On Saturday January 19th, the U.S. Women’s National Team will face the 2019 Women’s FIFA World Cup host, France. Utah Royals FC players Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara, and Christen Press will represent the stars and stripes at Stade Océane stadium in Le Havre, France.
Team USA is 17-2-3 all-time against France with the last meeting taking place at the 2018 SheBelieves Cup, as the two sides played to a 1-1 draw at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
The USWNT was placed in Group F at the Women’s World Cup, and will face Thailand, Chile, and Sweden during group stage. Sauerbrunn (149 caps) and O’Hara (102 caps), step into the year having featured in two World Cups after appearing in the 2011 and 2015 Women’s FIFA World Cup. Sauerbrunn, O’Hara, and Press (106 caps, 46 goals), were all members of the 2015 Women’s World Cup champions team.
France is currently third in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings and was placed in Group A at the Women’s World Cup, taking on Korea Republic, Norway, and Nigeria in group play.
The countdown to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup begins, as the USWNT season kicks-off Saturday (12:30 p.m. MT on FS1 &UDN). Sauerbrunn, O’Hara, and Press are scheduled to rejoin URFC prior to the commencement of the NWSL preseason.
