Tickets are now on sale via Ticketmaster.com for the 2018 Tournament of Nations doubleheader featuring the United States Women's National Team on July 26 at Children's Mercy Park. The three-time World Cup champion U.S. WNT will face Japan at 6 p.m. CT after Brazil and Australia square off at 3:15 p.m. CT.
With less than two months to go until the doubleheader in Kansas City, here are six reasons to get excited for the return of the U.S. Women’s National Team.
See U.S. WNT legends live in action
The likes of Carli Lloyd (pictured above), Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan have led the U.S. Women’s National Team to important victories since the 2011 World Cup loss in penalties to Japan.
Lloyd, who scored three unbelievable goals in the 2015 World Cup Final against Japan in less than 15 minutes, set a World Cup record for fastest hat trick. She was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2016 after a strong year of consistency and collective triumph. Lloyd also was also named The FIFA Best Women’s Player in 2017.
Megan Rapinoe was selected to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup All-Star Team after helping lift the trophy in Canada. She was one of the top three scorers in the NWSL with the Seattle Reign in 2017, and in 2018 she won NWSL Player of the Month in April.
Forward Alex Morgan won CONCACAF Female Player of the Year in 2017 after winning the Golden Boot and MVP award after her stellar performance in the 2016 SheBelieves Cup. Morgan has scored six goals in six games so far for the U.S. WNT in 2018.
A rematch of last two World Cup finals
After a devastating loss in penalties in the 2011 World Cup to Japan, the U.S. WNT redeemed themselves after a triumphant victory in 2015, winning 5-2 in front of over 53,000 fans in Vancouver. The 2015 final in Canada made history, being the most-watched U.S. match for both men’s and women’s soccer, clocking in at just under 27 million viewers.
Four of the best women’s teams in the world
After winning the SheBelieves Cup in March, the U.S WNT will aim to add another trophy, and it all starts in Kansas City. The Tournament of Nations will showcase four of the best eleven women’s teams in the world.
Brazil was a 2007 FIFA World Cup finalist and a two-time Olympic silver medalist, while Australia is the defending Tournament of Nations champion, having won the inaugural 2017 edition. The two teams recently locked horns in the 2015 World Cup Round of 16 (a 1-0 win for Australia) and the quarterfinals of the 2016 Olympics (a penalty shootout win for Brazil following a 0-0 draw). Australia, Brazil and Japan have all booked their tickets to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. The USA will be playing for its World Cup berth when it hosts the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship in October.
A glimpse of the 2019 World Cup team?
Come to Children’s Mercy Park for the beginning of the Tournament of Nations to get a look at the rising potential for the U.S. WNT against three World Cup-bound teams. The U.S. WNT looks to build their resume with wins before the Concacaf Women’s Championship in October.
The Tournament of Nations is a competition that speaks to the diversity of our fans and their respect for the game world-wide, which facilitates global connections both on and off the field. This tournament will celebrate some of the world’s best soccer players, many of whom compete in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). There are currently 10 Australian players, seven Brazilian players and four Japanese players in the NWSL.
Potential homecoming for Haley Hanson?
Haley Hanson, former Sporting Blue Valley prodigy and Olathe East High School graduate, recently earned her very first international cap with the U.S. WNT on April 8. Hanson got the roster call up early April after U.S. WNT defender Kelley O’Hara was ruled out due to an injury. Hanson entered the match versus Mexico in the 40th minute for the U.S after midfielder Lindsey Horan came off the pitch due to an injury.
Hanson was the No. 7 overall pick by the Houston Dash in the 2018 NWSL College Draft. She attended U.S. U-23 WNT training camps last November and December in Orlando, Florida and this January in Carson, California.
The U.S. Men and Women have never lost in Kansas City
The Women's and Men's National Teams are 10-0-4 in 14 combined visits to Kansas City, including a 6-0-2 mark at world-class Children's Mercy Park. The U.S. WNT has played in Kansas City seven times since their first visit in 1999, winning four and tying three.
The last time the U.S. WNT played in the Sunflower State, they had a strong performance, defeating Costa Rica 4-0 at Children’s Mercy Park. The U.S. went up early in the 15th minute with a goal from Crystal Dunn, followed by a tally in the 22nd minute by Mallory Pugh. Carli Lloyd and Christen Press both notched one goal each for the win in front of over 12,000 fans.
