Japan defeated the United States women's national soccer team 2-1 on Wednesday night at Snapdragon Stadium, winning the 2025 SheBelieves Cup and ending the Americans' five-year championship reign.
The victory marked not only Japan's first SheBelieves Cup title but also the first defeat for the U.S. team under coach Emma Hayes, who had previously tallied 15 wins and two draws since starting her tenure last June.
Japan wasted no time as they struck first, with Yuka Momiki scoring just two minutes in. After receiving the ball from Yui Hasegawa, Momiki shielded it from U.S. goalkeeper Jane Campbell and defender Emily Sonnett, who collided on the play. She deftly chipped the ball over them and slotted it home to put Japan up 1-0.
Despite the early setback, the U.S. managed to equalize after 14 minutes with Ally Sentnor's skillful shot. Sentnor, capitalizing on brilliant play from Catarina Macario, dashed past Japanese defenders to receive the pass and immediately fired it past Japan's goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.
The action remained intense throughout the match, with both teams exchanging opportunities. Yet, Japan’s ability to regain the lead was the turning point. Five minutes after halftime, Toko Koga scored off the rebound following Hasegawa's free kick, giving Japan the decisive 2-1 edge.
After this second Japan goal, the U.S. found themselves needing to score twice more to salvage the match. Although they pressed for the equalizer, their chances were stifled by Japan's organized defense, who managed to see the game out without additional goals.
Japan’s head coach, Nils Nielsen, praised his team's tactical prowess, stating, “Of course, we want to win. No one wants to lose these things. They [the USA] were at a higher level throughout the whole evening.”
On the other end, Hayes emphasized the importance of this match as part of developing younger talents on the U.S. squad. With several key players absent, including Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman, Hayes rested many regular starters to give opportunities to less experienced players.
The young players, particularly Sentnor, made significant impressions. Sentnor, who also scored against Colombia earlier in the tournament, has shown great promise, and Hayes commended her ability to finish under pressure, stating, “Ally has demonstrated her qualities and can decide games.”
Despite the disappointment, Hayes acknowledged the need for growth and learning for her team. “It’s really important to take moments like this and understand what we need to improve on for future matches,” she commented.
Japan's win also serves as their revenge after losing to the U.S. during the quarterfinals of the 2024 Olympics, where they were eliminated from medal contention.
This victory highlights not only Japan’s ascent within women's soccer but also the competitiveness of the SheBelieves Cup itself. The tournament provided Japan with three victories, finishing with a perfect record of nine points from three matches. The U.S. finished second with six points from two wins and one defeat.
Japan's triumph will surely resonate as they aim for future success on the international stage, demonstrating the strength of their growing soccer program.