Japan series win crucial to deciding USWNT´s World Cup squad, says Hayes

Emma Hayes acknowledged the importance of the United States’ upcoming international windows ahead of next year’s Women’s World Cup following their series win over Japan.

The USWNT headed into the final match of their three-match series with Japan level following their defeat in the second game, but they rounded off with a convincing triumph.

After a low-key first half, Hayes’ side emerged 3-0 victors at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park thanks to goals from Naomi Girma, Rose Lavelle and substitute Kennedy Wesley.

Girma opened the scoring in the 47th minute when Lavelle’s corner was headed back across goal by Wesley for the Chelsea defender to nod past Chika Hirao at the back post.

That goal seemed to settle the hosts, who pulled further clear nine minutes later through Lavelle, who finished into the bottom-left corner after being slipped in by Trinity Rodman.

And Wesley capped an impressive showing from the bench just after the hour when she got a touch on Jaedyn Shaw’s inviting corner to seal an impressive victory.

The team is heading to Brazil in June for the next international break and will play again back home in October, and Hayes said these windows were important for defining her squad ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

“It’s a little bit like graduating from university,” Hayes said. “We’re in our sophomore year. I think we’re passing all of our tests with a mixture of colours.

“I think in order to prepare for that dissertation and that final exam that will come next year, we have to keep studying, and we have to keep applying it. And that’s the bottom line.

“You do not become elite by dreaming about it; you have to work so hard at it. Every one of us will work so hard to make sure we are in the best place possible.”

Ending April Camp with a W pic.twitter.com/fGpJ90xW6o

— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 18, 2026

But it was not all smooth sailing for Hayes’ side, who were only able to generate an expected goals (xG) total of 1.1 from their nine attempts during the first half.

Only two of their shots were on target in the opening 45 minutes, but they improved that metric to five after the break and finished with an xG tally of 2.56 from their 15 attempts.

Lavelle was a particular standout with team-high totals for chances created (four) and crosses (seven), while no player for the USWNT completed more passes than Girma’s 107.

“We’ve gone through different stages over these three-game series, and today was the day when we hit the sweet spot with it,” Hayes added.

“This team is so outcome-driven, so when we lose, they are so fatalistic. I tell them that nobody becomes a top chef or a top World Cup winner without collective experience.

“We know the highs and lows of winning and losing, but if we’re solely obsessed with that, I can’t see how we’re going to get better.

“I always want to lose sometimes to see what this one looks like.”