CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The USA, England, France and Germany have set their rosters for the 2016 SheBelieves Cup, which will bring four of the world’s top five ranked women’s national teams to the USA from March 3-9.
The USA’s hosting of the 2016 SheBelieves Cup, which will be the top four-nation women’s international tournament in the world this year, will feature three doubleheaders: March 3 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida (Germany vs. France and USA vs. England), March 6 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee (France vs. England and USA vs. Germany) and March 9 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida (Germany vs. England and USA vs. France). The USA’s first match against England will be broadcast on FS1 and its following two games against Germany and France will both be broadcast on ESPN3.
The winner of the tournament will be based on total points (three for a win, one for a tie), with the first tie-breaker being overall goal difference, followed by most total tournament goals scored, then head-to-head result and lastly (if necessary) FIFA Ranking .
The USA is currently first in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings. Germany is ranked second, France is third and England is fifth. The USA, Germany and England all advanced to semifinals of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup with Germany beating France in a quarterfinal penalty kick shootout to earn its spot in the last four.
USA
U.S. head coach Jill Ellis has named a 22-player roster that features 19 of the 20 players who helped the USA to the title at the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship while earning a berth to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil along the way. The roster includes the USA’s individual award winners at that tournament: MVP Morgan Brian, Golden Glove winner Hope Solo and Golden Boot winner Crystal Dunn. Ellis has also recalled 2015 Women’s World Cup winners Whitney Engen and Heather O’Reilly, who has 228 caps and 46 goals for the USA. Ellis also added one new player, handing Seattle Reign FC defender Lauren Barnes her first senior team call-up.
