Nils Nielsen leaves Japan 12 days after Asian Cup win, Michihisa Kano to take charge of U.S. friendlies | Latest Sports News

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen has resigned just 12 days after winning the Women’s Asian Cup, with Michihisa Kano placed in interim charge for April’s friendlies against the U.S. women’s national team.

The Japan football Association (JFA) announced on Thursday that Nielsen has stepped down upon the expiration of his contract. The 54-year-old led Japan to the 2026 Asian Cup title on March 21 with victory over hosts Australia in the final.

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The JFA also announced Kano as the team’s acting head coach for the three friendlies against the USWNT this month. Kano previously worked as head coach of Japan’s under-20 side, leading the team to second place at the 2024 Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

Nielsen was appointed Japan head coach in December 2024, following a spell as Manchester City Women’s director of football. The Dane was the first foreign head coach of the Japan women’s national team.

Japan won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup during his early months in charge, securing the title with victory over the U.S. before Nielsen’s side were crowned 2026 Asian Cup champions with a 1-0 win over Australia in the final.

Japan face the U.S. three times across three different venues during April’s international break: at PayPal Park in San Jose on April 11, Lumen Field in Seattle on April 14, and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. on April 17.

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Japan squad in full for USWNT friendlies

Goalkeepers: Yamashita Ayaka (Manchester City), Hirao Chika (Granada CF), Okuma Akane (INAC Kobe Leonessa)

Defenders: Saki Kumagai (London City Lionesses), Risa Shimizu (Liverpool), Miyabi Moriya (Utah Royals), Hikaru Kitagawa (Everton), Moeka Minami (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hana Takahashi (Urawa Reds Ladies), Yuzuki Yamamoto (Denver Summit), Touko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders:  Kiko Seike (Brighton & Hove Albion),  Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City/England), Honoka Hayashi (Everton), Fuka Nagano (Liverpool), Remina Chiba (Eintracht Frankfurt), Hinata Miyazawa (Manchester United), Aoba Fujino (Manchester City), Maika Hamano (Tottenham Hotspur), Makoto Matsukubo Manaka (North Carolina Courage), Momoko Tanikawa (Bayern Munich)

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Forwards: Minami Tanaka (Utah Royals), Riko Ueki (West Ham United), Maya Hijikata (Aston Villa)

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

US Women’s national team, Japan, Women’s soccer

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