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Jeff Carlisle
The United States women’s national team is set to face Japan in a series of three friendly matches during the April FIFA international window, as confirmed by the U.S. Soccer Federation on Saturday.
The first match will kick off on April 11 at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, followed by the second match three days later at Lumen Field in Seattle. The final game of this window is scheduled for April 17 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.
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“Japan is one of the top teams globally,” U.S. head coach Emma Hayes stated. “I greatly admire their playing style and have profound respect for their team and its identity.
“They possess extensive experience and are dedicated to their footballing philosophy. Although facing the same opponent three times is unorthodox, it offers a significant challenge and a chance to measure our skills against a high-caliber opponent.”
The U.S. and Japan have faced each other in numerous memorable matches, including three consecutive major finals.
Japan triumphed in the 2011 Women’s World Cup final after a penalty shootout, while the U.S. claimed victory in both the 2012 Olympic final and the 2015 Women’s World Cup final.
The latter matchup featured an unforgettable hat trick from U.S. forward Carli Lloyd. The teams also met in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Olympics, where the U.S. secured a 1-0 win, thanks to an extra time goal from Trinity Rodman.
The last encounter between the U.S. and Japan occurred during the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, where Japan won 2-1, marking their first SheBelieves Cup title. Overall, the U.S. holds a historic record of 32 wins, 2 losses, and 8 draws against Japan.