1985 – First Official USWNT Match

In 1985, the U.S. Women’s National Team played its first official matches at the Mundialito tournament in Italy. These conditions exposed the deep institutional neglect of women’s soccer. The team wore oversized men’s uniforms, sewed "USA" decals onto their jerseys by hand, and received just $10 per diem to cover expenses (Yoesting 2018). Since the team was haphazardly assembled from collegiate athletes, the players were given minimal training time and almost no financial backing.

This debut not only revealed gender inequity in how national teams were resourced but also exposed the class-based barriers embedded in elite women’s soccer. Participation at the highest level required players to absorb economic costs themselves, which created a dynamic that was exclusionary and reinforced privilege. As Grant Wahl notes, women’s soccer in the U.S. was built “from scratch,” often in spite of the federation’s support, not because of it (Wahl 2019).

The 1985 squad’s experience foreshadowed the team’s long struggle for professional legitimacy and respect. Their sacrifice and resilience became part of the USWNT’s origin story - one that would later fuel its demands for equal pay and inclusion.