After a lil’ breather since February, the U.S. women’s national squad is lacing up the boots again—and yep, Emma Hayes is back in the mix and bringing that signature energy. Last time we saw the ladies in action, they were battling Japan in the SheBelieves Cup finale, where the six-peat dream fizzled in a 2-1 loss. That one stung. Japan took the trophy, and the U.S. walked off with some soul-searching to do. But now? Oh, they’re back, and they’ve got Brazil in their sights for not just one but two spicy April friendlies. The first showdown’s going down at the glamorous SoFi Stadium in L.A. this Saturday, April 5, with kickoff at 5 p.m. ET—so yeah, mark your calendars, and charge your emotional batteries.

And Emma Hayes isn’t playing around. The woman just channeled Mike Tyson vibes as she fired up her squad, basically letting Brazil know it’s about to get real on the pitch. The U.S. may have stayed comfy at No. 1 in FIFA’s latest rankings, while Brazil slipped to No. 8, but rankings don’t mean a thing when the boots hit the grass. And Hayes is not just looking for a bounce-back—she’s crafting a statement, and full-on Tyson-level bold.

Emma Hayes kept it real with JER-Sports, breaking down exactly what the USWNT is walking into against Brazil. “When you play Brazil, generally speaking, us as a team can have somewhere between sort of six and eight passes before there’s a defensive action against us. Against Brazil, it’s a two maximum,” she said. Translation? Blink and they’re on you. She’s been drilling the players on what to expect, both on the field and in the classroom. But even with the prep, she tossed in that spicy truth bomb: “As Mike Tyson says, everyone’s got a plan until they get the first punch. So let’s see what we’re like when we’ve been punched in the game.” That’s the energy she’s bringing—let’s get punched and see who swings back.

When it came to the roster shake-up, Emma didn’t sugarcoat things. “Obviously it’s extremely unfortunate to lose Tierna. I thought she started the season brightly,” she said. But she’s flipping that loss into opportunity. “What we have been doing is giving opportunities to players.” And don’t think one camp earns you a locked-in spot either—the 48-year-old reminded everyone that “you don’t just get it after one.” With Naomi Girma and Davidson out, she’s leaning into experimenting: “This is the right time to develop individuals first… we get a chance to see where the individual development is.”

And she made it clear—wearing that USWNT jersey isn’t just about skill, it’s about pressure. “What I have learned being in this job is how much it means to play for this team… with that comes the pressure, the expectation… I’ve got to perform at the top level all of the time.” She’s loving the grind though, and says “the gap’s closing across the board within the team.” So don’t expect perfection in these Brazil games—expect gritty moments, new faces, and a coach looking to find her fiercest fighters before the big climb begins.

And well, for the first time since that gold medal thriller at Paris 2024, the USWNT is squaring up with Brazil in a double feature of back-to-back friendlies. Last time these two clashed, it was Mallory Swanson who brought the heat with a second-half rocket that sealed Olympic glory for Emma Hayes and her crew. And yup, Brazil’s icon Marta has since hung up the boots, so the South Americans will be rolling in with fresh energy—but let’s be honest, history ain’t exactly on their side. Out of 41 meetings, they’ve only bagged 3 wins.

Still, don’t count them out too quick—Brazil’s been on a mini-heater, riding a six-game unbeaten streak and grabbing two W’s against Australia not too long ago. But the U.S.? They’re looking to shake off that SheBelieves Cup sting where Japan snapped Hayes’ clean sheet era with a 2-1 loss. Now, Emma’s dialing up the strategy and making it crystal clear—she’s in her comeback mode.

Emma Hayes reveals her plan!

After that rough ride against Japan, Emma Hayes basically flipped the switch—and she did not come to play. In a video dropped by Attacking Third, she got real with it: “I’m going to take it up a notch to make sure we take the learnings from the Japan game and then we leave behind what we don’t want.” She’s not dragging the past around—she’s trimming the fat, ditching the noise, and sharpening that squad like a blade. And this Brazil match? Oh, it’s not just a game. It’s a duel. “It’s going to be a game of jewels, a game of restarts,” she teased, already painting the battlefield before a single cleat hits the grass.

But don’t get it twisted—this isn’t just chessboard tactics and fancy footwork. Emma’s demanding grit. She’s calling for blood and sweat, “We absolutely have to make sure that physically we are at a level to compete with Brazil and make sure on our home turf that we deliver the expectations that I set for the team,” she fired off. No holding back, no baby steps. Just full-send vibes and fight-to-the-last-whistle spirit.

So yeah, don’t expect the USWNT to just jog out there smiling and waving. Nah, they’re clocking in, turning up the heat, and walking into SoFi like it’s their house—because it is.