Japan head coach Nils Nielsen has left the team 12 days after winning the 2026 Asian Cup, the Japan Football Association announced Thursday. The news comes just over a year before the 2027 Women’s World Cup. JFA has named Michihisa Kano interim head coach for three April friendlies against the USWNT. Under Nielsen, Japan won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup over the USWNT.