KC Current Host Corinthians in Teal Rising Cup Rematch

The Brazilian powerhouse returns to face the defending champions in the annual international tournament

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:23pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a women's soccer match, with the players and the field fragmented into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes that capture the energy and movement of the game.The KC Current and Brazilian powerhouse Corinthians SC renew their international rivalry in the Teal Rising Cup, a tournament that showcases the growing global reach of women's soccer.Kansas City Today

The Kansas City Current will host Corinthians SC from Brazil's top women's league in a rematch of last year's Teal Rising Cup final. The Current won the inaugural tournament in 2025, but have struggled to start the 2026 NWSL season. With several key players away on international duty and injuries hampering the roster, KC will rely on younger and newer faces to step up against the league-leading Brazilians.

Why it matters

This tournament provides the Current a chance to regain their form and chemistry against high-level international competition, while also allowing some of their depth players to gain valuable experience. A win over the dominant Corinthians would be a major confidence boost for the struggling NWSL side.

The details

The Current raced out to a 2-0 lead in last year's Teal Rising Cup final before Corinthians pulled one back, but KC held on to claim the trophy. This year, the Brazilian club will be seeking revenge as they currently sit atop the Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino. The Current, meanwhile, have been uncharacteristically inconsistent to start the 2026 NWSL season, already trailing in all five of their matches despite two come-from-behind wins.

  • The Teal Rising Cup final will be played on Sunday, April 12.
  • The Current and Corinthians will meet in the tournament opener on Thursday, April 9 at 8:00 PM Central Time.

The players

Temwa Chawinga

The Current's star striker returned from injury last weekend and provided a visible lift to the team, though she is unlikely to see significant minutes in the tournament as the club takes a cautious approach to reintegrating her.

Marisa Jordan

With Lorena away on international duty and Clare Gagne still recovering from a concussion, the backup goalkeeper is expected to make her debut in goal for the Current during the Teal Rising Cup.

Corinthians SC

The Brazilian powerhouse club has won the Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino, the country's top women's league, for six straight seasons and currently sits in first place in the 2026 campaign.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to have the chance to face Corinthians again and defend our Teal Rising Cup title. They're a fantastic team, but we know we can beat them if we play our game.”

— Huw Williams, Head Coach, KC Current

“Last year's final was a tough loss, but we're coming in focused and determined to get our revenge. Kansas City is a great team, but we believe we have the quality to win this tournament.”

— Adriana Leal, Captain, Corinthians SC

What’s next

The winner of the KC Current-Corinthians match will advance to the Teal Rising Cup final on Sunday, April 12, where they will face the victor of the Club América-Palmeiras semifinal.

The takeaway

This tournament provides a crucial opportunity for the KC Current to regain their form and chemistry against high-level international competition, while also allowing their younger and newer players to gain valuable experience. A strong showing, even if they fall short of the title, could be just what the team needs to turn around their inconsistent start to the NWSL season.