While the world of women's football is looking towards Euro 2017, the US selection welcomes Japan, Australia and Brazil for the "Tournament of Nations". This friendly competition begins on July 27 and resumes the format of the She Believes Cup organized for two years in March, with a mini-championship between the four participating teams.


United States Jill Ellis have one goal in mind, to be ready for the 2019 World Cup and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. An impossible back-to-back, winning following the two major competitions, perhaps the last big challenge that remain at the US world number one.


Objective reconstruction


After the disappointment of Rio and a premature elimination in the quarter-finals, Jill Ellis embarked on a huge building site and an extensive membership review to forge the group that would retain the world title in two years in France. In recent months, many players have taken part in rallies of the US group, although for the moment the heart of the team remains stable compared to the last J.O.


After a disappointing She Believes Cup where the United States finished fourth after falling against England and France, the choice was to multiply against the selections of the world's top. Two meetings in Scandinavia against Norway and Sweden in June, and this tournament of Nations which allows to welcome three formations of the world top 10, gathered for a week on the west coast of the United States.


Multiply the playing time against the best teams in the world, so this is the method chosen to season this team to integrate new players for future deadlines. Among the young American shoots that have made their way in recent months, we can mention Rose Lavelle, several times tenured since March, scoring her first two goals in selection before being injured against Norway in June.


Other players like Taylor Smith and Margaret Purce could make their first appearance on the occasion of this tournament and they are a number to be able to win playing time in a group under reconstruction. For this tournament, Jill Ellis will also have to do without Tobin Heath, player become essential in the US offensive animation. Ashlyn Harris, Amy Rodriguez are also injured while Megan Klingenberg was not retained by Jill Ellis.


On the Pacific Rim


If the She Believes Cup were looking east, the Nations Tournament will be played on the shores of the Pacific Ocean with matches scheduled in Seattle, Los Angeles and San Diego. California, land of expansion for the NWSL hopes to implant a franchise in a state where soccer is a very popular sport.


In Seattle, Reign players Megan Rapinoe and Rumi Utsugi will be at home, although they will play in the CenturyLink Field usually reserved for NFL (American football) and MLS (men's soccer with the Seattle Sounders) matches.


Further south, the Carson StubHub Center in the Los Angeles area will host the last two games of the tournament. A stadium also dedicated to the games of MLS (LA Galaxy) and which had hosted the final of the World Cup 2003, won by Germany against Sweden.


Four teams from the world's top 10


As for the other teams that will take part in this tournament, Brazil is perhaps the formation that counts the most absentees, with notably Cristiane, Rafaelle, Fabiana and Andressa Alves who will not make the trip to the United States.


Japan arrives in this tournament with the same arrangements as their hosts and the need to rebuild a team capable of playing the leading roles in the world. Among the young hopefuls of the Nadeshiko, Asako Takakura included some of the players from the group that finished third at the U20 World Cup (Kitagawa, Hasegawa, Momiki, Sumida) and Kumi Yokoyama who chained the goals in selection.


On the Australian side, the Matildas will have to deal with the absences of Michelle Heyman and Kyah Simon, who are coming back from injury. An Australian team that now has players who play around the world (Europe, USA, Japan) but also many young people including teenagers Ellie Carpenter, Alex Chidiac and Princess Ibini.


For all these teams as for the United States, it will be the opportunity to test and at the same time to gain experience through opposition very high level. An ideal opportunity before a 2018 year when these teams will play their qualification for the next World Cup in France.


The detailed program to be found on the site of the US federation (nine hours of shift for game schedules [west coast time])