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

Welcome to your live thread for the United States Women's National Team vs. Sweden in the first match under new manager Vlatko Andonovski (7:30 p.m. FS1, TUDN). The USWNT enters a new era without Jill Ellis, who led the team to two World Cup victories and Vlatko’s reign begins tonight in Columbus, OH. This two-game to close out the 2019 calendar year will conclude in Jacksonville on Sunday night.

The USWNT is 18-1-3 in the 2019 calendar year, and hasn’t lost since Jan. 19 in an away match against France. The USWNT is 22-6-11 in the all-time series against Sweden. Whenever the Yanks face the Swedes it is one of the USWNT’s most difficult fixtures, as the U.S. is just 6-3-5 in the last 14 meetings. The teams last met in this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the United States winning 2-0 as Lindsey Horan scored early in the game and Tobin Heath forced an own goal early in the second half. The teams have met six times in World Cup play, with the U.S. holding a 4-1-1 advantage.

The USWNT holds a 6-1-1 mark in eight matches at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, dating back to 1999.

Sweden is No. 5 in the current FIFA World Rankings after a third-place finish in the World Cup. Peter Gerhardsson’s team features 15 of the players who helped Sweden beat England in the World Cup third-place match.

To win tonight, the U.S. will need to defend well against Sofia Jakobsson and Stina Blackstenius up top and midfielder Kosovare Asllani, who leads Sweden with 37 career international goals. The Yanks will also have to work harder than usual to beat FIFA Goalkeeper of the World finalist Hedvig Lindahl.

Kelley O’Hara, Ali Krieger, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn and Megan Rapinoe are unavailable for selection as they recover from injuries, while Orlando Pride striker Alex Morgan sits out due to her pregnancy.

Roster

USWNT (Caps/Goals)

Goalkeepers (4): Aubrey Bledsoe (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 3/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 23/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 56/0).

Defenders (6): Alana Cook (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA; 0/0), Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage; 52/0), Imani Dorsey (Sky Blue FC; 0/0), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 169/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 30/0), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 38/0).

Midfielders (7): Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars; 86/7), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 93/19), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 77/12), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 36/10), Allie Long (Reign FC; 50/8), Samantha Mewis (North Carolina Courage; 59/14), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 13/0).

Forwards (7): Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 160/32), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 286/118), Jessica McDonald (North Carolina Courage; 13/2), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 128/49), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 60/18), Margaret Purce (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage; 19/4).

Sweden

Goalkeepers (3): 1-Hedvig Lindahl (VFL Wolfsburg, GER), 12-Jennifer Falk (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC), 21-Zecira Musovic (FC Rosengård).

Defenders (7): 2-Jonna Andersson (Chelsea FC, ENG), 3-Linda Sembrant (Juventus, ITA), 4-Hanna Glas (Paris Saint-Germain FC, FRA), 5-Nathalie Björn (FC Rosengård), 6-Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea FC, ENG), 15-Jessica Samuelsson (FC Rosengård), 23-Emma Kullberg (KIF Örebro).

Midfielders (3): 9-Kosovare Asllani (CD Tacón, ESP), 17-Caroline Seger (FC Rosengård), 22-Michelle De Jongh (Vittsjö GIK).

Forwards (10): 7-Madelen Janogy (Piteå IF DFF), 8-Lina Hurtig (Linköpings FC),10-Sofia Jakobsson (CD Tacón, ESP), 11-Stina Blackstenius (Linköpings FC), 13-Julia Karlernäs (Piteå IF DFF), 14-Hanna Bennison (FC Rosengård), 16-Julia Zigiotti Olme (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC), 18-Pauline Hammarlund (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC), 19-Anna Anvegård (FC Rosengård), 20-Loreta Kullashi (Eskilstuna United DFF).

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET).

Venue: Mapfre Stadium — Columbus, OH.

TV: FS1, TUDN.

Streaming: FOX Sports GO.

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow @StarsStripesFC, @USWNT, 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!