The United States women's national team will play Mexico at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on July 13 in the Americans' penultimate match before departing for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, U.S. Soccer announced Friday.

The Mexico match is expected to be the third in charge for incoming coach Emma Hayes, who will first complete her season on the sideline at Chelsea, where she has served as head coach since 2012.

Mexico defeated the United States 2-0 last month in the group stage of the Concacaf W Gold Cup in what was just their second victory in 43 meetings between the teams.

The U.S. recovered to win the Gold Cup, beating Brazil 1-0 in the final on March 10.

The Americans will play one other home game after the July 13 match, though the exact date, venue and opponent are yet to be announced.

They begin their Olympic campaign on July 25 against either Morocco or Zambia in Nice, France, before group games against Germany and Australia.

The U.S. won four of the first five Olympic gold medals in women's soccer but has not sat atop the podium since 2012, earning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Last year marked their worst World Cup finish in history after being eliminated by Sweden in a penalty shootout in the round of 16.

The July 13 game at Red Bull Arena will see U.S. Soccer honor the 1999 World Cup-winning team with a pregame celebration and reunion of players from the team. This summer marks the 25th anniversary of the United States' World Cup triumph on home soil, its second of four World Cup titles to date.

"This will be a fun and inspirational weekend," U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone, who played on the 1999 Women's World Cup team, said in a statement.

"The fans will get the chance to show their support for the team before they head to France while also celebrating our 1999 Women's World Cup Team. This is a group of women who did so much for the sport and the impact of that team and tournament is still being felt 25 years later, especially as we bid for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. I can't wait to see my teammates and friends."

The United States and Mexico are jointly bidding on the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. FIFA will decide between that bid, a bid from Brazil, and a joint bid from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, on May 17.

Six games remain on the schedule for the U.S. ahead of the 2024 Olympics: two at next months' SheBelieves Cup, a pair of friendlies against South Korea in June -- expected to be Hayes' first games in charge -- the Mexico game, and a send-off match later in July.

Source:
courtesy of ESPN

by Jeff Kassouf

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