EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – The U.S. women’s national team is clearly in a phase of adjustment, driven by necessity and strategic choices. This situation arises as the international calendar gives them two years of friendlies leading up to the Women’s World Cup qualification tournament, followed by almost another three years before the main event itself.

Last Thursday, the team faced Portugal and suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat, a reality that head coach Emma Hayes described as strikingly below expectations. As the USWNT gears up for a rematch with Portugal, their chances to regroup are favorably timed.

“I think there’s no time to be negative but how do you take learnings in, obviously, very quickly and try to apply,” said defender Emily Sonnett a day before the rematch. She reflected on the quick turnaround and the opportunity for improvement.

This match highlighted several issues Hayes noted following their third loss in her 25 games as coach, with the team’s first match in 113 days revealing a lack of cohesion that resulted in defensive lapses, leading to both of Portugal’s goals from set pieces.

How to watch USWNT vs. Portugal

• Date: Sunday, Oct. 26 | Time: 4 p.m. ET
• Location: Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field – East Hartford, Conn.
• TV: TNT

Midfielder Lily Yohannes shared insights from her 70th-minute introduction on Thursday, focusing on maintaining possession and reducing chaos in the game. Hayes faces the challenge of refining the midfield and addressing the attack’s recent shortcomings, with defence still needing coordination.

Hayes on Learning
Hayes affirmed her commitment to education within the team dynamic, regardless of victories or defeats, making small groups to analyze Thursday’s game footage. “We had three really good meetings this morning after a travel day yesterday,” she noted.

Despite the disappointment from the previous game, Hayes remains optimistic, stressing the importance of leaning into their collective strength during challenging moments.

Looking Ahead
Hayes has opted to promote defender Eva Gaetino from the U-23 squad for their upcoming matches reiterating the importance of integrating younger players into the national framework.

Gaetino’s solid performance in training caused her to stand out, earning her this chance. She sums up the essence of hard work: “‘Eva’s a great example of what happens to you when you’re doing the things when no one’s watching,” Hayes expressed. However, she tempered expectations, indicating that full integration into the team would take time considering the limited practice together before the rematch.

Overall Perspective
“Teaching is the part of my job that I enjoy the most, so whether we win, whether we lose, or play well, the teaching part remains constant,” emphasized Hayes, as she leads USWNT through this evolution.