The U.S. Women’s National Team is only months away from the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. As the USA prepares to defend its world title, here are nine can’t miss WNT events during Countdown to the Cup that will lead into the main event this summer!

1. USA vs. Japan: The USA and Japan have played some of the most historic matches in women’s soccer history. The countries have met four times since the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final with the USA going 3-0-1 in those games. The most recent meeting was a 4-2 U.S. victory last summer at the 2018 Tournament of Nations. [TICKETS]
   
   
   
2. USA vs. England: Since 2015, the USA and England have played four consecutive one-goal games with the USA winning three of them. The most recent was the USA’s 1-0 win at the 2018 SheBelieves Cup. [TICKETS]
   
   
   
   
3. USA vs. Brazil: The USA vs. Brazil rivalry is an epic one, and the most recent meetings have been wildly entertaining games. At the 2017 Tournament of Nations, the USA came back from a 3-1 deficit, scoring three times in the final 12 minutes to win 4-3. At the 2018 Tournament of Nations, the USA needed a two-goal win to take the title, fell behind 1-0 on an own goal, and then scored four unanswered to win the tourney. [TICKETS]
   
   
   
4. USA vs. Australia: Another excellent World Cup preparation match for a pair of title favorites. After the USA went unbeaten in the first 26 matches between the teams, the last three games have been much tighter affairs: a 3-1 win for the USA in the opening game of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a 1-0 loss at the 2017 Tournament of Nations and a 1-1 draw on a late goal by Lindsey Horan at the 2018 Tournament of Nations. [TICKETS]
   
   
   
5. USA vs. Belgium: Belgium is another fast-improving European nation. The meeting with Belgium will be the first between the teams and mark the 54th opponent for the USA in its history. Belgium finished second in UEFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Group 6 but fell on the away goals tie-breaker to Switzerland in the two-leg semifinal playoff. [TICKETS]
   
   
   
6. USA vs. South Africa: USA played South Africa prior to the 2016 Olympics, winning 1-0 on a goal from Crystal Dunn in the only previous meeting between the countries. South Africa qualified for the 2019 Women’s World Cup by defeating Mali, 2-0, in the semifinal of the African Women’s Cup of Nations before falling to Nigeria in a penalty shootout in the championship game. [TICKETS]
   
   
   
7. USA vs. New Zealand: One of the USA’s oldest opponents – the nations first met in 1987, two years after the founding of the WNT program – the Football Ferns will provide a quality test, having most recently squared off in a doubled-header vs. the U.S. in Sept. 2017, a pair of WNT wins. [TICKETS]
   
   
   
8. USA vs. Mexico: The WNT will finish the schedule with the most familiar of opponents, taking on Mexico, a team the USA defeated 6-0 to open its 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship run. [TICKETS]
   
   
   
9. 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup: The be-all, end-all. The U.S. will aim to become only the second nation win consecutive Women’s World Cup titles and the first to capture four crowns. Drawn against Thailand, Chile and Sweden in Group F, the biggest WNT event of the year will surely be one you can’t miss! [TICKETS]
   
   
   

CHICAGO (March 25, 2019) – Goalkeeper Jane Campbell has been added to the U.S. Women’s National Team training camp roster for the USA’s April friendlies, against Australia on April 4 in Commerce City, Colo., and on April 7 against Belgium in Los Angeles.

Campbell was added to the roster after goalkeeper Adrianna Franch suffered a minor knee injury during training with Portland Thorns FC. Franch will still come into camp to be evaluated by the U.S. WNT medical staff.

With the addition of Campbell, who has three caps for the U.S. WNT, the training camp roster stands at 25 players.

U.S. Women’s National Team Training Camp Roster by Position – April Friendlies:
GOALKEEPERS (4): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (NC Courage), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit), Allie Long (Reign FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit), McCall Zerboni (NC Courage)

FORWARDS (7): Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit), Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC)

CHICAGO (March 25, 2019) – Eligible voters have one week left to vote for the 2019 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class. Candidates were announced last week, and voting runs through Monday, April 1 for the Player, Veteran Player and Builder categories. Results of the voting will be announced at a later date.

Complete information about the election and eligibility procedures is available at ussoccer.com.

The election process is being administered by U.S. Soccer Federation staff under election and eligibility guidelines established by the National Soccer Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

Players in their first year of eligibility include Shannon Boxx, Edson Buddle, Rachel Van Hollebeke, Lori Chalupny, Lauren Holiday, Kenny Cooper, Todd Dunivant, Karina LeBlanc, Stephanie Cox, Heath Pearce, Troy Perkins, Cat Whitehill, Donovan Ricketts, Leigh Ann Robinson Brown, Homare Sawa, Bakary Soumare and Abby Wambach.

The voting committee includes all past and present Men's and Women's full National Team coaches, all active MLS and NWSL head coaches with a minimum of four years of experience as a head coach at the highest professional level in the United States, MLS and NWSL management representatives, the MLS Commissioner and NWSL President, U.S. Soccer CEO/Secretary General, U.S. Soccer President, designated media members and all Hall of Famers.

Each voter can select up to ten (10) candidates per ballot. Any player appearing on at least 66.7 percent of ballots will earn election, while any player who does not appear on at least five percent of ballots will be removed from voting contention until they qualify for the Veteran ballot.

Of the individuals on the Player ballot, 2002 FIFA World Cup defender Tony Sanneh, 2006 FIFA World Cup defender Ben Olsen and 2007 Concacaf Gold Cup champion Taylor Twellman are in their final year of eligibility.

2019 National Soccer Hall of Fame Player Ballot
David Beckham | Gregg Berhalter | Carlos Bocanegra | Shannon Boxx* | Edson Buddle* | Rachel Buehler Van Hollebeke* | Lori Chalupny* | Lauren Cheney Holiday* | Steve Cherundolo | Brian Ching | Kenny Cooper* | Jeff Cunningham | Todd Dunivant* | Kevin Hartman | Frankie Hejduk | Thierry Henry | Stuart Holden | Eddie Johnson | Chris Klein | Karina LeBlanc* | Amy LePeilbet | Eddie Lewis | Lori Lindsey | Stephanie Lopez Cox* | Pablo Mastroeni | Clint Mathis | Heather Mitts | Jaime Moreno | Ben Olsen | Pat Onstad | Heath Pearce* | Troy Perkins* | Steve Ralston | Cat Reddick Whitehill* | Donovan Ricketts* | Leigh Ann Robinson Brown* | Tony Sanneh** | Homare Sawa* | Kate Sobrero | Markgraf | Bakary Soumare* | Taylor Twellman** | Aly Wagner | Abby Wambach* | Josh Wolff

*First year of eligibility
**Final year of eligibility; moves to Veteran ballot in 2020

• Eligible Player Bios

In addition to voting for Player candidates, voting will also open for the Veteran and Builder candidates. fourteen (14) veteran players are up for selection on the Veteran ballot, which has been narrowed down by a screening committee, and will be voted on by current Hall of Famers.

Voters can select up to ten (10) Veteran candidates, and the top vote-getter will be elected as long as he or she appears on a minimum of 50 percent of the ballots. If no individual appears on 50 percent of the ballots, then no Veteran will be elected to the 2019 Class. More than one (1) candidate may be elected in the event of a tie.

1. Through his/her play on the United States National Team (senior teams).
   1. Player must have played at least TWENTY (20) full international games for the United States.
   2. This TWENTY (20) game requirement is reduced to TEN (10) games if those games were prior to 1990 and to FIVE (5) games if games were prior to 1960.

1. Through his/her play in Major League Soccer, Women’s United Soccer Association, original North American Soccer League prior to 1968, in one of various regional leagues that include the American Soccer League, North American Soccer Football League, German-American Soccer League of New York, National Soccer League of Chicago, St. Louis Soccer League, Keystone League of Western Pennsylvania, Greater Los Angeles Soccer League, San Francisco Soccer League and National Association Football League.
   1. He/she must have played at least FIVE (5) seasons in above mentioned leagues
   2. Been a post season league All Star at least ONE (1) time.

1. Through play in the Major Indoor Soccer League (1984 - 1992).  There was no first division outdoor league in the United States.
   1. Must have played at least FIVE (5) seasons in the MISL
   2. Been a post season league All Star at least ONE (1) time.

2019 National Soccer Hall of Fame Veteran Ballot
Chris Armas | Mike Burns | John Doyle | Lorrie Fair | Linda Hamilton | Mary Harvey | Chris Henderson | Lori Henry | Dominic Kinnear | Shep Messing | Tiffany Roberts | Mike Sorber | Greg Vanney | Tisha Venturini – Hoch

• Eligible Veteran Bios

The 2018 Builder ballot includes eight (8) individuals selected by a screening committee and those who can vote U.S. Soccer Director of Officials; MLS and NWSL management representatives; MLS Commissioner; NWSL Executive Director; U.S. Soccer Secretary General; U.S. Soccer President; all Hall of Famers.

• Candidates must be at least 50 years old or deceased
• Eligibility for 2018 election - living candidates born no later than Dec. 31, 1968
• Must have made a positive impact on American soccer at the national federation or first-division level lasting at least TEN (10) years.
• An exception to this TEN (10) year rule applies to International Referees. Per FIFA requirements International Referees are retried at age 45; therefore, International Referee criteria for a positive impact is SEVEN (7) years.  Please note International Referees with less than the required SEVEN (7) years, can still be eligible IF they have completed TEN (10) or more years as a United States first-division referee.
• Candidate cannot be a current elected official and/or current full-time employee of the United States Soccer Federation or the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
• Any person who has been officially suspended by FIFA, CONCACAF, U.S. Soccer, the IOC or the USOC are ineligible to appear on this list.

2019 National Soccer Hall of Fame Builder Ballot
Joe Cummings | Sunil Gulati | Sandra Hunt | Tim Leiweke | Francisco Marcos | Thom Meredith | Lothar Osiander | Kevin Payne | George Strawbridge

• Eligible Builder Bios

Established in 1950, the National Soccer Hall of Fame is dedicated to the sport of soccer in America by celebrating its history, preserving its legacy, inspiring its youth and honoring its heroes for generations to come.