Losses are few and far between for the U.S. Women’s National Team, a program which holds the best all-time winning percentage of any international sports team in history at 84%. Of the USA’s 75 total losses since 1985, only two were at the feet of Japan and the most recent was in their last meeting during the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.
It was the first loss under U.S. head coach Emma Hayes who took over the team eight months prior. Hayes has reflected on that match often over the last few months as the team prepares to face Japan three times. She explained that her squad wasn’t yet fully developed, and while they are certainly still growing, the evolution of the team has progressed over the past year.
“As a coach, the things I look for are all the tactical, technical, psychological, social elements that come with the team, and I think we’ve progressed so much,” Hayes said. “That doesn’t mean you’re entitled to win anything. What it means is that we’re in a better position now than we were then.”
Hayes said this April roster is much more developed now, whether it be from the younger players that have spent the last year in her system or the return of a few veterans. Hayes said the team has a better understanding of how it wants to play and she wants to see it come together against a World Cup-qualified squad coming of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup title.
“I have huge respect for [Japan], but we’re a good team,” Hayes said. “I want us to demonstrate those things and bring the game to Japan. That’s what I’m most looking forward to, showing our identity on both sides of the ball at a much higher level.”
Japan is a familiar opponent for the U.S. with the upcoming games being the 43rd, 44th and 45th matchups between the two teams. However, Japan parted ways with head coach Nils Neilsen just days before the start of this FIFA window, leaving long-time senior team assistant and former U-20s head coach Michihisa Kano to serve as interim head coach through all three matches.
This is the ninth time the USWNT has played three consecutive matches against the same opponent, but most of those instances came on post-world championship victory tours when opponents are hard to come by. Despite the unique situation, the players are embracing the challenges that may come in this series against the fifth-ranked Nadeshiko.
“Japan is a very competitive and talented side, so I think it will be who can control most of the game for three straight games,” USWNT midfielder Olivia Moultrie said. “I definitely think there will be a tactical battle as well, because when you play the same opponent three different times, do you change? Do you stay the same? Are you trying to perfect something, or are you practicing new things? It will be interesting in that way, but obviously very exciting to be able to play three competitive games because that is what we’re trying to prepare for in terms of qualifying [for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup].”
Moultrie has been a part of all three USWNT camps this year, and the last two were the first under Hayes that included zero uncapped players. Moultrie said the consistency has added to the development and progression of the team as it heads into the Concacaf W Gold Cup this fall with a World Cup berth on the line.
“I feel like we’re seeing the improvements each session,” Moultrie said. “When you have this level of training every day, it’s hard not to get better. I definitely think we’re getting closer to the team that we want to be.”