The legendary USWNT is heading for a makeover. After some of their biggest icons hung up their boots, the unit was looking for a leader to guide them forward. And who better than their new coach, Emma Hayes? The Englishwoman arrived in the USA a few days ago after penning a record-breaking deal, but the challenge isn’t going to be easy. As USWNT faced a huge blow after its 2023 performance, Hayes has now opened up about her team’s chances of regaining dominance in FIFA rankings.

You could imagine Hayes shooting for the stars immediately after taking over. However, the boss seems to keep it more pragmatic. According to BBC, Hayes stated, “I’m not focused on rankings, that’s something I can’t control,” claiming the rankings to be a secondary issue. Emphasizing that scales depended on the number of tournaments, she said, “The fact there isn’t a Nations League here, getting to the top of the rankings will be very difficult for USA,” citing it as a disadvantage in the region. But does that deprive the USWNT of the hope of regaining the top spot?

USWNT had fallen two spots to number three in the FIFA rankings in August 2023. Subsequently, despite their CONCACAF W Gold Cup title, the 4-time Olympic gold medalists fell to #4 in the FIFA rankings in March after a loss to Mexico in the group stage. Meanwhile, Spain, England, and France won quite a few games in February, including the ones in the UEFA Women’s Nations League. Hence Emma feels that the European competitions helped those teams seed above her women at present and therefore wants to focus on a few controllable.

Emma Hayes revealed her vision for the USWNT

The 47-year-old gave a wider roadmap for her team’s revival. She further said, “I’m focused on building something again. It’s building trust, it’s building relationships. They are my biggest priorities.” With the Olympics arriving soon, the project from the former Chelsea manager aims to bring some fundamentals back to the crew. Apart from winning, she also wants to induce some bonding in the team, which could be a game-changer.

Meanwhile, it was quite strange to see a glitch in the team’s performance last year. Counting on some star players like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, the unit reached the round of 16 of the World Cup before bowing down to Sweden in penalties. Although it was a decent run in terms of international soccer, it had a few implications for the USWNT’s record. The Stars and Stripes never failed to reach the semifinals of a World Cup, making it their worst spell in the competition. But can the fortunes of the team return under Hayes? Let us know in the comments.