“I don’t want to stop in Europe” – Emma Hayes calls for more USWNT friendlies after Olympic success and aims for 2027 World Cup

Keep celebrating, USWNT. You deserve all the success and praise you’re receiving. Players like Naomi Girma, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith, to name a few, have performed admirably. All of this has been made possible by Emma Hayes’ amazing leadership after taking over the team just two months before the Olympics. She kept them grounded and led them to their fifth Olympic gold medal. The mark of a brilliant coach? She’s getting ready for the next one!

When a team wins a major title or medal, they usually take their foot off the gas. With all the pressure before the tournament, players often cool off after a great season. However, some take their game to the next level to achieve more. Emma Hayes is made of that stuff!

Emma Hayes’ blueprint for the USWNT’s upcoming success

In a chat to learn about her next plans, Hayes laid out the plan for the USWNT to improve their performance. She explained: “I think it’s important to play against top opponents all over the world. I don’t want to limit myself to Europe. We have to think about the World Cup in 2017, that will be part of my considerations in the next few years.”

Friendly matches against top teams always help a team to find out where they stand. Take football clubs, for example: some clubs prefer to play friendly matches in their own country. Travel costs increase, but the real competition begins abroad. Playing in another country brings its own challenges in terms of playing style, atmosphere, etc.

Emma Hayes wants the USWNT to travel around the world to take the national team to the next level. She explained: “Yes, I mean, if we go to the home of the European champions, the best team in Europe alongside Spain, we have the chance to see where we stand. Even though we are playing away, we are both neutral here in front of a sold-out crowd at Wembley Stadium. I want to do our best there and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The USWNT will play a friendly against England on November 30th, which will likely be their first major test. They won the 2022 European Championship and became the team to beat in international women’s soccer. Due to various issues with the British national team, they did not participate in the Olympics.

England native Emma Hayes believes her national team and Spain, with Alexia Putellas at the helm, are likely the biggest contenders for major international tournaments. The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup promises to be a close affair. After winning gold for the USWNT at the Olympics, the World Cup remains another hunting ground for Hayes. Last time out in 2023, Sweden knocked her out and the team was criticized for its poor performance.

So Emma Hayes remains focused on the task ahead. We can’t wait for the USWNT’s friendly against England. And you?