The United States women’s national team are preparing themselves ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup by facing elite opposition.
Back in April, the USWNT prevailed over Japan by winning two of three matches across stadiums in the Western United States.
This time around, the USWNT will be faced with the difficult test of playing sixth-ranked Brazil on Brazilian soil in consecutive matches on Saturday, June 6 and Tuesday, June 9.
Emma Hayes Expects a Vastly Different Test Against Brazil
USWNT head coach Emma Hayes expects the upcoming matches in São Paulo and Fortaleza to present an entirely different challenge for the Americans.
Hayes is anticipating a pair of chaotic matches against the Brazilians.
“Yes, it’s another top opponent, but it’s a completely different type of game,” Hayes said during Friday’s press conference. “Japan versus Brazil – equally good teams, but the differences in the game is such that my job is to expose our players to those differences and prepare them, but obviously with the way that we want to impose ourself in mind.
“That means exposing the players to a lot of chaos because that is what the game will look like. There is 117 percent more throw-ins in this game. There are no eight-plus pass sequences. Zero when you play against Brazil. So you have to set conditions for players to be able to accept that and then find our way to assert control in the game when there isn’t a lot of controlling moments in a 1v1 game.”
Davidson Welcomes the Challenge of Brazil’s Fast-Paced Style
speaks to the media. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Soccer/Veritone)
United States defender and Gotham FC captain Tierna Davidson agreed with Hayes’ assessment.
“I think as Emma said, it can be chaotic at times, and you’re having to solve pressure offensively and solve a lot of problems defensively very quickly,” Davidson said. “I think that the game that they play is difficult and challenging. I think that’s part of the reason that we’re very excited for these two matchups, but it’s about being able to identify the open player offensively to get them the ball and defensively to make sure that we’re covering the spaces that we need to.”
Davidson believes that she and her teammates are ready for the hectic pace that will be thrown at them in a hostile atmosphere that will be a warmup for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Brazilian soil.
“I think it presents really unique challenges, even game to game playing against the same teams, you’ll get different challenges,” Davidson explained. “But certainly, going from a camp where you’re playing a team like Japan, where you’re having to solve a very patient and structured team and then coming to playing against a team like Brazil, where you’re solving a very fast-paced, a bit more chaotic, a bit more 1v1 type team.
“I think our ability to adapt and solve these types of problems game to game is so important for us to work on those types of skills, to be able to be multifaceted in that way as a team, is really important as you go into a tournament because you’re going to go up against all sorts of opposition. So you have to have your whole toolkit ready.”
Broadcast Info: How To Watch and Listen to USWNT vs. Brazil
Saturday’s match at Neo Química Arena will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. It will be broadcast on TBS, Max, Telemundo, Universo and Peacock.
Next Tuesday’s contest at Arena Castelão is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time and will be shown on TNT, Max and Peacock. Both matches will be aired on Westwood One Radio.
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