When will Emma Hayes debut as USWNT head coach? Why isn’t she at the SheBelieves Cup?

The USWNT’s 2024 SheBelieves Cup campaign is underway as they look build on their victory in the inaugural W Gold Cup and prepare for the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.

Hayes replaces Andonovski after poor Women’s World Cup

As a further step in the ongoing USWNT project, Emma Hayes was named as the manager of the first team, taking the place of Vlatko Andonovski who failed to get them past the Round of 16 in the recent World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand.

Hayes has herself led an empire in football, as she has taken charge of Chelsea FC in England as the growth of women’s football in the country has shot through the roof.

During this increase in everything from interest to revenue, Chelsea have been arguably England’s best team, winning a record six Women’s Super League championships. They also reached the Women’s Champions League final in 2021, losing to Barcelona. Soon, it will be time for her to lead a new generation of players whose predecessors were called the best in the world.

When does Emma Hayes start as USWNT manager?

On November 14 2023, Hayes was named as the new head coach of the USWNT. In a statement, the US Soccer Federation said that they have “appointed Emma Hayes as the 10th full-time head coach in U.S. Women’s National Team history. Hayes, 47, the long-time head coach for Chelsea FC, one of the most successful women’s teams in Europe, started her coaching career in the United States at the dawn of the millennium and more than two decades later will take the helm of the USWNT.”

In their statement announcing the change, US Soccer said that “Hayes will finish the 2023-24 Women’s Super League season in England and then join the U.S. team officially two months prior to the start of the 2024 Olympics.”

Who will Hayes face in her first match as USWNT coach?

Once the club season has finished, Hayes will take charge of the USWNT and have three friendly games - two against South Korea (1 and 5 June) and one against Mexico (13 July) - to prepare for the Olympics in Paris, which begin on 26 July.

That means Hayes should be in place at some point towards the end of May to be ready for the first friendly against the Koreans at the start of June. In the meantime, the interim head coach is Twila Kilgore.

What has Emma Hayes won with Chelsea?

“This is a unique situation, but the team is in safe hands with Twila,” said U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker, who led an extensive search across the world for a new coach.

“Her stewardship will be crucial during this period as we are focused on success at the Olympics. Emma has endorsed Twila, she will be a key part of Emma’s staff when she arrives and moving forward, and we are excited for what’s to come with our USWNT program.”

Emma Hayes was appointed as Chelsea manager back in August of 2012 and has since gone on to win six Women’s Super League titles, one WSL Spring Series title, five Women’s FA Cups and two FA Women’s League Cups.