The U.S. women are following in the footsteps of the men, as they were drawn into arguably the toughest group at the FIFA Women's World Cup next summer.
Ranked No. 1 in the FIFA rankings, the U.S. was grouped with the highest ranked team in each of the other three pots: Nigeria (No. 35), Australia (No. 10), and the controversially-unseeded Sweden (No. 5). Sweden is led by former USWNT boss Pia Sundhage. The Americans start group play on June 8 in Winnipeg against Australia, stay there on June 12 against Sweden then travel to Vancouver for the group finale against Nigeria on June 16.
Host Canada kicks the tournament off against China in Edmonton on June 6. Canada head coach John Herdman didn't get his wish for an opening match against New Zealand, whom he coached from 2006-11, but did get the Football Ferns in his group (Edmonton, June 11). Canada closes their group with World Cup newcomers Netherlands in Montreal on June 15.
See the full groups below.
GROUP A
Canada
China PR
New Zealand
Netherlands
GROUP B
Germany
Ivory Coast
Norway
Thailand
GROUP C
Japan
Switzerland
Cameroon
Ecuador
GROUP D
USA
Australia
Sweden
Nigeria
GROUP E
Brazil
Korea Republic
Spain
Costa Rica
GROUP F
France
England
Colombia
Mexico
