ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 6, 2021) – Exploria Stadium, the home to the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League and Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer, will host the reigning Women’s World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team for a pair of upcoming friendlies against Colombia, it was announced today. In addition, the U.S. WNT will hold its January training camp from Jan. 9-22 in Orlando, with Pride stalwarts Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger selected to head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s 27-player training camp roster.
The camp will conclude with the two games against Colombia, on Jan. 18 (7 p.m. ET on FS1) and Jan. 22 (7 p.m. ET on ESPN2).
“We are thrilled to welcome our friends at US Soccer once again. It is always exciting when we have the opportunity to host the World Champions, but we are especially proud to do so during this moment in time,” Orlando City SC CEO Alex Leitão said. “Continuing to bring events to our Club and community is very important at a time when many are facing financial hardships, especially here in Parramore. Of course, these events do not happen without the hard work from the Orlando City SC front office who have developed outstanding safety protocols that have allowed us to welcome fans for safe and exciting soccer here in Central Florida.“
TICKETS
Capacity for each match will be limited to no more than 4,000 ticketed fans. Tickets go on sale to the public for both matches on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. ET through ussoccer.com. Tickets will be sold only in pods of 1, 2, 3, or 4 and a socially distanced seating manifest will be used. Coaches Circle and Presidents Circle members supporting the U.S. Soccer Development Fund can receive individual customer support and concierge services for their ticketing needs. Click here or contact circles@ussoccer.org for more information.
U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM – JANUARY TRAINING CAMP ROSTER BY POSITION:
GOALKEEPERS (4): Aubrey Bledsoe (Washington Spirit), Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (10): Alana Cook (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (UNC), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Margaret Purce (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Jaelin Howell (Florida State), Rose Lavelle (Manchester City, ENG), Catarina Macario (Stanford), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Manchester City, ENG), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)
FORWARDS (5): Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage)
USWNT: BACK HOME
The matches against Colombia will be the first domestic games for the U.S. Women since the 2020 SheBelieves Cup last March and will mark the first meeting with Colombia since 2016, a 2-2 tie during the Olympics in Manaus, Brazil. Of the six previous games the USA has played against Colombia, two have been in World Cup play (2011, 2015) and two came during the Olympics (2012 and 2016), which means the teams met in four consecutive world championships. The USA won three of those games and tied one.
The USWNT is coming off a successful return to the field in the form of an 11-day training camp at the end of October in Commerce City, Colorado that marked the first event for the team since the 2020 SheBelieves Cup, and a productive trip to the Netherlands in November that ended with a 2-0 victory against the Dutch in Breda. That match was the first for the USA in 261 days. The first match against Colombia will make it 313 days between domestic games for the American women.
“A big credit goes to our players, team staff and overall medical staff for the tremendous work to make sure we have secure and healthy environments for our camps and games,” said U.S. WNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “And a special thanks also goes to our game operations staff for enabling us to host two matches against a talented opponent. It’s extremely valuable to play a team we don’t see that often and it’s important for our Olympic preparation.”
As they did in Colorado and the Netherlands, the U.S. players and staff will operate inside a highly controlled environment at the team hotel. The staging of the camp and the match will fall under the comprehensive U.S. Soccer Return to Play Protocols and Guidelines and in accordance with the Concacaf Return to Play Protocols. Once the Colombian team and staff arrive in the USA, they will operate inside the same controlled environment with the same testing protocols. Everyone entering the environment will be tested for COVID-19 before traveling, upon arrival and every two days thereafter. The teams will not begin full team training until the results of all arrival tests are confirmed.
EXCLUSIVE PRESALES FOR U.S. SOCCER INSIDERS
For the opportunity to buy tickets before the general public, fans should consider becoming U.S. Soccer Insiders. Membership is free for Standard Insiders. Learn more.
VISA PRESALE
As the official payment technology sponsor of U.S. Soccer, Visa® has made special arrangements for Visa cardholders to participate in an advance sale of tickets for the WNT vs. Colombia matches. These advance sales will take place from Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. ET until Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 8 a.m. ET for both matches through the purchase links at ussoccer.com. As the preferred card of U.S. Soccer, Visa will be the only payment method accepted during the Visa presale. Terms and conditions apply.
SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES | COVID-19 WARNING
At both games vs. Colombia, fans will be required to wear face coverings at all times while on stadium premises except while eating or drinking while seated in their assigned seat. A socially distanced stadium seating manifest has been designed to keep fans in place and within their own parties of four or less, which also includes the following protocols:
- Adequate spacing between the field of play and ticket purchasers has been arranged.
- Each occupied row will have a maximum of two parties (each comprised of four or fewer people), allowing each party to access the aisle closest to its seats without stepping over another party.
- Every party will have at least six feet of space between it and other parties.
- Tickets will not be issued for the first two seats closest to the aisle.
- Reserved seating only, general admission will not be allowed.
- Mobile-only tickets
Concession stands will have cashless payment. No bags, including clear bags, will be allowed. Ticket holders will have a designated gate to enter the stadium based on their ticket location.
