US Women’s National Soccer team

U.S. WNT To Face Mexico in 2007 Domestic Opener in Foxborough, Mass.

U.S.-Mexico Will Be First Game of a Doubleheader Featuring the New England Revolution Against the Expansion Toronto FC

Boston resident Kate Markgraf will lead the U.S. team to Foxborough in April. ©Brad Smith/International Sports Images

CHICAGO (January 31, 2007) – Mexico will be the opponent for the U.S. Women’s National Team in its previously announced 2007 domestic opener on April 14 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The match will serve as the opening game of a doubleheader also featuring the hometown New England Revolution against Major League Soccer’s newest team, Toronto FC.

Kickoff for the U.S. match will be at 5 p.m. ET followed by the MLS contest at 7:30 p.m. ET. Fans will be able to follow the U.S. WNT game live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker.

The U.S. women will be playing their first match in the Boston area since the historic 1-0 win against Norway on October 1, 2003, during the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals at Gillette Stadium. Abby Wambach scored the USA’s goal on a header in front of more than 20,000 fans.

The match in Boston could feature several players with local ties on the U.S. roster. Current Boston residents Kate Markgraf, Angela Hucles, and Connecticut native Kristine Lilly, all played for the Boston Breakers in the WUSA.

“We always look forward to playing Mexico because we know it will be an open, attacking game,” said U.S. WNT head coach Greg Ryan. “Hopefully, by the time we get to Boston, Mexico will have qualified for the Women’s World Cup and the game will have that extra edge. I’m a big fan of (Mexico head coach) Leo Cuellar and what he has done for their program. He always brings a team ready to compete and has some very talented players with the ball at their feet.”

While the USA has not played in the Boston area in more than three years, the Americans are very familiar with Mexico, having played them twice in 2006, the second time during the 2006 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup with the winner earning a direct berth to the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The USA’s 2-0 victory in that Gold Cup semifinal sent Mexico to the tournament’s third-place match, where they defeated Jamaica to earn a spot in a two-game playoff against Japan.

Mexico and Japan will meet on March 10 (in Japan) and March 17 (in Mexico) with the winner earning the final berth to the Women’s World Cup in China. Should all go well for Mexico in the playoff, the April 14 contest could match two Women’s World Cup-bound teams in the middle of their pre-tournament preparations.

The match against Mexico also renews a rivalry that has become increasingly intense over the past few years as the tricolor feminil has steadily improved on the world stage. The match during the Women’s Gold Cup was certainly one of the tensest meetings in recent years and the USA’s 3-1 win in Rochester, N.Y., on Sept. 13, 2006, featured Mexico’s first goal against the USA since 2003.

The Mexico match will be the first of at least six domestic matches for the USA leading into the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The USA came out of a difficult group to win the Four Nations Tournament in China in January, and next will travel to Portugal for the Algarve Cup in March.