After two weeks of league competition, Orlando Pride camp is again shorthanded as 10 players are away with their national teams for the FIFA international window.
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Australians Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond will begin FIFA World Cup Qualifying this week in Jordan as part of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Australia will take on South Korea on April 7, Vietnam on April 10 and will finish group stage competition with Japan on April 13. The top two teams of each group will advance to the semi-finals of the Asian Cup and qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
Marta, Monica and Poliana will compete with Brazil in the Copa America Femenina, South America’s World Cup Qualifying tournament. The team will play on April 5 against Argentina, April 7 against Ecuador and again on April 11 against Venezuela. The team will finish group play against Bolivia on April 13. The top two teams will secure a spot in the 2019 World Cup with the third-place team competing in a playoff match against the fourth-place team from CONCACAF.
Nádia Gomes, in her second senior team call-up for Portugal, will play one qualifying match on April 6, facing Belgium in the group stage of the UEFA World Cup Qualifying tournament. Portugal has five games remaining in the group stage, which will be played over various FIFA dates through September.
While Australia, Brazil and Portugal compete in 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying, three Pride players are gearing up for international friendlies this week. Alex Morgan and Ashlyn Harris will train with the U.S. national team ahead of a pair of matches against Mexico on April 5 in Jacksonville, Fla., and on April 8 in Houston, Texas. Shelina Zadorsky and Canada are across the pond, getting ready to face France on April 9.
Newly acquired defender Lotta Ökvist has joined the U-23 Sweden national team to participate in the U-23 La Manga Tournament in Spain. The team will play in matches on April 5 vs. U-20 U.S. WNT, April 7 vs. U-23 France and April 9 vs. U-20 China.
Check out the full list of matches to keep up with the Pride abroad.
Australia:
Sat., April 7 vs. South Korea (1 p.m.)
Tues., April 10 vs. Vietnam (1 p.m.)
Fri., April 13 vs. Japan (9:45 a.m.)
Placement Match Dates TBD
Brazil
Thurs., April 5 vs. Argentina (6 p.m.)
Sat., April 7 vs. Ecuador (6 p.m.)
Wed., April 11 vs. Venezuela (6 p.m.)
Fri., April 13 vs. Bolivia (6 p.m.)
Placement Match Dates TBD
Canada
Mon., April 9 vs. France (3 p.m.)
Portugal
Fri., April 6 vs. Belgium (1:30 p.m.)
Sweden
Thurs., April 5 vs. U-20 U.S. WNT (10 a.m.)
Sat., April 7 vs. France (8 a.m.)
Mon., April 20 vs. U-20 China (6 a.m.)
United States
Thurs., April 5 vs. Mexico (7 p.m., FS1)
Sun., April 8 vs. Mexico (1:30 p.m., Fox)
