With the Summer Olympics just around the corner, the United States women host the annual SheBelieves Cup, opening the competition against Japan on Saturday.
This year’s tournament has been reconfigured to see teams play just two games rather than the three-match round robin format of the past, meaning the U.S. will face either Canada or Brazil in the ensuing game on Tuesday, depending on the outcome of this game and the other semifinal.
The U.S. are fresh off winning the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup earlier this year, which promised a resurgence after the disappointing Women’s World Cup last year. With the all-important Olympics on the horizon, another bright performance in this April international window would send the U.S. off to Paris in fine form.
Japan, meanwhile, are soon headed to their Olympic qualification tournament shortly after the SheBelieves Cup concludes, and will hope for a positive showing to given them a platform to spring from in that vital competition.
The Sporting News is following the USA vs Japan match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
USA vs Japan live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| USA | – | – |
| Japan | – | – |
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 p.m. PT
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)
Starting lineups (predicted):
USA (4-3-3, right to left): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Davidson, Girma, Nighswonger — Sonnett, Moultrie, Horan — Rodman, Macario, Smith.
Japan (3-5-2, right to left): Yamashita (GK) — Shimizu, Kumagi, Minami — Moriya, Sugita, Nagano, Hayashi, Miyazawa — M. Tanaka, Fujino.
USA vs Japan live updates, highlights, commentary
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Matches at the SheBelieves Cup are technically considered international friendlies, since the competition is organized and hosted by U.S. Soccer and not an official FIFA-sanctioned confederation. Still, the U.S. will consider it a competitive environment, and will want to defend its dominance on home turf, where they’ve won each of the last four SheBelieves Cups.
“Winning” this year’s title will look a little different with the slightly reorganized format, but they will still want to keep that trophy in-house.
Five straight? 🏆🇺🇸 @brfootball
USWNT vs Japan to begin the tournament at 12:30ET on Max/TNT pic.twitter.com/QExFsHY3nS
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 6, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: While the results are of paramount importance with the Summer Olympics right around the corner, the return of Cat Macario and Mal Swanson are an incredibly notable moment in the USWNT’s future health. The two players, both in the prime of their careers, were sorely missed at last year’s Women’s World Cup.
Responding to a question from The Sporting News during their media availability on Wednesday, Macario told reporters that she attributes her hot start with Chelsea to the club’s handling of her long absence. “Chelsea has been tremendous in helping me get back on the pitch without rushing me,” Macario said.
After nearly two full years on the sideline (or 641 days, a number which she is able to recall with ease), Macario has been fantastic with Chelsea, mostly in a substitute role as she recovers match fitness.
ANOTHER CAT MACARIO GOAL 😱
Just minutes after coming on, USWNT forward Cat Macario gives Emma Hayes’ Chelsea the lead in today’s FA Cup quarterfinal against Everton. Her second goal in 2 matches after being out for 641 days with an ACL tear. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aPXRDYLbbs
— The Women’s Game (@WomensGameMIB) March 10, 2024
USA vs Japan stats
- The Japan women have not beaten the United States in their last 12 meetings, dating all the way back to a 1-0 victory in the 2012 Algarve Cup — which stands as the only regulation victory for Japan across the 39 all-time meetings between these nations. They did, however, famously win the 2011 Women’s World Cup final on a penalty shootout, although it does not officially register as such after playing to a 2-2 draw.
- Making her first appearance in a USWNT senior squad, PSG midfielder Eva Gaetino became the youngest American to score in a UEFA Women’s Champions League knockout stage game when she bagged a goal against Swedish side Hacken back in March.
- There are three teenagers in the USWNT squad, and a full 10 players who were born after the inaugural 1999 Women’s World Cup.
USA vs Japan lineups, team news
The biggest news for the USWNT at the SheBelieves Cup is that both Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario return from their long-term knee injuries for the first time. Swanson has been out since last March after suffering a torn patella tendon in the lead-up to the 2023 Women’s World Cup, while Macario has been sidelined for a frustrating 16 months with a torn ACL. It’s unclear how many minutes each will be handed, but Macario, who is seeing solid action with Chelsea, is further along in her return than Swanson, who only just returned to the field for her club.
MORE: Full USWNT squad for SheBelieves Cup as Mal Swanson, Cat Macario return from injury
European-based youngsters Lily Yohannes (16 years old) and Eva Gaetino (21 years old) earned their first call-ups after impressing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, which new USWNT head coach Emma Hayes is currently participating in as she finishes out the season with Chelsea.
Rose Lavelle was not included as a “precautionary measure” as she deals with an injury, while Midge Purce has gone down recently with an ACL tear suffered in NWSL play.
USA projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Davidson, Girma, Nighswonger — Sonnett, Moultrie, Horan — Rodman, Macario, Smith.
USA subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
The biggest absence for Japan is winger Jun Endo, who suffered an ACL tear in mid-February while in preseason with her NWSL club Angel City.
Also missing is midfielder Hikaru Naomoto who also went down with an ACL tear, suffered in late January while with her domestic club Urawa Red Diamonds. It means Japan are down both starting wide players, leaving head coach Futoshi Ikeda with a job to find their replacement, with Manchester United midfielder Hinata Miyazawa and Miyabi Moriya of Kobe Leonessa as options.
While wingers are thin for Japan, they are at no loss for forwards, most hailing from domestically based clubs. Mina Tanaka should start up front, with 34 goals in 77 caps, but there’s a battle for the other spot. Riko Ueki has 11 goals in 34 international appearances, but is in poor form at her English club West Ham, leaving it likely down to either Aoba Fujino or Kiko Seike who both play for Japanese teams.
Japan projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Yamashita (GK) — Shimizu, Kumagi, Minami — Moriya, Sugita, Nagano, Hayashi, Miyazawa — M. Tanaka, Fujino.
Japan subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
How to watch USA vs Japan
- Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024
- Time (ET): 12:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: TNT (English), Universo (Spanish)
- Streaming: Sling, Fubo, Max, Peacock
The U.S. women will meet Japan in the opening match of the SheBelieves Cup, which will be televised in English on TNT, which is available to stream on Sling or on Turner’s dedicated platform Max.
There is also a Spanish-language television broadcast available on Universo, which is accessible for streaming on Fubo as well as NBC Universal’s dedicated platform Peacock.
Tuesday’s USWNT game against either Canada or Brazil, kicking at 7 p.m. ET regardless of whether it’s the final or third place match, will also be televised on the same channels and platforms, except the English-language television broadcast will be on TBS.
