Emma Hayes announced the U.S. women’s national soccer team will not schedule any additional friendly matches for the remainder of the year.

This decision marks a shift in the team's preparation strategy as they move away from public exhibition games to focus on internal development. By limiting external fixtures, the coaching staff aims to refine tactics without the pressure of public results before entering critical competitive windows.

Hayes said this during a post-match press briefing in the Lisbon area of Portugal. The statement followed a friendly match on Oct. 26, 2023 [2], in which the U.S. team suffered a loss to Portugal.

During the briefing, Hayes said the team's growth continues despite the lack of scheduled opponents. "Learning never stops," Hayes said [1].

The decision comes after a busy period for the squad, which played three friendlies in October 2023 [1]. Hayes said the focus must now shift toward the work ahead and the preparation required for upcoming competitive fixtures.

Rather than facing international opponents in friendly settings, the team intends to utilize internal experimentation to identify strengths and weaknesses. Hayes said the priority is now the work required to ensure the squad is ready for high-stakes matches.

"There are no more friendlies for us — we’re going to focus on the work ahead," Hayes said [2].

“"Learning never stops."”

The move to cancel further friendlies suggests a tactical pivot by Emma Hayes to protect the team's strategic blueprints from scouts while prioritizing mental and physical recovery. By shifting from public exhibitions to internal scrimmages, the USWNT is prioritizing a controlled environment to iron out errors from the Portugal loss before facing opponents in tournament play.