle. Cortnee Vine will be available for the Courage.

Kaitlyn Torpey and Mackenzie Arnold's Portland Thorns will host ladder-leaders, Kansas City Current, as both teams look to maintain their spots in the top eight. Thorns currently sit in fifth, but could move into as high as second place if they take all three points from Kansas. Arnold made crucial saves in the Thorns' last outing, making 6 saves in their 1-1 draw against Courage. 

You can watch the NWSL live and on demand on Stan Sport.

The USL Super League kicks off this weekend for the 2025/25 season, with Morgan Aquino's DC Power FC taking on the new team in the league in their opening game. This game will kick off on Sunday at 9am AEST, live on the USL Super League YouTube Channel

Sweden

Kristianstads DFF takes on Hammarby on Saturday, 3am AEST. Kristianstads' top three hopes are still within reach as the team sits just 6 points outside of the top three. They will be in for a tough task when they travel to take on Hammarby, as the side sits in second place, and is equal on points with Häcken in first. Amy Sayer and Remy Siemsen will be available for Kristianstads.

Jada Whyman's AIK will be hoping to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat last weekend when they host Djurgården on Saturday, 9pm AEST. Djurgården and AIK sit in fifth and sixth place on the table, respectively, so it's anyone's game when the two face off. Whyman is expected to start for AIK, after keeping 6 clean sheets this season. 

Courtney Nevin's Malmö remains only one point from the top of the table, and will hope for a win over 12th-place Brommapojkarna to boost them up towards first place. Nevin played the whole match in Malmö's last game, a 2-0 win over AIK. This game will kick off on Saturday at 9pm AEST.

Finishing up in Sweden, fresh off scoring her first goal for the club, and an 88th-equaliser at that, Daniela Galic's Vittsjö GIK will be aiming for all three points when they meet last-placed Linköping FC on Saturday, 11pm AEST. 

Mexico

CF Monterrey faces off against Chivas on Wednesday, 11am AEST. Monterrey will be hoping to bounce back after their 2-1 midweek defeat against Gotham FC in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup Round 1. Emily Gielnik is expected to start on the weekend.

Canada

Calgary Wild FC host the Montreal Roses on Sunday, 2:30am AEST. Calgary will be hoping to steal all three points and keep their hopes of playing finals football in the inaugural season alive. There is no word yet on Kahli Johnson’s availability as she continues to battle injury.

You can watch the Northern Super League on the Northern Super League YouTube Channel.

England

Pre-season continues in England as the preparations for the WSL and WSL2 ramp up. Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross' Arsenal will host Charli Grant, Clare Hunt and Hayley Raso's Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly at Meadow Park in a North London derby. 

Italy

Wini Heatley will have the chance to make her competitive debut for AS Roma when the Italian side takes on Aktobe in UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying on Wednesday, at 11pm AEST. If AS Roma defeats Aktobe, Heatley could likely face her former side, FC Nordsjælland, who are on the other side of the bracket, for a place in the next round of qualifying.