New Lionesses contract puts Sarina Wiegman on mouthwatering World Cup collision course with Emma Hayes | OneFootball

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By signing a new contract with the Lionesses, Sarina Wiegman has set herself on a collision course with Emma Hayes.

Wiegman will lead England to the 2027 Women's World Cup — and Chelsea boss Hayes, who is set to take over at the United States in the summer, could be standing in her way to glory.

Hayes and Wiegman are the two best female coaches in the world, and the pair being in charge of two of the favourites for the World Cup is a tantalising prospect for the women’s game.

“It’s exciting, of course,” said Wiegman, after she ended uncertainty over her future by agreeing a bumper contract which makes her one of the best-paid female football managers in the world.

Hayes will earn about £1.3million-a-year when she takes the USA job in the summer, and Wiegman’s new salary is said to be comparable with that.

Wiegman added: “Her move to the US is a good one, too. For now it is good that we work together because of the international players at Chelsea, so we collaborate.

“But after May, we will be opponents. That’s exciting. I wish her the best of luck, of course, but not against us!”

Wiegman, who on Monday was voted FIFA Best coach of the year for a fourth time, knows her England team will need to evolve before the World Cup.

Wiegman needs to continue creating multiple plans so that England can become unpredictable, especially in the way they attack. Beth Mead’s return to fitness will help do that, but the Lionesses have recently struggled to break down teams who sit deep, and it cost them during a disappointing Nations League campaign in the autumn.

Defensive frailties were also a hallmark of that campaign and Wiegman will be pleased that captain Leah Williamson might be ready to return in April for the start of the Euro 2025 qualifiers. The defender’s pace has been a big miss at the back.

Millie Bright and Williamson should continue their centre-back partnership through to the World Cup, but it is hard to predict the full-backs outside them. Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly were the full-backs when England won Euro 2022, but both are 32.

Niamh Charles has emerged as an option at left-back, allowing Daly to play up front, but there is no clear successor to Bronze. Wiegman views Maya Le Tissier as a possible solution, although the 21-year-old is currently playing as a centre-back for Manchester United.

The average age of the squad at the World Cup last summer was 25.9 and part of the attraction for Wiegman to extend her deal by two years was a belief that this group can get better.

Hayes shares a similar view with the US squad, which will see a changing of the guard ahead of the next World Cup.

Megan Rapinoe has already bowed out and Alex Morgan, 34, is unlikely to make 2027. Forwards Sophia Smith, 23, and Trinity Rodman, 21, are ready to step up to lead a new generation.