EMMA HAYES has paid a heartfelt tribute to her dad on Father’s Day.
The US Women’s national team boss made the gesture live on ITV during their World Cup coverage of Belgium v Iran.
ITV drafted the former Chelsea Women’s boss in for her expert tactical analysis.
And while she continues to act as a regular pundit during the pre-game, half-time and after-game broadcast, during matches she is also working as a tactics expert.
During the controversial hydration breaks introduced by Fifa, Hayes has been seen breaking down the tactics of the game.
But as she finished off her segment for the Belgium v Iran game, the 49-year-old paid a heartfelt tribute to her late dad, Sid, who died in 2023, on Father’s Day.
This year’s World Cup is like no other as a record-breaking 48 nations compete to lift football’s biggest prize.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought.
But footballing legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have other plans in what will likely be their final World Cup appearance.
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She said: “One last thing, happy Father’s Day to everyone at home.
“I know it’s a great day and it’s also my father’s heavenly birthday today and I want to say one thing to you dad up in heaven.
“Thank you for giving me so much confidence to have the opportunity to do this and so I leave you with this beautiful view.”
Hayes then turned around to reveal the text, “she will change the world,” on the back of her jacket.
Sid Hayes was a major supporter of women’s football and played a huge role in building Arsenal Women into one of the biggest teams in the country and setting up Regent’s Park youth leagues.
He died at the age of 82 after a battle with lung cancer – and today would have been his 85th birthday.
It comes after ITV was accused of sexism and came under fire from fans for “demeaning” the USA women’s boss.
During her analysis of England’s opening win over Croatia, Hayes was made to deliver her tactical breakdown from a kitchen-style set using a small blackboard and a piece of chalk, while ITV‘s male pundits remained in the main studio.
While pundits are often handed touchscreen technology to break down tactics, Hayes was instead stationed in a kitchen-style area complete with a chalkboard.
Viewers immediately questioned the decision, with many asking whether male pundits such as Neville would ever be expected to analyse matches from a similar setting.
Presenter Dan Walker also questioned the setup.
The row also overshadowed ITV’s lavish World Cup studio, which had been unveiled with much fanfare before the tournament.
New World Cup 2026 rules
FIFA confirmed several new rules coming into play for the World Cup 2026.
They are:
- Outfield players cannot go to technical areas while goalkeeper getting treatment
- Five-second countdowns for goal-kicks and throw-ins
- Ten-second substitutions – or else one-minute sub entry delay
- One minute off field after outfield players get treatment
- Three-minute hydration breaks in each half
- VAR can intervene over fouls before ball in play for goals, penalties and disciplinary sanctions
- VAR can correct wrongly-awarded yellow cards and corners
- Red cards for covering mouth in confrontational talk
- Red cards for walking off pitch in protest
The USA women’s team boss returned to screens in the analysis segment during Brazil’s clash with Haiti.
ITV has since altered the setup – in the same studio – giving her an upgraded board with magnets.
However the cameras were more zoomed in on Hayes, showing less of the set.
