USWNT lose to Brazil in Fortaleza, Brazil; crowd intensity as learning curve for qualifiers

The U.S. women’s national team are learning the hard way in Brazil – and that’s exactly what Emma Hayes wants

Away from the comfort of the U.S., Hayes’s side struggled to make their mark in the first of two friendlies against Brazil.

The U.S. women’s national soccer team (USWNT) are often the hosts, inviting nations from across the world to descend upon North America for friendlies throughout the calendar year.

This June’s international window has presented a fresh challenge, with the USWNT leaving the comfort of the States to travel to Brazil for back-to-back games, a year out from returning to this very country for the 2027 Women’s World Cup should they qualify.

Their South American opposition have already beaten them once in recent meetings, but the crowd atmosphere in their defeat on Saturday (6 June) provided a fresh-faced U.S. side with plenty of lessons to learn.

“It was an amazing atmosphere and it’s one that, as much as I can prepare my team for this, you don’t really know until you experience it,” said head coach Emma Hayes .

“I am sure for many of my players, this is the first time they’ve ever experienced an intensity [like that] from the crowd.”

From minute one to 90, the players faced cheers and jeers and loud whistling with little to no respite. Partnered with Brazil’s physicality and ‘chaos ball’, it was an unfamiliar situation the U.S. found themselves in.

But rebuilds cannot successfully happen without discomfort along the way, something Hayes is keen to expose her side to. With qualifiers coming up in November, and the prospect of returning to South America next year, these are necessary experiences.

“I am so happy for the experience, because if we want things to be easy, we stay at home and play in LA or somewhere else,” she added.

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The USWNT will have the chance to bounce back on Tuesday (9 June).

Despite taking an early lead through Sophia Wilson , the U.S. were quickly pegged back by a quick-fire double from the hosts, making it 2-1 inside 15 minutes. While Brazil defended resiliently, aside from a few opportunities here and there, Hayes’s side created very few clear-cut chances in front of goal.

There is acceptance within the squad, however, that the focus needs to be on them as opposed to their opposition. They will use that defeat as fuel to showcase what they’ve learned going into the second friendly on Tuesday (9 June).

“It’s difficult when it’s a game like that, when you’re being thrown to the ground multiple times and calls aren’t going your way,” captain Lindsey Heaps explained. “But it’s up to us – it’s that mental capacity to stay in a game like that.

“I’m really proud of our team because we stayed level-headed and we still created opportunities, but it’s about having that experience to get that goal back and walk away with a result from this kind of game.

“It’s hard but I think that emotional control has gotten so much better throughout this past year.”

Wilson, who scored her first goal since returning to the national team, agreed with the assessment as she praised the calmness her side displayed during the second half.

“We needed to do a better job of controlling the game and keeping that lead, but it was a really good test for us, and we felt what it is like to play here in their home country,” she said. “I think we can take what we need to from this game and the nice part is we get to go again in a few days.”

Tuesday’s clash will mark the 45th meeting between the pair of teams, as the U.S. aim to avoid a third consecutive defeat to the Brazilians. This time, they will experience what Fortaleza has to offer in terms of an unsettling atmosphere.

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