Japanese Women's Soccer Team Dominates U.S. to Claim SheBelieves Cup Victory

• Nadeshiko Japan defeated the U.S., clenching their first SheBelieves Cup title
• With wins over Australia and Colombia in the tournament, the team secured their first win over the U.S. since 2012

Japan’s Women National Soccer team, Nadeshiko Japan, secured first-ever SheBelievesCup triumph, outplaying the United States (2-1) on February 27, 2025. With the match unfolding at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, Japan’s long-awaited victory over the U.S. marked as their first win since March 2012.

The achievement reflected team’s strategic growth and tactical refinement under new leadership from coach Nils Nielsen. Securing decisive wins in the preliminaries over Australia (4-0) and Colombia (4-1), propelled Japan to the final. With a core of ten goals in three matches, Nadeshiko Japan approached the champion match with unwavering confidence.

For the title clash, Japan struck early against the U.S. with Yuka Momiki scoring in the second minute after a precise assist from Yui Hasegawa. Ally Sentner equalized for the U.S. in the 14th minute, but Japan remained resolute and held their ground to claim a momentous victory.

Holding immense significance, the triumph is not only a historic event but acts as a catalyst for boosting team’s confidence by setting sight on upcoming competitions. Coach Nils Nielsen expressed his pride and joy following the landmark win, stating, "Everyone fought bravely as a team, and the efforts of all paid off. It was difficult to win against such a strong team with a winner's mentality."

Veteran defender Saki Kumagai reflected on the intense battle stated, "I think when Momiki came on, she probably smiled, but I’m okay! We finally managed to win against the US. It was truly about our soccer, fighting bravely." Teammate Moeko Tanigawa expressed her ambitions saying that the victory was personal, and that she aims to keep evolving to become an indispensable player for the team. This milestone for Japan’s women national team echoes their legendary 2011 World Cup victory, solidifying their Nadeshiko Japan’s dominance in global tournaments.