FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Five time zones and an ocean away in the cold of London, where her priorities remain until May, Emma Hayes planned to watch a live feed of her future disciples on the U.S. women’s national soccer team play in steamy South Florida on Saturday. It was their first match since Hayes, the longtime Chelsea coach, was appointed the next leader of the sport’s most decorated women’s program.
Much of what she saw in a 3-0 victory over China probably pleased her, though the list of tasks remains substantial leading up to the Paris Olympics next summer.