The U.S. women’s national team will face England in a highly anticipated match at Wembley Stadium in London at 3 p.m. ET Friday.
While USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski said the friendly, which pits the 2019 World Cup champions against the 2022 European champions, is not “important” in terms of stakes, he still acknowledged its significance.
“It’s a game that will make a statement in women’s sports,” he said Thursday.
Tickets for the contest at the 90,000-seat stadium sold out less than 24 hours after going on sale in August.
The lead-up to the match has been overshadowed by U.S. Soccer’s newly released report on widespread and “systemic” abuse in the NWSL, and the USWNT and the Lionesses plan to take the field wearing teal armbands in a show of solidarity with sexual abuse victims.
The next chapter in the budding transatlantic rivalry between the teams promises to offer both a platform for players’ voices as well as a showcase for their talents.
For everything you need to know about the match, look no further: