U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes speaks with the media the day following the team’s game against Japan on April 14, 2026.
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Lol, what is wrong with some of you negative commenters? Trolls? This was a FRIENDLY , far ahead of WC qualifiers or other meaningful games. So this is more a testing/learning phase for these players. There were a few shaky performances, with PTJ and Reale. Sophia still needs to acclimate back to her previous form and Rodman was not very effective. But Claire Hutton…Wow…so impressive how many times she squeezed out of a double or triple press and got the ball up field. She's gonna be a lock for midfield and she's only 20!
Where are all the Heaps haters? And those that said that she's done and should be limited minutes? I don't hear you. 🤷🏽🤫
I already expected they would lose when I saw their lineup. They are very young and with limited world stage experience. I rather lose at friendly than World Cup.
Emma, you don’t have a striker. The players are getting confused and lack clarity in the penalty box. Train them to take long shots on goal. I’m really surprised you still haven’t selected your players for the World Cup. Please finalize a strong and competitive lineup by April 17th.
Emma Hayes is using these matches with Japan to assess her players. I think this 2nd match was an ideal situation for the younger ones – a tough opponent on a slippery pitch on a cold night. Perfect.
Coach Hayes has a plan and I, for one, think she is brilliant.
Women's football has greatly improved globally. No more will US face lesser teams. We must up our game to truly compete, and this match was necessary for team development.
Well done Coach Hayes.
I think Japan is a team that exposes inexperience. This outcome tracks. I thought USA played rather well, actually. This is only going to move the younger players forward. The future is bright.
Emma is a teacher with a process. Some young players learned some lessons tonight. Also, when the big guns did come into the game it was a much different feel
"a work in progress" usually comes with some, ya know, progress.
How did Yohannes or Moultrie get better last night exactly? all they did was put on tape how limited they both still are as players. Neither one of them could start in a tournament given how naive they remain without the ball at their feet.
Stick or twist time for the highly touted youngsters who have yet to come close to what their public reputations seem to say they are. You just don't get to play like that at this level and continue to get prime opportunities.
I love Emma Hayes!!!! She is top class!
Not as easy as beating up on Uzbekistan.
Now let's see what Japan or Germany feel like away from home.
The average age of the Japanese starting players was quite of bit older than the average age of the American players, with many of the Japanese players being in their late 20’s and early 30’s. It was reflected in the result, because the Japanese team were experienced enough to know you need to maintain a high intensity level.
Emma knows what she is doing. Trust her process.
⚽As a Japanese football fan, I'd like to offer my opinion. First, I'm grateful for the wonderful environment provided. ⚽Both countries fielded different lineups than in the first match, but the players attacked and defended well. ⚽Although Japan ultimately won, I highly rate it as a fruitful match for both countries. ⚽There seems to be criticism of coach Emma Hayes from the US side, but if that's the case, I hope they'll let her take over as coach of the Japanese women's team until the World Cup. What fault did she have? ⚽I look forward to a thrilling third match that showcases the strengths of both countries to the audience. 🇯🇵🤝🇺🇸
Emma so elaquent and clear in her explanations.
I trust Emma. I don't like to loose but I trust her approach. Especially since I didn't grow up with this game and we saw how disastrous a previous coach was during the world cup.
Croix is missing! She brings connection and vision – more so than Hutton
PTJ is the better overall goalie!
Sears was not good, her shots were slow straight forward and easily predictable. Can't really see a place on the team for her at this rate. The GK was shaky from the onset and that goal was an error on her part, but TBF, the ball should never have gotten that far as it was terrible defending on the part of Reale who struggled all game long. Felt bad for Sentnor as she wasn't getting any service. The inexperience showed glaringly as the USWNT defense were constantly overrunning the oppostiion as the Japanese players simply spun them repeatedly. You'd think they'd learn after the 50th time? And to think that USWNT must have a good 6 inches on avg over the Japanese players, and yet it was Japan that consistently won all the headers (before the subs in the 2nd half). Just really, really, REALLY poor! The entire first half was Japan dancing around the USWNT and putting on a passing clinic with some amazing ball control. The offense was nonexistant until major substitutions late in the 2nd half. I appreciate the chance for the less experienced players to get a look at a high quality team like Japan, but the roster out there tonight was disjointed and unprepared. Hutton was great. That's about all I can say other than it really was a miserable night for all the players on the pitch tonight due to the cold, monsoon conditions they were under. Was really impressed by Japan's national team though. Agile, disciplined, extremely impressive.
Emma Hayes should know possession % means very little if you just kick it around back and forth not knowing a way to break through the defense….. go ask Spain how they fared against Japan with their 77% possession in the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
Heaps has real world class skill…the rest are kind of straight ahead with little imagination…Just saw England vs. Spain and no way this team are on their level. Rosie and Emma and Sonnet and Girma could make either England or the Spanish squad.