Overview
- Former Matilda Leah Blayney joined Japan in 2025 as assistant to Nils Nielsen, the program’s first non-Japanese head coach.
- Blayney said she will apply her experience from Australia to support Japan during the March 1–21 tournament on Australian soil.
- Japan arrive as Asia’s top-ranked team after a 4-0 defeat of Australia in Houston en route to last year’s SheBelieves Cup win.
- Japan’s group features Vietnam, India and Taiwan, with the opener against Taiwan scheduled for March 4 in Perth.
- Blayney cited strong communication despite language differences, crediting translators and players’ English study, and emphasized a drive for greater ruthlessness in decisive moments.