What Happened With the USWNT vs. Japan Rivalry?
In the world of women’s soccer, there are two things every fan knows: women need to be paid more, and the USWNT vs. Japan rivalry has been raging since the dawn of time. Okay, maybe not quite that long, but it is a rivalry of the ages. These two powerhouse nations just keep meeting in some of the biggest arenas around the globe, and it is always a sight to see. We’re going to look at how this rivalry came to be, so get ready for a soccer history lesson!
How Did it Begin?
The first match-up between these two teams was in 1986 at the Mundialito, a precursor to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, where the US came out on top 3-1. They met again the following year in the now-titled Women’s World Invitational Tournament. The US established a winning streak at this meet-up with a 1-0 victory.
The teams would continue to meet in important international tournaments, including the 1988 FIFA Women’s World Invitation Tournament and the 1991 and 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cups. That’s right, it took five years and three different experiment tournaments for FIFA to finally give the women of the world their due, but that’s not what we’re talking about today.
Back to the rivalry! The US maintained its dominance over Japan on the pitch during every meet-up until 2000, when a friendly ended in a 1-1 draw. However, over the years and these match-ups, Japan steadily grew as a team and program.
While it took some time, the USA recognized them as a potential threat after that turn-of-the-century draw, and that’s when things really started to heat up. Japan would force a draw in the next three friendly meet-ups between the two nations.
Over the next few years, the team would face off in two separate Olympic Games, another handful of friendlies, and the 2011 Algarve Cup.
Later that same year, Japan turned the tide at the FIFA World Cup. After duking it out for 90+ minutes in the final, Japan and the US were locked in a 2-2 tie, heading into penalty kicks. The 2011 USWNT had some of the program’s most legendary players. Hope Solo in the net–one of the best the program has ever seen and a 2023 Hall of Fame inductee—and Carli Lloyd and Abby Wambach taking PKs.
In the end, Japan shocked the world by coming out over Team USA with a 3-1 stunner in PKs. That tournament also saw all-around offensive powerhouse Homare Sawa as the recipient of the Golden Ball and Golden Boot, as well as both Hope Solo and Japanese keeper Ayumi Kaihori named to the All-Star team along with several other members of both teams.
Not only did Japan win the whole thing, but they were also awarded the Fair Play award for the tournament, a mark of their respect and comradery throughout the cup. With this win, Japan became the first Asian nation ever to win the FIFA World Cup, a title they still hold today.
Where the USA vs. Japan Rivalry Stands Now
Since that stunning performance, Japan has only bested the US one other time, at the Algarve Cup the following year, with a 1-0 victory. Between then and the most recent match-up at the 2020 SheBelieves Cup, Japan has managed four more times of their eleven past games. Though they didn’t see each other in the last FIFA World Cup, we hope to get another heated battle between these two this summer in Aotearoa after the group phase.
Despite these decades of hard-fought matches, these two teams have nothing but love for one another. No matter the outcome, the USWNT always has praise to share for team Japan, noting their progress and technique since this rivalry first began. In addition, Homare Sawa and Abby Wambach remain friends to this day as former teammates for Washington Spirit.
No matter how heated things get on the pitch or where this rivalry began, that aggression stays on the pitch and has never seeped into a personal grudge-holding mentality. Any time the US and Japan meet up, we know that we are in for a show that will last the full 90 minutes and end with the most sportsmanlike conduct around.
Featured image via Getty Images
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