Women's Soccer

AUCKLAND - Four-times winners the United States will face the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2019 Women's World Cup Final after being drawn with the European side, debutants Vietnam and a playoff winner at Saturday's draw in Auckland for next year's showpiece.

European champions England will also take on a playoff winner, Denmark and China in Group D, while 2003 and 2007 World Cup winners Germany will play Morocco, Colombia and South Korea in Group H at the July 20-Aug. 20 tournament next year.

The 2022-23 UEFA Women's Champions League group stage began Wednesday with a marquee matchup between defending champions Lyon and quarterfinalists Arsenal at Parc Olympique Lyonnais, and the result sent shockwaves around the world. 

The first round of the 2022 NWSL playoffs came to a close Sunday night after Kansas City Current upset Houston Dash earlier in the day before San Diego Wave held off Chicago Red Stars in the late match to advance to the semifinals.

At PNC Stadium in Houston, TX, Lo'eau LaBonta gave Kansas City the lead from the spot in the fifth-minute before another trademark Current celebration.  

The U.S. women's national team has lost consecutive matches for the first time in more than five years after a 2-0 defeat to Spain in a friendly Tuesday in Pamplona, Spain.

The Americans failed to rebound from a 2-1 loss to England on Friday that ended a 13-game winning streak.

Laia Codina put the Spaniards ahead in the 39th minute and Esther Gonzalez doubled the lead in the 72nd.

Merritt Paulson, the CEO of the Portland Thorns and their Major League Soccer counterparts, the Timbers, said he was removing himself effective immediately, following a report that detailed abuse in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Statement From Merritt Paulson

76,893 fans packed into Wembley Stadium on Friday to watch England defeat the United States women’s national team 2-1 in a wildly entertaining friendly. The game had a bit of everything including two controversial VAR decisions that went against the U.S.

The game got off to a brutal start for the USWNT when Alana Cook had a nightmare at the back. In the ninth minute a dangerous but clearable cross from Beth Mead came into the box and Cook failed to get it clear. Lauren Hemp jumped on the failed clearance and tucked in the game’s opener

The United States women’s national team and England’s national team shared a moment before Friday’s friendly to show support for all the victims of the NWSL’s abuse scandal. An independent investigation from Sally Q. Yates and King & Spalding LLP revealed the top women’s soccer league in the U.S. had a systemic misconduct and abuse problems.

United States women’s national team fans watching Friday’s friendly might be asking, “why is Alex Morgan not playing vs England?”

Morgan is among several big-name players for the U.S. that will miss the massive game between the defending World Cup champions and the Euro 2022 winners.

England and the United States will come together to show their support for the victims of the abuse scandal that has rocked the U.S. National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) when the countries meet in a friendly on Friday, Lionesses forward Beth Mead said.

An independent investigation this week showed abuse and misconduct "had become systemic" in the American top-flight and that the league, teams and governing body U.S. Soccer failed to adequately protect players.