After the United States Women’s National Team’s heartbreaking loss to Sweden, the USWNT turns their attention to the 2019 World Cup in France.
The game was tied until the very end when it ended in heartbreaking fashion for the USWNT. Entry into the Rio Olympics soccer semifinals came down to penalty kicks, and Sweden proved too much for the United States women. Sweden fired off a shot that went wide, speeding past Hope Solo and finding the back of the net. And then it was over.
So what’s next for the United States Women’s National Team?
That would be qualifying for the 2019 FIFA World Cup in France. The World Cup tournament includes 23 teams plus the host nation, which gets an automatic bid. In 2015, the host nation was Canada, and in 2019 the host nation is France.
The road to the 2019 World Cup begins with the qualifying rounds, which will take place in 2017 and 2018. The USWNT enters World Cup qualifying through CONCACAF, or Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football. CONCACAF is the governing body that oversees the qualifying tournaments for countries in its jurisdiction.
Assuming the USWNT qualifies for the 2019 World Cup, the USWNT will be looking to defend its 2015 World Cup title. The team defeated Japan in the final match 5-2. The USWNT also notched World Cup wins in 1999 against China, and in the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991, where they beat Norway 2-1. It’s noteworthy that The United States won in 1999 against China in penalty kicks, just as they lost to Sweden in the same situation.
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There is little doubt that the USWNT will qualify for the 2019 World Cup. And given their shocking loss to Sweden, there is even less doubt that the United States women will be playing for back to back World Cup titles with fire in their eyes.