U.S. Soccer announced today that the U.S. Women’s National Team will play Japan twice in May in the U.S. The first game takes place May 14 at Columbus Crew Stadium (Ohio), and the second game will be played May 18 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. Both games will air live on national TV, the first on Fox Soccer, the second on ESPN2.
“Our entire team and staff have great sympathy for the people of Japan following the tragedies that struck their country and we are looking forward to hosting the team here in the United States,” USWNT Head Coach Pia Sundhage said in a U.S. Soccer press release. “We have tremendous respect for the Japanese players, for the way they play the game and for the heart they show on the field, and we will be expecting two excellent matches.”
The U.S. and Japan played in the Algarve Cup in Portugal last month with the U.S. winning the title and Japan finishing third after a 2-1 win over Sweden. Japan went 3-1 at the tournament, losing 2-1 to the U.S. and beating Sweden (2-1), Finland (5-0), and Norway (1-0). Japan’s Homare Sawa was named the best player of the tournament. Mami Yamaguchi scored twice during the tournament for Japan, which also got goals from 15-year-old Nahomi Kawasumi, who scored the game-winner against Sweden, Yuki Nagasato, Shinobu Ohno, and Aya Miyama.
Tickets for the Cary, South Carolina game go on sale Tuesday, March 22, while tickets for the game in Columbus, Ohio go on sale Tuesday, March 29.