The United States women’s national team will play against Japan on Wednesday night for the 2025 SheBelieves Cup title. Both teams are currently tied in points, but Japan is ahead due to a better goal difference. This means the USWNT must win to claim the trophy.
These two long-time rivals will be playing each other for the 41st time. The USWNT has won 31 times, Japan 8, and there has been 1 draw in their history. Their last match was in the 2024 Olympic quarterfinals.
Game Information
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26
- Place: Snapdragon Stadium — San Diego, Ca.
- TV: Universo and TBS
Championship Scenarios
Both teams have won two games and have six points. Japan is first in the tournament because their goal difference is +7, while the USWNT’s is +3. Because of this, Japan only needs to draw to win the SheBelieves Cup. The USWNT needs to win. If the United States doesn’t win, they will finish second for the first time since 2020.
Standings
| Teams | GP | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Japan |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
1 |
+7 |
6 |
|
USA |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
+3 |
6 |
|
Australia |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
-5 |
0 |
|
Colombia |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
-5 |
0 |
What They Are Saying
Manager Emma Hayes said that after facing challenges against Colombia and Australia, the game against Japan will be the biggest test yet. She commented on the upcoming match:
‘This is the perfect game we want. Japan is in great form, scoring many goals, and their quality of play is very high. I consider them one of the best teams in the world. This game will show us a lot about ourselves. We will have to work hard because they control the ball well and attack effectively with rotations and dynamic play.’
‘I enjoy watching Japan play. I’m excited for this challenge. We respect them a lot, they are a great team, but we want to win.’
Projected Starting Lineup for USWNT
USWNT Starting XI Prediction: Jane Campbell, Emily Fox, Emily Sams, Emily Sonnett, Crystal Dunn, Sam Coffey, Lily Yohannes, Jaedyn Shaw, Yazmeen Ryan, Catarina Macario, Michelle Cooper
Game Prediction
Because both teams respect each other so much, the match might be very close. Prediction: USA 1, Japan 0
