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).

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.

SheBelieves started as a hashtag in 2015 leading up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Your U.S. Women’s National Team shared a call to action for young women to set high goals and work to be the best on the field, or in their chosen field, whether it was academics, the arts, finance, technology or wherever their interests led them.

The U.S. WNT team lead by example, winning the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in resounding fashion.

In 2016, U.S. Soccer started an elite four-team women’s international tournament and named it the SheBelieves Cup. Since then, the tournament and the message have grown tremendously. With the support of U.S. Soccer, it’s partners, the fans and of course, the players, SheBelieves has strived to make an impact beyond the soccer field. Here are three ways in which it has done just that:

1. Leadership

Over the years, powerful leadership has always been a key trait of the U.S. Women’s National Team and the players wants to see fans being leaders in their communities. SheBelieves call on young women to be leaders themselves and to look to female role models for inspiration. To further this mindset, the SheBelieves Hero contest was established in its current form in 2017 to seek out young women who are positively influencing the world around them. In 2018, the Hero was Hollis Belger, who founded Juggling for Jude when she was nine-years-old and has since raised more than $300,000 to fight childhood cancer. The 2019 SheBelieves Hero contest is currently taking nominees and there is still time to nominate a Hero. Click here for more complete rules and regulations.

2. Growth and Learning

SheBelieves is based on the ethos of being the best at whatever you set your mind to. There is loads of anecdotal evidence that confidence while pursing your goals, on the field or off, can translates into confidence in other areas of life. In order to facilitate the transition from the field to the classroom to the workplace, the SheBelieves Summit was born. The SheBelieves Summit, presented by Deloitte, gathers female leaders in business and entertainment, as well as sports, in one place to share their experience and knowledge with college-aged women. Registration for the 2019 SheBelieves Summit is now open, and requires an .edu email address.

3.  Community

As elite athletes, the U.S. Women’s National Team players are constantly displaying the value of teamwork while with the WNT and with their clubs. Within their teams, the players push each other to be better, to overcome adversity and to work towards achieving goals together. During the SheBelieves Cup, the matches provide fans with a chance to gather and cheer on their favorite team with their friends, family, co-workers and teammates, furthering friendships and community, while rallying around female role models. Every game is a chance for communities to come together, celebrate their love of the sport, meet new friends, be inspired and make lasting memories!

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 (Feb. 19, 2018) – A panel of former U.S. WNT players has narrowed down the 2019 SheBelieves Hero contest to four finalists whose inspiring stories and determination made them stand out from the impressive field.

A SheBelieves Hero is a leader in their community, a confident and passionate individual who empowers others around her and actively works to make a difference.

We now need YOU to pick your favorite! Watch all four videos and vote for who you believe should be a SheBelieves Hero. The winner will be announced the week of Feb. 25.

@ussoccer_wnt @ussoccer , McKenna Woodhead's team would like to nominate her @mmmmwcwood for the #shebelieveshero #contest. McKenna is 15 years old from Clover SC She played for the @RapidsGirls @theECNL and @CloverSoccerG and her story inspires us all! @CarolinaRapids pic.twitter.com/qAECVAxi7V

— kat (@katteck1) February 10, 2019

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my name is Maddie Lauro and I am proud to operate such an amazing program called Champions League. Many people don’t usually get to see this side of me, but I am here to express my gratitude in running for the SheBelievesHero contest. This video is being submitted with the permission of my parents. #shebelieveshero #contest #ussoccer @uswnt

A post shared by MADDIE LAURO (@maddielauro) on Feb 8, 2019 at 11:24am PST

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Kick Childhood Cancer 🎗⚽️ #shebelieveshero #contest #uswnt #shebelievescup #shebelieves #⚽️ #🎗 @uswnt @ussoccer @alexmorgan13 @malpugh (parent approved)

A post shared by Snapchat: aly.corb (@corb.1) on Feb 11, 2019 at 7:37pm PST

Nominating my daughter @MollyEClark3 for the #SheBelievesHero #contest @ussoccer pic.twitter.com/PaGX7Kumka

— Jim Clark (@jimclark_inDE) February 12, 2019

CHICAGO (Feb. 16, 2019) – The U.S. Soccer Membership approved a range of appointments and proposals this weekend at the 2019 U.S. Soccer Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Scottsdale, Ariz.

During the National Council Meeting, former U.S. Women’s National Team star Cindy Parlow Cone was elected Vice President, while technology executive Patti Hart was confirmed as an Independent Director on the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. Additionally, three applicants, Asociacion Nacional Futbol en EU, U.S. Youth Futsal and United States Association of Blind Athletes were admitted as new U.S. Soccer Member Organizations, and the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) was provisionally sanctioned as a Division III professional league.

CINDY CONE ELECTED NEW U.S. SOCCER VP
Recently inducted as a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2018, Parlow Cone was the sole candidate to complete the nomination process in order to run for the office of the Vice President. Parlow Cone’s term will last one year as she assumes the office that was vacated when former Vice President Carlos Cordeiro was elected as President last February at the 2018 U.S. Soccer AGM. Once the current term is finished next year, the Vice-Presidential election for a full, four-year term will be held at the 2020 National Council Meeting.

“I am grateful to be able to continue to serve our great game as U.S. Soccer Vice President,” said Parlow Cone. “I believe with my extensive knowledge of, and experience working in, the soccer landscape of our country, from grassroots to the international level, I will help U.S. Soccer continue to build, develop, and grow soccer in the United States at every level.”

Parlow Cone’s election as U.S. Soccer VP is the latest step in an impressive career that began as a star forward with the U.S. Women’s National Team from 1996-2004, and title-winning coach at the grassroots, collegiate and professional levels. During the past 20 years, she has served on U.S. Soccer’s Referee Committee, Medical Advisory Committee, Appeals Committee and the Athletes’ Council as well as more recently with U.S. Soccer’s Youth Task Force.

PATTI HART CONFIRMED AS INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
To replace Independent Director Val Ackerman, whose term expired this week, the National Council elected Patti Hart, an experienced CEO and board member with deep expertise in technology and entertainment to the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. She also specializes in sales and marketing and brings a keen understanding of consumer trends and corporate governance. Hart has spent 13 years at International Game Technology, Inc., including six as CEO and the last three as vice chairman, leading one of the most innovative and profitable gaming companies with offices on six continents.

“We’re very grateful to Val for her years of service to U.S. Soccer,” said U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro. “We wish her the best as she continues in her role as Commissioner of the NCAA’s Big East Conference.”

“We’re excited that we were able to bring on such an outstanding individual to serve as Independent Director,” Cordeiro said about Hart. “Patti comes to us with an incredible business background, tremendous experience, and a track record of success in her professional career. We delighted to formally welcome her to the U.S. Soccer family.”

THREE NEW U.S. SOCCER MEMBERS
The addition of Asociacion Nacional Futbol en EU, U.S. Youth Futsal and United States Association of Blind Athletes as new Members brings the total number of U.S. Soccer Member Organizations to 110 and will help further U.S. Soccer’s mission to make soccer, in all its forms, a preeminent sport in the United States and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels.

PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE SANCTIONING
The National Women’s Soccer League was sanctioned for 2019 Division I professional competition during the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors meeting on Friday, Feb. 15.

In the same meeting, the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) was provisionally sanctioned, adding a second Division III professional league in the United States alongside the United Soccer League’s (USL) League One. USL also operates the USL Championship as a Division II professional league, while Major League Soccer operates as a Division I professional league.

COMMITMENT TO U.S. SOCCER EXTENDED NATIONAL TEAMS
U.S. Soccer has made a tangible commitment in the form of increased resources to its extended National Teams. Starting this year, for the first time ever—U.S. Soccer will have a new department focused exclusively on supporting the Beach National Team, Futsal National Team, and Para 7-a-Side National Team. It will include three new technical hires and a dedicated budget of $2 million. This commitment will enable our Paralympians to play for the team full time.

U.S. SOCCER HONOREES
U.S. Soccer honored two life-long servants of the sport during the AGM. Richard Groff, a former USASA President and U.S. Soccer Board member, joined the family of U.S. Soccer Life Members, which is an honor presented to individuals in recognition of long-time service and distinguished contributions to soccer in the United States. Groff was previously bestowed with the prestigious Werner Fricker Builder Award in 2014, receiving the U.S. Soccer Federation’s highest individual honor for tirelessly furthering the interest of the sport of soccer without regard to personal recognition or advancement.

U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis has named the 23-player roster for the 2019 SheBelieves Cup, which features the top-ranked USA, No. 4 England, No. 8 Japan and No. 10 Brazil.

All four teams will be participating in this summer’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. 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.

• 3 Reasons SheBelieves Transcends Soccer
• Countdown to the Cup

U.S. WNT 2019 SheBelieves Cup Roster (Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 19/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 40/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage; 32/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 14/1), Crystal Dunn (NC Courage; 77/24), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC; 112/2), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 151/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 27/0), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 28/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars; 2/0), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 74/18), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 21/6), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage; 43/8), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit 11/0), McCall Zerboni (NC Courage; 8/0)
FORWARDS (7): Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 143/25), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 266/105), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage; 5/1), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 155/98), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 108/47), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 45/13), Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC; 146/41)

Both Abby Dahlkemper and Crystal Dunn have been named to the 2019 SheBelieves Cup roster.

“The SheBelieves Cup is a positive event in many ways, but it’s extremely valuable to get three challenging games against World Cup-bound teams in a short time span that can simulate navigating through group play,” said Ellis. “These are all teams that can go deep in the tournament this summer and provide the kind of tests we need as we continue to work to crystalize our lineup and our final roster for the World Cup.”

2019 SheBelieves Cup Schedule