WASHINGTON, September 23, 2011—The U.S. women's national team will play Sweden in a rematch of the American's group stage World Cup loss in Germany.
The game against Sweden is part of the U.S. team's preparations for 2012 Olympic Qualifying and will take place on Nov. 19 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
The U.S. team will be playing its third match since its dramatic run at the Women’s World Cup in Germany where it captivated the country. The Americans lost to Japan in the World Cup final on a penalty shootout after a 2-2 tie in regulation time.
In their latest game, the American ladies defeated Canada 3-0 with Abby Wambach scoring a pair of second half goals in front of 18,570 in Portland, Ore., on Thursday evening. World Cup star Wambach, now has 125 goals in a U.S. uniform, good for third place on the national team’s all-time list and just five behind Kristine Lilly.
CONCACAF qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games will take place from Jan. 19-29 in Vancouver, Canada, where two teams will earn the right to travel to the London Olympics.
The U.S. team and Sweden play for the third time in 2011 and the first since competing in their final Group C game at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup when Sweden beat the U.S. team 2-1 victory. That game ended the USA’s 18-match unbeaten run all-time in World Cup group play. Sweden went on to defeat France in the third-place match.
U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage played 146 times for Sweden and scored 71 goals.
The U.S. women have a record of 13-3-3 in 2011 and are riding a 54-game unbeaten streak at home.
The U.S. will be making its first appearance at the University of Phoenix Stadium and the first in the state since Dec. 17, 2000, when they drew 1-1 with Japan.
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