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SOCCER

England’s Lionesses set Wembley date with World Cup winners USWNT

Newly-crowned European champions England will face a tougher test when they take on the mighty United States’ women’s team at Wembley in October.

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Semi Final - England v United States - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - July 2, 2019  Alex Morgan of the U.S. celebrates scoring their second goal with Tobin Heath   REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
BENOIT TESSIERREUTERS

England and the United States’ women’s soccer teams are set to pack out Wembley in a tantalising October clash between the Euro 2022 winners and the defending Women’s World Cup champions, hailed by Lionesses’ coach Sarina Wiegman as “the perfect game”.

News of the fixture arrived two days after England completed their European triumph in front of 87,192 spectators at the national stadium in London, beating Germany 2-1 in a final that went to extra time. England will host the USWNT on Friday 7 October with kick-off yet to be determined.

New attendance record

Sunday’s Women’s Euro 2022 final drew a record crowd - beating the previous attendance record for a European Championship game, men’s or women’s, and the feverish support for the women’s in England looks set to guarantee another full house when they take on the USWNT.

The US women’s side beat England 2-1 in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals, and the two teams are expected to be among the trophy challengers at next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

2023 World Cup qualifiers

England still have work to do to be absolutely sure of their place at the World Cup finals. They top Group D on 24 points after eight games, but a point away to Austria on 3 September or a home win over Luxembourg three days later would make sure of their qualification. In the highly unlikely event that England miss out on an automatic place, the USA game would have to be cancelled or postponed.

England boss Wiegman said: “It would be the perfect game for our squad to meet another strong team after so many tough games in the Euros. It is good we enjoy the moment we are in after this wonderful summer, but we know we still have to work to do to take the next step forward.”