The USMNT has drawn into group A of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship and will play Guatemala, Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago. The group consists of Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Martinique.
The tournament starts October 15th, with the top two finishers of group moving on to the semifinals. The games also count as World Cup qualifiers as the eight teams will compete for three automatic passes to next summer's tournament in Canada. The fourth place finisher will face off against a South American team in a playoff. Martinique is not a FIFA nation and are ineligible to reach the World Cup.
This time around, the USWNT shouldn’t have a problem reaching the World Cup. In 2011, the U.S. lost to Mexico in the semifinals and needed a victory against Italy in an international playoff.
This will be Jill Ellis’s first tournament as head coach since her appointment on May 16th earlier this year. She has three friendlies under her belt, which have seen the USWNT go 2-0-1. The U.S. has two friendlies against Mexico on September 13th and 18th ahead of the tournament.
“An opponent at this point is an opponent standing between us and the World Cup,” Ellis said. “We will prepare for every team with the same respect, resolve and planning while making sure our focus is on our performance. We will approach every game with the intent of maximizing our points and getting to the semifinal.”
Ellis will have all of the talented U.S. players at her disposal. She named 28 players that will start camp on September 5th in Salt Lake City. Eight of the players will be late to camp due to the NWSL Championship game. Here are the 28 players along with the CONCACAF schedule.
Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart (FC Kansas City), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
Defenders: Stephanie Cox (Seattle Reign FC), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Houston Dash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland Thorns FC)
Midfielders: Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars), Morgan Brian (Virginia), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (WNY Flash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Kristie Mewis (Boston Breakers), Heather O’Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
Forwards: Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (WNY Flash)
Here is their schedule, with all matches televised live across FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2 or FOX Soccer Plus:
October 15th in Kansas City against Trinidad & Tobago (8:30pm ET)
October 17th in Chicago against Guatemala (9:00pm ET)
October 20th in Washington, D.C. against Haiti (7:30pm ET)
