SheBelieves Cup history: What country has the most titles? What players have won the MVP?

The end of February/start of March is a festival of women’s soccer, with a whole host of international tournaments played across the globe as, depending on the year, nations put the finishing touches to their preparations for a major summer tournament. That is very much the case in 2023 ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the summer, with the Arnold Clark Cup, the Algarve Cup and the Tournoi de France amongst the competitions taking place. Perhaps the best-known of the lot, however, is the SheBelieves Cup, which started in 2016 and has annually brought together the biggest nations in women’s soccer.

Hosted in the United States and with a round-robin group format, the USWNT has unsurprisingly been involved in each edition and has dominated the competition, much in the same way as their have ruled women’s soccer worldwide (and they are already off to a good start in the 2023 tournament).

2016 SheBelieves Cup – Nashville, Tampa, Boca Raton (Florida)

The United States, Germany, France and England took part in the inaugural tournament and the following two editions. The USWNT won all three games to win the first ever She Believes Cup, which was fiercely contested. Only one of the six matches ended in a draw, while the other five settled by a one-goal margin. The US defeated Germany in a winner-takes-all final group game in Boca Raton thanks to goals from Alex Morgan and Samantha Mewes.

Full screen

2017 SheBelieves Cup – Chester (Philadelphia), Harrison (New York), Washington DC

The holders were rather less successful in the second edition of the competition, finishing bottom of the group. That said, they could have retained their title had they beaten France in the final match in Washington DC. Instead, however, they found themselves two goals down inside the first 10 minutes and an eventual 3-0 win meant the French lifted their one and only title.

2018 SheBelieves Cup – Harrison (New York), Colombus, Orlando

Another last-game shoot-out for the title, which this time went in the USWNT’s favour. The US and England were both on four points going into their final match and the hosts prevailed thanks to an own goal from Lionesses goalkeeper Karen Bardsley in Orlando. Two titles in three tournaments for the United States.

2019 SheBelieves Cup – Chester (Philadelphia), Nashville, Tampa

For the first time, a different group of nations competed for the title, with the USWNT and England joined by Japan and Brazil. The Lionesses won their first She Believes Cup, defeating the two newcomers and drawing with the States in the middle group game. An injury-time equaliser from American-born Japan international Yuka Momiki in the very first match of the tournament ended up costing the hosts dear.

Full screen

2020 SheBelieves Cup – Harrison (New York), Orlando, Frisco (Texas)

A matter of days before we felt the full force of the covid-19 pandemic, Spain were invited to the SheBelieves party alongside the US, England and Japan. The debutants performed well, beating England and Japan but a late Julie Ertz goal meant the USWNT ended the tournament with a perfect record, also posting comfortable wins in their other two games.

For the first time, an official MVP award for the tournament was handed out and given to Spain’s Alexia Putellas, who has since won the Ballon d’Or Féminin twice.

2021 SheBelieves Cup – Orlando

All matches between the USWNT, Brazil, Canada and Argentina took place at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, with only a limited number of fans allowed as the pandemic continued. As was the case in 2021, the States won all three games and on this occasion they didn’t concede a goal. The highlight of their victory was a 6-0 thrashing of Argentina in the final match.

USWNY midfielder Rose Lavelle, who scored the winning goal against Canada in the opening game, was voted the tournament’s MVP.

2022 SheBelieves Cup - Carson (California), Frisco (Texas)

It ended up being another procession for the United States, although it didn’t appear as if things would play out that way after a disappointing goalless draw in the first game against the Czech Republic. However, the hosts dismantled New Zealand and Iceland (5-0 in both games) to cruise to yet another title.

The US’ Brazilian-born midfielder Catarina Macario, who scored twice in the final match against Iceland, was named MVP.