Hayes: Brazil chaos will…

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes remarked that the unpredictability brought by Brazil will present a significant challenge in their upcoming friendlies this week.

The USWNT will compete against Brazil in venues selected for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, providing a unique opportunity for the Americans to experience away game conditions.

These matches follow the USWNT’s three encounters with Japan in April. Hayes noted that, while Japan is a strong team, their playing style differs significantly.

“My goal is to help our players adapt to these different styles while still focusing on how we want to play,” Hayes stated during a press conference on Friday.

“This requires exposing them to a lot of chaos, which is the nature of the game.”

The USWNT will face Brazil in São Paulo on Saturday, followed by a match in Fortaleza on Tuesday.

It has been since the 2016 Olympics that the USWNT last played in Brazil.

Hayes commended Brazil’s head coach, Arthur Elias, and highlighted the nation’s “pipeline of talent” as they prepare for these fixtures.

“Brazil is certainly among the favorites, especially being the host nation,” Hayes remarked. “Playing in front of a passionate crowd like theirs can make them one of the hardest teams to face. It often feels like a completely different game. Credit goes to [Elias] for that.”

Hayes has often pointed out that the Brazilian team’s aggressive defending and physical play can unsettle their opponents.

On Friday, she cited statistics that underscore the challenges: Brazil has 117% more throw-ins than the average matchup and rarely completes sequences of eight or more passes.

“As Emma pointed out, the chaos can be overwhelming, requiring us to quickly adapt both offensively and defensively,” said USWNT defender Tierna Davidson.

“The style they play is challenging, which makes us eager for these two matches. It’s essential to recognize the open teammate offensively and defensively cover the crucial spaces.”

This series of matches aims to acclimate a roster filled with relatively inexperienced players to the challenging environment of playing as the away team. It marks the sixth consecutive World Cup cycle where the USWNT is testing itself in the host country.

The games will also see the return of forward Mallory Swanson from maternity leave, reuniting her with teammates Sophia Wilson and Trinity Rodman for the first time since the 2024 Olympics.

This trio contributed to ten of the USWNT’s twelve goals during that tournament, with Swanson famously scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Brazil.

Hayes emphasized the importance of rebuilding connections and team chemistry among the trio during this international break, which is the last until October.

Concacaf World Cup qualifying will commence in November.

“I don’t know many national teams that can handle being without their top three forwards for such an extended period, which is why I take pride in our entire group,” Hayes said.

“We’ve progressed immensely in their absence, and with their return, we now have significantly more options than two years ago.”

In their latest encounter, Brazil defeated the United States 2-1 in April 2025, while the Americans had previously won 2-0 in a match just days before that, both held in California.

Historically, the U.S. has triumphed in 34 out of 43 meetings, suffering only four losses, three of which occurred in Olympic gold medal finals.