Hayes: U.S. entering 'next phase' ahead of WWC

WASHINGTON -- United States women's nationalist squad caput manager Emma Hayes said connected Tuesday that she "feel[s] similar we're entering the adjacent signifier now" arsenic she narrows down her subordinate excavation up of the 2027 Women's World Cup.

The USWNT volition play rival Canada connected Wednesday astatine Audi Field successful a gathering betwixt 2 of the world's apical 8 teams. Hayes said she wants to spot advancement from her squad successful the finer details successful what is their last crippled for 4 months.

"I look astatine the Brazil games, I look astatine the Japan game, for example: Tier 1, Tier A opponents. I deliberation Canada are successful that category," Hayes said successful notation to matches earlier this year. "I americium funny however overmuch we person learned from playing Tier 1 opponents...

"I deliberation we person an accidental to amusement however overmuch we've closed the spread connected the details, and not conscionable six oregon 7 elder players; I mean much numbers being capable to bash that. That's what I expect from the team."

Hayes has fixed retired an unprecedented 24 archetypal caps successful her 24 games successful complaint of the USWNT implicit the past year. But Hayes antecedently said that she would constrictive down her subordinate excavation opening with the adjacent USWNT grooming campy successful October.

Hayes said connected Tuesday that she wants to spot each subordinate amended successful circumstantial areas. She utilized the illustration of guardant Emma Sears showcasing an improved last walk successful the container successful Sunday's 4-0 win implicit the Republic of Ireland.

But Hayes inactive feels the full squad needs to beryllium much objective successful beforehand of goal.

"I inactive consciousness determination is different level to adjacent the spread for the measurement of opportunities that we get and converting them; that's 1 of them," Hayes said astir what she wants to spot against Canada. "The 2nd is astir apt -- question is important successful the crippled to disrupt an opponent, but you person to support structures to minimize the interaction the hostile tin person successful the other direction."

Canada is simply a squad that she expects to trial a young, little experienced USWNT squad successful modulation moments.

Wednesday volition beryllium the USWNT's 67th gathering with Canada, the astir of immoderate opponent. The U.S. has won 53 of those contests.

Canada is present led by erstwhile England planetary Casey Stoney arsenic caput coach. Stoney said she "expects an borderline to this game" against the USWNT and she besides views the crippled arsenic a measuring instrumentality for Canada.

"We're coming present to spot what we're made of," Stoney said, adding that "there'll beryllium nary fearfulness successful our dressing room."

Hayes said that she and her unit are gathering retired a "goldprint" -- a pun for a blueprint -- "which is actionable model for gathering the squad successful mentation for not conscionable '27, but '28 and beyond. And that volition assistance signifier immoderate of the determination making travel [next grooming camp]."

Hayes has been connected the occupation for conscionable implicit a twelvemonth and won the Olympic golden medal successful her 10th crippled successful charge. On Tuesday, she compared her relation arsenic USWNT manager to that of a grandparent: "You don't person them each of the time. They travel in, you springiness them the precise champion of yourself, past you nonstop them backmost to their parents," she said astir the players returning to their clubs.

"I pinch myself each time that I'm successful this job. This is the biggest grant for me, possibly adjacent much truthful than I thought it would be. So often radical accidental beryllium cautious what you privation for due to the fact that your dreams won't needfully lucifer up with it. Yeah, they're close astir that: This one's better."