Emma Hayes will make her return to England in November when her United States women's national team takes on the Lionesses at Wembley.
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England announce four friendlies to end 2024One sees the USWNT come to WembleyIt will mark Hayes' return after leaving ChelseaWHAT HAPPENED?
It's one of four matches that England announced on Tuesday, after automatic qualification for next summer's European Championships left the October and November international breaks open for friendlies. The match-up with the U.S. is the third of those games, to be played on November 30, and it is one that will see Hayes return to London, where she enjoyed an incredibly successful 12-year stint in charge of Chelsea before taking over the USWNT.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Before that, the Lionesses will take on Germany on October 25, also at Wembley, and follow it with a clash against South Africa just four days later. That game will be held at Coventry City's stadium. Sarina Wiegman's side will close out 2024 with a match against Switzerland on December 3, at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane.
WHAT WIEGMAN SAID
"Our preparations for the Euros start now," head coach Wiegman said. "Securing our place at the tournament next summer, without the need to participate in the play-offs, gives us the maximum time to prepare for the challenge that awaits us in Switzerland. With the current UEFA Women’s Nations League format, the opportunities to play friendlies are limited. Therefore I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to carefully select our opponents and give ourselves four very different and difficult challenges to aid our preparation. Each nation has a different style of play, a variety of strengths and that will test us in different ways."
DID YOU KNOW?
England will be the defending champions at next summer's Euros, having won the tournament at Wembley in 2022. The Lionesses' meeting with Germany in October will be a rematch of the competition's final, at the same venue.