The Westfield Matildas begin an exciting week of football when they meet hosts USA in their first game of the Tournament of Nations tomorrow.
Four of the top eight women's teams in the world will take part in the tournament, with the USA (1) and Australia (7) joined by sixth-ranked Japan and eight-ranked Brazil.
The four teams will play three double-header events at three different venues.
The Alen Stajcic-coached Matildas face the USA in Seattle tomorrow (Frid), Japan in San Diego on Monday and Brazil in Carson, California next Friday.
The winner of the tournament will be based on total points, with goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head results and FIFA ranking used to separate teams if needed.
Westfield Matildas info
FIFA World Ranking: 7
AFC Ranking: 2
World Cup Appearances: 6 (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
Best Women's World Cup finish: Quarterfinal - 2007, 2011, 2015
Record vs. USA: 0-25-2
Head Coach: Alen Stajcic
GOALKEEPERS (2): 1-Lydia Williams (Houston Dash, USA), 18-Mackenzie Arnold (Brisbane Roar FC)
DEFENDERS (6 ): 3-Caitlin Cooper (Illawarra Stingrays), 4-Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane Roar FC), 5-Laura Alleway (Unattached), 7-Steph Catley (Orlando Pride, USA), 14-Alanna Kennedy (Orlando Pride, USA), 21-Ellie Carpenter (Western Sydney Wanderers FC)
MIDFIELDERS (8): 2-Gema Simon (Avaldsnes, Norway), 6-Chloe Logarzo (Avaldsnes, Norway), 8-Elise Kellond-Knight (FC Turbine Potsdam, Germany), 9-Caitlin Foord (Vegalta Sendai, Japan), 10-Emily van Egmond (VfL Wolfsburg, Germany), 13-Tameka Butt (Klepp I-L, Norway), 19-Katrina Gorry (Vegalta Sendai, Japan), 22-Alex Chidiac (Adelaide City)
FORWARDS (5): 11-Lisa De Vanna (South Melbourne), 15-Emily Gielnik (Avaldsnes, Norway), 16-Hayley Raso (Portland Thorns, USA), 17-Princess Ibini (Football NSW NTC), 20-Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC, USA)
NOTES
♦ If all three play, the USA vs. Australia match will feature the top three scorers in the NWSL in Megan Rapinoe (12), Sam Kerr (11), and Christen Press (8)
♦ The USA has an all-time record of 25-0-2 against Australia dating back to 1987, and has outscored Australia 95-22, only allowing more than one goal against the Matildas on four occasions.
♦ The most recent meeting between the teams came at the 2015 Women's World Cup in the opening game of the tournament for both teams. Megan Rapinoe scored early before Lisa De Vanna equalized in the 27th minute. Christen Press got the game-winner off an assist from Sydney Leroux in the 61st minute before Megan Rapinoe scored a dagger in the 78th to clinch the match.
♦ Nine players who took the field against Australia during the USA's last meeting with the Matildas at the World Cup are part of the ToN Roster, but they include both goal scorers in Rapinoe and Press. Just 11 players from the 2015 World Cup roster are on the ToN squad.
♦ The U.S. has played Australia four times since 2012 and scored 15 goals in those games. Five different players named to the Tournament of Nations roster have scored in those four games: Alex Morgan (3), Christen Press (2), Megan Rapinoe (2), Sydney Leroux (1), and Carli Lloyd (1).