USA vs. China, International Friendly: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, and Match Thread

Welcome to your live thread for the first of two United States Women's National Team international friendlies against China (FS1, 9 p.m.) at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT. The two teams will meet again Tuesday night in Cleveland.

China enters this pair of friendly matches as the second-most frequent opponent in USWNT history. The sides have played 56 times to date and, after next week’s match, China will be tied with Canada for the side the U.S. has faced most often at 58 times.

These sides haven’t met since China’s 1-0 win in New Orleans in 2015 in the final game of Abby Wambach’s career. It was the last game of the USWNT’s “Victory Tour,” after the World Cup championship in Canada in the summer of that year. The first match in the series took place back on July 20, 1986 in Italy, which the U.S. won, 1-0.  

The Americans are 34-9-13 against China in the all-time series and only Norway (19) has more wins against the USWNT than China’s nine. The teams have played on the world’s biggest stages, with the U.S. defeating China to win the 1996 Olympic gold medal game and the 1999 World Cup final, and to advance in the World Cup quarterfinals in 2015.

The Steel Roses will provide a good test for the USWNT in preparation not only for next month’s Tournament of Nations, but also the 2019 Women’s World Cup. China has qualified for the latter competition due to its third-place finish in the Women’s Asian Cup.

The United States is 4-0-0 in Sandy, UT, including three wins at Rio Tinto and a win at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2003. The most recent match in Utah for the USWNT was a 4-0 win over Switzerland in October of 2016. Rio Tinto will hold a special memory for Orlando Pride striker Alex Morgan, who got her first cap with the U.S. there on March 31, 2010 in a 1-0 win over Mexico.

In addition to Morgan, Orlando goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris has been called up for these two friendlies but look for Alyssa Naeher to start both matches if healthy.

Rosters

USWNT

Goalkeepers (4): Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Casey Murphy (Montpellier, FRA), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Abby Smith (Utah Royals FC).

Defenders (6): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Tierna Davidson (Stanford), Sofia Huerta (Chicago Red Stars), Merritt Mathias (NC Courage), Margaret Purce (Portland Thorns FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals).

Midfielders (8): Morgan Brian (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage), Allie Long (Seattle Reign FC), McCall Zerboni (NC Courage).

Forwards (7): Crystal Dunn (NC Courage), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Savannah McCaskill (Sky Blue FC), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC, SWE), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC), Amy Rodriguez (Utah Royals FC).

China

Goalkeepers (3): 12-Peng Shimeng (Jiangsu FC), 24-Yang Yan (Henan FC), 31-Zhou Li (Shandong FC). 

Defenders (8): 2-Liu Shanshan (Beijing FC), 4-Li Danyang (Dalian FC), 5-Wu Haiyan (Wuhan FC), 6-Lin Yuping (Wuhan FC), 8-Ma Jun (Jiangsu FC), 26-Wang Yan (Dalian FC), 27-Yao Wei (Wuhan FC), 29-Li Tingting (Shandong FC).

Midfielders (6): 13-Lyu Yueyun (Wuhan FC), 14-Xu Yanlu (Jiangsu FC), 16-Yan Jinjin (Shanghai FC), 19-Tan Ruyin (Guangdong FC), 20-Zhang Rui (Changchun FC), 23-Ren Guixin (Changchun FC).

Forwards (9): 7-Wang Shuang (Wuhan FC), 9-Tang Jiali (Jiangsu FC), 10-Li Ying (Shandong FC), 11-Wang Shanshan (Dalian FC), 18-Han Peng (Changchun FC), 21-Xiao Yuyi (Shanghai FC), 25-Lou Jiahui (Henan FC), 28-Miao Siwen (Shanghai FC), 30-Yang Li (Jiangsu FC).

How to Watch

Match Time: 9 p.m. (ET).

Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium — Sandy, UT.

TV: FOX Sports 1, Univision Deportes.

Streaming: FOX Sports GO, FOX Soccer Match Pass.

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow @StarsStripesFC, @ussoccer_wnt, and @TheManeLand.

Match Thread Rules

This is your live thread for posting comments on the match. So use our comments section below to talk about the game in real time with other supporters. If you’re new, welcome to our happy home! While you’re here, please observe a few basic rules:

• Absolutely no links to illegal streams. They can get us in trouble, and no one wants that.
• Try not to be the person who spews nothing but venom and hate for the team. It’s OK to be critical, and, let’s face it, sometimes even the best teams can be frustrating to watch, but being overly negative relentlessly can sap the enjoyment for others.
• Keep it somewhat clean and fair when criticizing players / officials. You never know who might be reading.
• Do unto others in the match thread, the way you would have others do unto you. We are a fun community and want to keep it this way. We have a moderator, but we’d rather let him enjoy the game instead of having to play babysitter.

Enjoy the match! Go America!