Emma Hayes Sees Long-Term USWNT Progress Despite Brazil Loss

As the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) continues its preparation for the World Cup in 2027, coach Emma Hayes insists she wants to continue experimenting with the squad by “throwing them into the frying pan.”

On Tuesday, the USWNT suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brazil in a friendly match at PayPal Park in San Jose, California — the team’s second loss in three games. A stoppage-time dagger from Brazil’s Amanda Gutierres sealed the loss. Despite the result, Hayes emphasized long-term progress over short-term success.

Hayes led the USWNT to Olympic gold in Paris just months ago and fielded a notably youthful lineup against Brazil — an average of fewer than 18 caps per player — the least experienced starting XI in more than two decades. These debutants included the likes of Mandy McGlynn (earning her third cap) and defender Avery Patterson. Teenagers Claire Hutton (19) and Lily Yohannes (17) also featured in midfield.

Catarina Macario opened the scoring just 34 seconds into the match, but Brazil fought back and exposed defensive vulnerabilities in a sloppy second half that Hayes described as producing “0.0 expected goals.”

Hayes framed the loss as a learning opportunity. “It sucks,” she admitted post-match: “We mustn’t always measure progress by outcome.” She said she wanted more clarity with the quality of the group, particularly in the unsettled goalkeeper position. Hayes praised Hutton’s “superb” performance and Patterson’s resilience despite a concussion substitution.

The sudden flurry of defeats contrasts with the USWNT’s unbeaten run of 17 matches under Hayes prior to February. Yet, she wants to use the friendlies as a chance to “put players in the frying pan and feel the heat” against top-tier opponents like Brazil, who are ranked eighth globally. With no major tournaments in 2025, Hayes prefers to play the long game: “Most importantly, we’re not getting eliminated from a World Cup today,” she quipped.