A quick look at the current roster of the U.S. women’s national team reveals a phase of experimentation. Under head coach Emma Hayes, the squad features seven players without caps and several others who lack significant international experience. Additionally, the Futures Camp is taking place alongside the senior team’s January training sessions, allowing Hayes to evaluate some of the country’s most promising talents.
With the next FIFA World Cup set for two and a half years from now, broadening the player pool seems logical before narrowing it closer to the tournament in late 2026. Although some of the athletes are newcomers, many share familiar attributes. It appears that the attacking framework Hayes developed quickly and effectively for last year’s Olympics is likely to be a reliable foundation for the national team’s future.
Hayes has never been one to stick rigidly to a single system. Instead, she is flexible, practical, and highly receptive to innovative strategies, adeptly working with the available talent. Her Chelsea teams have shown they can play with various styles – whether utilizing short or long passes, controlling possession, counterattacking, or adjusting defensive pressure. Articulating the Hayes Method may be challenging, but her successful adaption for the U.S. last year yielded Gold medals. Why not continue in that vein?
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