A watch party for Sunday’s U.S.-Wales exhibition women’s soccer game will be held outside BMO Stadium, preceding the Angel City Football Club-North Carolina Courage National Women’s Soccer League game
The 1 p.m. game from PayPal Park in San Jose will be broadcast in English by TNT and in Spanish by Telemundo, Universo and Peacock. The game is the last for the U.S. before it begins play in the FIFA Women’s World Cup on July 21 against Vietnam in Auckland, New Zealand.
Watch parties organized by the Long Beach and South Bay chapters of American Outlaws, a nationwide support group for the U.S. men’s and women’s national soccer teams, will be held at Legends Sports Bar in Long Beach and the Underground Pub & Grill in Hermosa Beach.
The U.S. is first in the rankings compiled by FIFA, soccer’s international governing body. Wales is ranked 30th.
This is the first meeting between the teams.
Wales just missed qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, losing to Switzerland 2-1 in overtime in a single-leg game in the second round of the UEFA playoffs.
Wales’ roster consists of 10 players who play in England’s top league, the Barclays Women’s Super League, while six others play in the second division FA Women’s Championship, one in the third division English FA Women’s National League South while five are unattached.
Midfielder Jessica Fishlock is a teammate of U.S. forward Megan Rapinoe, midfielder Rose Lavelle and defenders Alana Cook, Sofia Huerta and Emily Sonnett with the Seattle-based NWSL team, OL Reign.
All but one of the 23 players on the U.S. team play in the NWSL, including ACFC forward Alyssa Thompson and midfielder Julie Ertz.
Other pregame activities for the ACFC-Courage game include a street fair beginning at 12:30 p.m. and a community care event to assemble lunch bags for people experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will meet with players and participate in a pregame interview.
ACFC (3-6-5) is last in the 12-team league while North Carolina (8-4-2) is first. ACFC is 1-4-3 in its last eight games in league play, including a 1-0-2 mark since coach Freya Coombe was fired June 15 and replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Becki Tweed.
The 5 p.m. game will be televised by Bally Sports SoCal and Paramount+.