USWNT Faces Japan Fresh Off Winning the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Championship
Japan defeated Australia 1-0 in front of massive crowd in Sydney and will play U.S. Women’s National Team next in San Jose, Seattle, Commerce City
The next three U.S. Women’s National Team matches will see the USA square off against the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup champions as Japan secured its third title on March 21 with a 1-0 victory against Australia. Forward Maika Hamano scored the game-winner off a beautiful strike from the top of the penalty box in the 17th minute to temporarily silence the record crowd of 74,397 at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.
Despite the loss, it was a historic day for Australia women’s soccer and another epic milestone in the continued growth of the women’s game worldwide. Unfortunately for the Matildas, this year marked the third time the Nadeshiko have defeated Australia in the Women’s Asian Cup Final, having done so in 2018 and 2014, also by 1-0 margins. It was another heartbreaker for Australia who played in front of massive home crowds throughout the competition and maintained 54% of possession in the final while firing 16 shots to Japan's 12.
Japan and Australia, along with South Korea and China, qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup by advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. North Korea and the Philippines also qualified by winning their play-in matches.
Next up for Japan are its three consecutive matches against the USWNT during the April FIFA window. All three matches will be played in venues that are home to National Women’s Soccer League and Major League Soccer teams, starting on April 11 at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., home to Bay FC and the San Jose Earthquakes. The second match on April 14 kicks off at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash., home to Seattle Reign FC and the Seattle Sounders. The final match will be on April 17 at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., home of expansion club Denver Summit, which U.S. captain Lindsey Heaps will join this summer, and the Colorado Rapids.
The USA-Japan rivalry dates back 40 years and saw the two sides go head-to-head in three consecutive world finals. Japan won the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup on penalty kicks, while the U.S. won the London 2012 Olympic Games and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The USWNT has long held the edge in this series with an overall record of 32W-2L-8D, but Japan won the last meeting, 2-1, to claim the 2025 SheBelieves Cup title.
The USA will be looking for a Confederation title of its own at the Concacaf W Gold Cup at the end of the year, and these three games against Japan on the West Coast will feature two rising teams – both ranked in the top-five in the world – who have their sights set on the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. While Japan is the more experienced side, the USA is fast finding its identity as well, making these three matches a must-watch for soccer fans across the USA and the world.