Olympics are over, World Cup is in three years: What questions must USWNT answer now?

Oct 24, 2024, 07:30 AM ETThe Emma Hayes era of the U.S. women’s national team got off to a fairy-tale start this summer, when the Americans returned to the top of the podium in Paris for the program’s fifth Olympic gold medal. Now comes Hayes’ primary assignment.She was hired as head coach to win the 2027 World Cup. That is why U.S. Soccer agreed to let her finish the European season with Chelsea before joining the USWNT less than two months before the Olympics.With an Olympic gold medal in hand, Hayes is now empowered to make drastic changes as she sees fit for the program’s future. Although winning gold suggests the USWNT is in a good place, three years is a lot of time, and Hayes can’t rest on her laurels — every decision she makes will be about the 2027 World Cup.As the USWNT embarks on its first games since the Olympics, including a friendly against Iceland on Thursday, it is Hayes’ first chance to find answers to the questions plaguing the team ahead of the World Cup in…