The United States Women’s National Team will return to San Jose’s PayPal Park to face off against Japan in an international friendly on April 11th.
The USA is currently ranked 2nd in the FIFA rankings, and Japan is ranked 8th. The two nations have a long and storied history of battling each other. In one of the biggest upsets in Women’s World Cup history, Japan beat the United States in the 2011 World Cup. The United States avenged itself, winning the 2012 Olympics and the 2015 World Cups. The two teams also faced off in a 2024 Olympic quarterfinal, which the USA won 1-0. In their most recent matchup in 2025, Japan defeated the USA 2-1 to win the 2025 SheBelieves Cup title.
The USA will also face off against Japan on April 14 in Seattle, Washington, and April 17th in Commerce City, Colorado.
“Japan is one of the best teams in the world,” said U.S. head coach Emma Hayes. “I’m a big admirer of how they play, and I have tremendous respect for their team and identity. They are a highly experienced group and are fully committed to their style of football. Playing the same opponent three times is unusual but it presents a great challenge and a chance to test ourselves against a top-quality opponent.”
The USWNT is returning to PayPal Park for the first time since losing to Brazil there last year, 2-1. It will be the team’s sixth appearance at PayPal Park, and they hold a 5-1-0 record at the stadium.