5 questions coach Emma Hayes and the USWNT need to answer before World Cup qualifying

​The United States women's national soccer team kicks off a two-game set this weekend against top-ranked Spain, aiming to solidify its roster plans before the stakes change in November.

​Saturday's match in Washington D.C. and Tuesday's in Chester, Pa., are the Americans' final games before the Concacaf W Championship. The USWNT opens that tournament against El Salvador on Nov. 27, and a win could secure a spot in the 2027 World Cup.

​Facing the world's No. 1 team gives coach Emma Hayes a demanding final rehearsal. Injuries to Naomi Girma and Sam Coffey also give other players another chance to make their case as Hayes evaluates who she can trust if key players remain unavailable.

​Here are five questions the USWNT needs to answer during this window before turning its attention to qualifying.​

What is the midfield plan if Sam Coffey cannot play?

​Coffey's injury affects more than this two-game set against Spain, especially since the midfielder - injured in training with her club, Manchester City - has no return timeline. Hayes must devise an alternative plan for November if Coffey remains out.

​Claire Hutton, the Bay FC midfielder from Bethlehem High, is among the young players ready to take on greater responsibility. Jaelin Howell has joined the roster as Coffey's replacement, while Lindsey Heaps, Rose Lavelle and Lily Yohannes offer more experienced midfield options.

​Hayes needs to decide which group can best protect the defense, move the ball under pressure and connect with the attack. Spain will test all those responsibilities.

​By the end of this two-game window, the USWNT should have a better answer about who anchors the midfield without Coffey and which partnerships work best around them.​

Which defenders can Hayes rely on without Naomi Girma and Emily Sonnett?

​With Girma's recurring injuries and Emily Sonnett's absence, Hayes needs to lock down her defense before qualifying.

​Tierna Davidson, Tara Rudd and Kennedy Wesley are solid options, and first-time call-up Kate Del Fava adds depth. But choosing a replacement is only part of the task. Hayes also needs a back line that communicates well, covers for each other and helps the team play out of its own end.

​Spain can expose gaps and punish defenders who hesitate to step up or track runners.

​These two games will give Hayes time to assess which players form the best defensive unit. If Girma is unavailable in November, Hayes needs an established alternative instead of another search for the right combination.

​Claudia Dickey and Phallon Tullis-Joyce enter camp with 11 and seven senior appearances, respectively. Jordan Silkowitz has yet to make her international debut.

​This window gives Hayes another chance to determine which of the three she trusts for qualifying. Two games against Spain should test which goalkeeper is better at organizing the defense in Girma's absence, how they handle crosses and whether they can choose the right pass when the opposition presses. Who can stay composed under sustained pressure?

​Two matches may not settle the decision, but can give Hayes a clearer idea of which goalkeeper can handle the responsibilities before the qualifying opener.

​What is Hayes' strongest starting attack?

​While Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson and Alyssa Thompson give Hayes established offensive options, the question is which attacking combination offers the best chance to score in qualifying.

The question extends beyond choosing three forwards. Hayes needs to see how the front line's movement connects with the midfield, which players stretch the field and who gets into the penalty area to finish chances.

Spain will test whether that group can create chances under pressure and stay connected when the USWNT has less possession.

Before qualifying, Hayes needs a starting attack with clear roles and a dependable way to create chances.

​Ashley Sanchez and Pietra Tordin arrived at fall camp off club production that makes them intriguing options if the USWNT needs a goal.

Sanchez has scored 20 goals for the North Carolina Courage this NWSL season, leading the league's Golden Boot race and tying its single-season scoring record. Tordin has eight goals and nine assists for the Portland Thorns.

Those numbers strengthen their case for a role, but Hayes has said newcomers and players returning after long absences need time to learn the team's tactics and are not expected to start against Spain.

​That makes training and any substitute appearances especially important.

Can Sanchez or Tordin provide a spark off the bench? Can another player provide a different attacking option without disrupting the team's organization?

​Hayes needs to know who she can turn to when the starting attack stalls and what each substitute brings.