The USWNT announced its first friendly to follow the 2016 Olympics, with MAPFRE Stadium as the host venue. When the USWNT line up against Thailand on Sept. 15, make sure you keep an eye on some of these interesting notes:
- The USA is 14-0-1 in 2016 heading into the 2016 Olympics and will open Group G play on Aug. 3 – two days before the Olympic Opening Ceremonies – against New Zealand (6 p.m. ET on NBCSN) at Mineirão Stadium in Belo Horizonte. The USA will stay in Belo Horizonte – which is 270 miles north of Rio de Janeiro – to face France at Mineirão Stadium on Aug. 6 (4 p.m. ET on NBCSN) and finish group play against Colombia on Aug. 9 (6 p.m. ET on NBCSN) at the Amazônia Stadium in Manaus, the same arena in which the U.S. MNT tied Portugal 2-2 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the furthest soccer venue from Rio (more than 1,700 miles).
- Thailand had a respectable Women’s World Cup debut last summer in Canada, falling 4-0 to long-time power Norway before picking up its first win in a FIFA competition with a 3-2 victory against Ivory Coast. Thailand then fell 4-0 to then world No. 2 Germany and bowed out of the tournament with distinction.
- The U.S. WNT has a long history at MAPFRE Stadium, home of Columbus Crew SC, having first played there in October of 1999 after the Women’s World Cup. The USA also played a Women’s World Cup match there in 2003, defeating North Korea, 3-0.
- The WNT’s most recent game at MAPFRE Stadium was in October of 2013, a 1-1 draw with New Zealand.
