The U.S. women’s national team is set to undertake an unusual challenge of facing the same opponent three times within a week — Japan, currently ranked fifth in the world.
With the 2027 Women’s World Cup approaching in just over a year, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes has started to refine her roster, honing both the tactical strategies and the players she believes can effectively implement them. However, numerous questions remain unanswered, and time is limited to address them.
Forward Sophia Wilson is slated to represent the United States for the first time in 17 months following her maternity leave, while defender Tierna Davidson returns to the squad after over a year away due to an ACL tear. The return of these two players is significant and adds complexity to key positional decisions.
After the friendlies against Japan, the USWNT will have only six international windows remaining before the World Cup, indicating that Hayes must maximize every match opportunity. Here are the pressing questions for Hayes during this vital international window, with the first of three encounters against Japan taking place on Saturday.
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Wilson’s eagerly awaited return coincides with Catarina Macario being sidelined due to a persistent heel injury, meaning the two will not be in camp together once again. This is noteworthy as they are the primary candidates for the No. 9 position, each approaching it in distinct manners.
Macario had taken on the No. 9 role during Wilson’s absence and found her rhythm late in 2024, concluding the year with impressive performances in two victories over Italy. Macario operates as a false nine, preferring to drop deep and engage in combination play. In contrast, Wilson can stretch the defense and maneuver wide to challenge defenders in one-on-one situations, consistently posing a threat behind the backline.
As the World Cup approaches, Hayes must determine how she wants to approach each match to decide who will fill that role. During this camp against Japan, she will evaluate who can shoulder that responsibility alongside Wilson (who will have limited minutes) and Macario.
Ally Sentnor excelled in that position during the SheBelieves Cup, and the adaptable Jaedyn Shaw may receive another opportunity up front. Jameese Joseph is also expected to see time there, marking her most significant challenge as a professional. Is the 23-year-old Joseph prepared for this moment?
Who should form the USWNT’s starting center-back pairing?
Davidson will have limited minutes in this camp as she works towards full fitness, but her return should eventually reunite her with Naomi Girma, forming the preferred center-back duo for the 2024 Olympic gold medal campaign.
As mentioned in last month’s World Cup lineup predictions, a fit Davidson would likely be Girma’s preferred partner at the 2027 World Cup. These upcoming matches against Japan present the first chance to reassess that pairing, even if only briefly. Davidson’s left-footed, intelligent play provides a unique asset among the defender pool.
Emily Sonnett remains a reliable option and potential starter, while Emily Sams and Kennedy Wesley have both started the NWSL season strongly.
Wesley stands out as an intriguing emerging option aside from the injured Jordyn Bugg. She possesses qualities reminiscent of Girma, extending beyond her San Diego Wave jersey to her ability to read the game and set up plays. Although Wesley’s international experience is limited to just four caps, she is likely to receive an extended opportunity in one of these matches, potentially elevating her status on the depth chart.
Which player combinations will be solidified for the USWNT?
Hayes indicated that she plans to deploy one lineup in two of the matches against Japan, while utilizing a different lineup in the other. She is expected to alternate between them, similar to her approach during the SheBelieves Cup.
These lineups are not strictly ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, but it can be inferred that the more experienced group will likely feature favored starters. Roughly, this resembles the XI that faced Canada in March at the SheBelieves Cup, although the inclusion of Wilson and Davidson could alter that dynamic.
What is crucial, as Hayes has noted, is the combinations within those lineups. This could involve something as straightforward as a midfield trio, but it also pertains to developing patterns of play among a full-back, central midfielder, and winger who are tasked with combining effectively down a specific flank.
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How will Hayes decide to distribute her midfield options? The combination of Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton, and Rose Lavelle has started against both Canada and Colombia in March for the third and fourth times in the past year. This trio appears to be Hayes’ preferred choice when additional midfield coverage is required, which will likely be necessary against Japan.
How would a combination of Coffey, Lindsey Heaps, and Lily Yohannes perform against Japan? And where does Shaw, listed as a midfielder for this camp (but also a No. 9 option), fit into this equation?
Will Hayes reveal all her strategies with the World Cup approaching?
Three matches against Japan present a challenging scenario for Hayes, considering that this matchup could resemble a knockout round game at next year’s World Cup. This scenario may be too hypothetical — and the World Cup too distant — for Hayes to withhold too many tactics, yet there could be an element of gamesmanship in the encounter between these two global powers at this stage of the cycle.
Japan also enters this window in a delicate situation. The Nadeshiko recently secured the AFC Asian Cup last month, but the federation announced last week that it would part ways with head coach Nils Nielsen following the expiration of his contract in pursuit of more creative playing styles (or possibly more passion — the specifics remain unclear).
This leaves Japan under the interim guidance of Michihisa Kano. While Hayes will undoubtedly focus on assessing progress within her own squad, the primary purpose of facing such a high-caliber opponent is to measure up against their strengths and identify solutions that can be applied in the upcoming World Cup. Japan’s current transitional phase will complicate that evaluation for Hayes and her staff to some extent.
The limitations posed by returning stars and the absence of others, such as Macario, mean that Hayes cannot experiment extensively at this time. However, with only a few international windows remaining before the World Cup, there are few better tests than what Japan can provide (especially given the difficulties in scheduling European teams).
As has been the case for other coaches in previous World Cup cycles, valuable insights can often be gained from defeat — understanding what strategies work and who can manage the pressure in these significant matchups leading up to a World Cup.
