Five Things to Know about the 2019 SheBelieves Cup
U.S. Soccer is set to host the fourth annual SheBelieves Cup, one of the most elite four-team international women’s soccer tournaments in the world.
From Feb. 27 to March 5, U.S. Soccer will host the fourth annual SheBelieves Cup, one of the most elite four-team international women’s soccer tournaments in the world. The top-ranked USA will welcome women’s soccer powers Brazil (No. 10 in the FIFA Rankings), England (No. 4) and Japan (No. 8). Here are five things to know about the 2019 SheBelieves Cup.
France Bound: 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Participants
This year, the SheBelieves Cup includes Brazil and Japan, two teams who have been part of the Tournament of Nations the past two years. They join England and the USA to make up an incredibly competitive field, as all four participants are not only among the top women’s soccer countries in the world, but more importantly, are all headed to France this summer for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Brazil, Japan and the USA are three of the seven teams that have participated in each of the seven previous Women’s World Cup tournaments.
- WATCH: WNT’S Top 10 Goals of 2018
- READ: 3 Reasons the SheBelieves Cup Transcends Soccer
- FIFA Women’s World Ranking
Schedule Format and How to Watch
The U.S. team begins its schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 27
against Japan at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa. (7 p.m. ET on
FS1). England will kick off the competition against Brazil (4p.m. ET on
ussoccer.com) in the early game that day. All the teams will then travel to Nashville, Tenn. and Nissan Stadium where
the USA will play England on Saturday, March 2 (3:30 p.m.CT on FOX), which
will be preceded by Brazil vs. Japan (1p.m. CT on ussoccer.com). The
tournament will finish on Tuesday, March 5, at Raymond James Stadium in
Tampa, Fla. as Japan takes on England (5:15p.m. ET on ussoccer.com) followed
by the tournament finale, featuring the USA against Brazil (8p.m. ET on
FS1).
|
Date |
Match-Up |
Kickoff |
Venue |
TV |
|
Feb. 27 |
England vs. Brazil |
4 p.m. ET |
Talen Energy Stadium; Chester, Pa. |
ussoccer.com |
|
Feb. 27 |
USA vs. Japan |
7 p.m. ET |
Talen Energy Stadium; Chester, Pa. |
FS1, Fox Sports App |
|
March 2 |
Brazil vs. Japan |
1 p.m. CT |
Nissan Stadium; Nashville, Tenn. |
ussoccer.com |
|
March 2 |
USA vs. England |
3:30 p.m. CT |
Nissan Stadium; Nashville, Tenn. |
FOX, Fox Sports App |
|
March 5 |
Japan vs. England |
5:15 p.m. ET |
Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, Fla. |
ussoccer.com |
|
March 5 |
USA vs. Brazil |
8 p.m. ET |
Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, Fla. |
FS1 , Fox Sports App |
SheBelieves: Inspiring the Next Generation
Conceived and developed by the U.S. Women’s National Team players, SheBelieves is a movement to inspire young girls and women and encourage them to accomplish their goals and dreams, athletic or otherwise. The campaign was originally launched in the run-up to the 2015 Women’s World Cup but has since evolved and grown into a special bond between the team and its fans, taking its powerful message of empowerment and that of believing in yourself into communities across the nation.
As one of the most popular women’s teams in the United States, the WNT is the prime example that dreams are attainable if you set your mind to it and go after what you want. Through dedication, teamwork, perseverance and success, the players in the U.S. team inspire new generations of young girls and women to be better and strive for better. They inspire them to believe.
SheBelieves Cup History
In the 2016 SheBelieves Cup, the USA defeated England and France by 1-0 scores and downed Germany, 2-1, in the de facto championship game to take the inaugural tournament title. Germany finished second, England was third and France was fourth. In fact, none of the games were decided by more than one goal with the results coming down to three 1-0 victories, two 2-1 victories and one 0-0 draw.
At the 2017 SheBelieves Cup, the USA defeated Germany 1-0 in the opening match on a goal from Lynn Williams, but fell to England 1-0 and France 3-0. France won the tournament, Germany was second, England third and the USA finished fourth. France defeated England 2-1, drew 0-0 with Germany and downed the USA, 3-0.
Last year, the USA took back the trophy, finishing ahead of England, France and Germany. This time, the teams scored 16 total goals and two games featured larger than one-goal margins with England beating France, 4-1, and France beating Germany, 3-0. The USA, in 2016, was the only team to win all three games in any of the previous SheBelieves Cups.
In the previous three editions, no individual player has scored more than two goals in a tournament. Four players have scored twice: Alex Morgan in 2016, Camille Abily of France in 2017, and Ellen White of England and Eugénie Le Sommer in 2018.
The Best Players in the World
Probably one of the most exciting things about the SheBelieves Cup, not only for teams and players but also for fans in the United States, is that the tournament provides the opportunity to watch some of the most talented women’s players on the planet.
This includes not only the U.S. players like prolific goal scorer Alex Morgan, or creative attackers like Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath, but also forward Eugenie Le Sommer and towering defender Wendy Renard of France; six-time FIFA Player of the Year Marta of Brazil and her strike partner Cristiane, veteran Japan players Rumi Utsugi of Reign FC and Saki Kumagai of two-time reigning UEFA Champions League winners Olympique Lyon, or England players like team leader Steph Houghton, veteran midfielder Jill Scott and Barcelona forward Toni Duggan.