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As I sit riverside in Canada, I wonder why life can't always be this gentle and calm. In stark contrast is the other 51 weeks of the year spent weaving through foot traffic at subway stations, adhering to strict deadlines and frazzled by slowpokes. I thrive off chaos but welcome the serenity when it comes.  I love to go for long walks - partially because I'm nursing a foot injury and can't go for substantial runs anymore - but really because it allows for me to saunter. It reminds me of one day during my freshman fall at Carnegie Mellon. Professor Dr. Scott Sandage didn't show up for class but instead left some form of: "Class won't happen today. But, I ask that you use this time wisely and go saunter" on the blackboard. For this reason, "saunter" has become one of my favorite and most-used words. To saunter is to walk in a slow, relaxed manner without worry or effort. To Henry David Thoreau, it's much more complicated yet paradoxically simpler than that. To him, it's "the art of walking." The word saunterer can derive from "sainte-terrer," which means a holy leader (someone in search of the holy land) or perhaps, from "sans terre" which means without land or home. Both hit at the notion that those who understand the art of walking have no particular home because everywhere is equally hospitable. So back in Pittsburgh, during the next meeting, my classmates and I were asked what we learned during our sauntering sessions. Did we notice the bas-relief of Benjamin Franklin on the building we pass every single day? No. Did we hear the birds chirping when otherwise we would only notice students bustling on their way to class? Did we smell the fresh cut grass? Or run our fingers along the uneven surface of the bench that overlooks the tennis courts? Did we even use that time to saunter or did we just go back to the dorms to sleep? After reading Thoreau's "Walden Pond" and Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance," I became fascinated by their ever-present thoughtfulness and introspective nature. I began to make it a priority to view the world through their eyes and march to the beat of their drummer.  When you stop for a moment, and truly take in your surroundings, you realize how much of life you're missing. It's a sad (initially) but then an uplifting realization. I often get so absorbed by my environment and trapped in my own head that I ignore the senses and what they are trying to tell me. Once you start to acknowledge their power and the influence they have on your life, it opens up so many more opportunities.
Not only can nature be reinvigorating, revitalizing, refreshing, it encourages self-analysis and provides opportunity to evaluate everything in life. When you take the time to take in your surroundings, time seems to slow. Your heart rate begins to drop. Your breathing gets deeper. Your thoughts become more insightful, more appreciative. I can only equate it to the instant gratification after long withdrawal, that sigh of relief, that shot of euphoria. A friend recently told me that the challenge is not in making a decision, but rather in making that decision actually be realized. How many times have we stood in the same place far too long, just hoping for a sign with a nod of approval to proceed in one direction or another? Far too frequently, unfortunately. And as the wise John Lennon preached, "Life is what happens when you are too busy making plans." It's in the planning that we somehow overlook the doing, the making, the seeing, the experiencing - the actual living. It's not the indecision in finding an optimal solution, regardless of whether it is ideal. It's more the fear of leaving the secure and the familiar for a land of unknowns.
We're primed at an early age to calculate, to know what we want to do the second we can string words together into a coherent sentence. But I always felt many of those who knew they "wanted" to be a lawyer, doctor, dentist, or something else that requires tremendous foresight at such a young age, were just prodded in that professional track because of prestige or tradition. Peer pressure can be a far more powerful and dangerous thing when the wrong motivations permeate thought processes. For the longest time, I thought I knew my dream job but it wasn't until I got to test drive it that I realized I needed to wake up. It was far from heaven. So far in fact that now I'm back to square one, ashamed to say I don't know what I want to do when I grow up. But after informational interviews with hundreds of people in various roles in various industries, I have come to terms with my ambiguity. Those most successful didn't have a plan logged step-by-step but instead let intuition and opportunity lead the way. It's not luck but strategic placement - and watchful eyes - that make the unforeseeable suddenly seem clear. They knew the bare minimum - they liked (fill in the blank with any topic), planning events, collaborating with others, telling stories, managing finances, discussing current events. But they didn't know then what that translated to in the professional / corporate world. I highly doubt anyone went to college for a history degree specializing in World War II warfare with the intent to program a TV guide for a major network. You could speak to a million people and get a million different perspectives. To every question asked, you would receive a million different answers. There's never one and only one correct answer. You could plug in all suggestions into an Excel formula and it'll spit out some statistical pattern but not a fail-proof solution. And that's daunting considering the sample size. Some people take the more obvious and methodical route while others carve out a more circuitous and chiefly unique path. The twists and turns may not seem direct but each curve provides an entirely new journey in which you learn from experiences. Those ultimately provide different interpretations and reactions that are specific to you and your needs. It's not a lack of focus, it's a general appreciation for learning and passion for growth. I far more respect those who know their power to be more than something previously defined. I want to do something that I know doesn't exist yet. Why wait for someone to leave before you can fill their shoes? You'll always be compared to the ones before you. You have different skills, experiences, backgrounds, contacts, approaches and opinions that allow you to bring something entirely new to the table. It's always refreshing to speak to people who value the present over the future. They would rather live paycheck-to-paycheck in order to really be rewarded in life altering interactions and memories - experiences that revolutionize how you view the world and invigorate you in such a way that you're motivated to change the world - someway, somehow. Those people are not afraid of uncertainty nor do they fear consequence. Maybe that's reckless or stupidly courageous, but I envy them for their strength to overcome what it is that often paralyzes others from moving forward, from tackling those goals that just seem so unrealistic, from acknowledging that failure often begets success. Nobody ever learned from doing it right the first time. Upsets make eventual triumphs so much sweeter. So without having taken the first drive, why assume you'll automatically drown? To live life upstream, you must keep swimming. And with that, I recently misused a metaphor for the sake of proving a different point - I feel like a sheep, albeit a black sheep, but a sheep nonetheless. I don't cause disgrace upon my family but rather reflect an unusual breed within a common species that sticks out for reasons beyond control, misunderstood by my peers but no way willing to be sheered of the qualities that define me.
The two teams are 32-8-14 to the Americans’ advantage, with 93 goals for & 35 goals against. Of the remaining in the tournament, FiveThirtyEight and ESPN Stats & Info gave China the worst odds to win it all (65/1) in comparison to the second-placed USA (2/1). The oddsmakers also believe China only has a 12% chance of defeating the Red, White and Blue in the knockout game.
The last time the two teams met was December 10, 2014 with 1-1 draw:
Remember the last time United States and China squared off in a Women’s World Cup match? As the most watched soccer moment in the States, the Americans took home the 1999 title, marking the last time they won the Cup. In the tournament’s history, the U.S. has never lost to China so the real question is, “Can the Americans continue the streak, when they take on the Steel Roses in the quarterfinals?
Highlights from the 1999 Women’s World Cup final
Midfielders Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday will miss the quarterfinals after yellow card accumulation in the 2-0 victory over Colombia. Despite the absences, United States has touted a deep bench which will be utilized. In the previous match, U.S. head coach Jill Ellis hinted that she would put Morgan Brian and Christen Press in the openings.
A natural fit to step in for Rapinoe would be Press, who scored the game winner against Australia in her World Cup debut. Effective as a midfielder and forward, the fast and versatile striker has the ability to finish when it matters. But there is more to Press that we have yet to see.
“I think that what [Jill Ellis] wants from me is for me to play at my 100%,” said Press. “I definitely think I’ve had good performances, and I’m proud of what I’ve done, but I haven’t hit my 100.” Primed to step into Holiday’s role, Brian has already proven her worth, completing 14 out of 16 passes in her 21 minutes against Colombia. Playing alongside Houston Dash teammate, Carli Lloyd, will be an added benefit too. “In our games, we’ve partnered [with certain players] specifically because we knew she wold be one of the players to come in,” said Ellis. “[Brian] is a tremendous ball distributor.” Both Brian and Press contribute significant attacking roles, and their presence comes at a time when the United States needs to get on the board, early and often, to ensure a place in the semifinals. Keep in mind, the United States has never failed to reach a semifinal. Even though none of the Chinese players on the current roster were present on that fateful day in Pasadena, Calif., there is still a lot riding on their backs too. It has been a long journey since, as they failed to qualify for the 2011 event in Germany and the 2012 London Olympics. The team has gone through 12 coaches since 2000. Their current coach, Hao Wei, was expelled as a result of play interference against New Zealand and missed the Round of 16 match as a result. He will be returning to the helm for the quarterfinal matchup.
Women's World Cup: USA survive a scare and defeat Australia in Group D opener at Winnipeg Stadium
Special to MLSSoccer.com
U.S. women's national team fans can breathe easy.
It wasn't their best game, but the US women still came away 3-1 winners on Monday against a dangerous Australia side thanks to two goals from Megan Rapinoe, one from Christen Press and some great goalkeeping from Hope Solo.
The game's first came from Rapinoe after just 12 minutes. The US midfielder confidently cranked a shot from outside the box, which deflected off a defender and into the goal.
Wide open in front of net, Australian forward Lisa De Vanna retaliated with a left-footed first-time redirect in the 27th minute after some nifty build-up.
The score held at 1-1 until Press tallied the game-winner for her first-ever Women's World Cup goal and her 21st tally in 46 matches. It was also the USA's 100th all-time World Cup goal.
STANDINGS: See how Group D looks after the first group matches Rapinoe sealed the deal in the 78th minute, but this time no deflection was necessary. It was a strike that clinched the win for the team and Player of the Match honors for her.
But it wasn't just about the goals scored for the USA. It's about the goals they denied. Goalkeeper Hope Solo, who was in the eye of a media maelstrom in recent days, played a major role in the victory. If it were not for Solo, the United States might have been down by two in the first half.
WATCH: Hope Solo's jaw-dropping first-half save With superior passing and an ability to create chances, the Matildas started the match hungry, but ultimately couldn't keep it up as fitness proved the difference maker. As the game progressed, Australia tired and lost momentum. But, the Americans, ever-known for their tremendous fitness and superior athleticism, finished strong. That doesn't mean the Australians took it well:
The USWNT were comfortable enough during the second-half proceedings that coach Jill Ellis decided to bring on star forward Alex Morgan, whose last game came on April 4 against New Zealand due to a bone bruise in her knee. Morgan replaced Sydney Leroux with the USA managing a two-goal cushion at 3-1 in minute 79. After eight weeks off the pitch, Morgan will surely need plenty more minutes to be a pivotal player later in the tournament. But the debate still rages on about whether the opener was the right match to reintroduce her again.
Group of Death? More like Group of Drama! The scoreline may not have reflected just how well Australia played, but the final result places the United States atop Group D with three points.
Monday's other group match featured a 3-3 thriller between Nigeria and Sweden which showcased many of their respective strengths and weaknesses ahead of their encounters with the USA, giving Ellis & Co. plenty to chew on in the coming days. The USWNT next play Sweden on June 12 and then close out Group D play against Nigeria on June 16. And the support is expected to continue to be overwhelming from around the country. Here's how the nation experienced the game, according to Twitter:
And the US supporters in Winnipeg weren't too shabby themselves:
Among the USWNT fans seen on social media were artists like Paula Abdul as well as a host of NFL and NHL teams. But arguably the cutest supporter of the lot was seen with former United States powerhouse, and FIFA Female Player of the Century, Michelle Akers.
Group D has affectionately been dubbed the Group of Death since three of the four nations made FIFA's Top 10 rankings (No. 2 USA, No. 5 Sweden, No. 10 Australia, and Nigeria comes in at No. 33). Here are the five things you need to know before the opening whistle:
1) Dating back to 1987, USA has had the severe upper-hand against Australia, winning 22 matches and tying two. The Red, White and Blue have accrued 83 goals against the Aussies, over four times the goals against. However, the Matildas have had a steady climb since the first Women's World Cup in 1991 (did not qualify) but competed in the next three before exiting group competition for the first time in 2007. They also made it to the quarterfinals in 2011.
Known for its relentless play, Australia may not pose too much of a threat to the scoreline but will certainly challenge the United States to stay on task. Australia will put up a massive fight and make the USA work for its W. If either team takes a loss, it will be a huge setback for the remaining games, as neither want to vie for the wildcard "best third placed teams" position (four out of six advance to Round of 16). Keep an eye out for Australia captain -- and FIFA Puskas Award 2013 nominee -- Lisa De Vanna, a strong-willed and aggressive forward who will be earning her 100th cap on game day.
2) The last time the two nations met was back in 2013 when the United States defeated Australia with a definitive 4-0 victory.
3) The biggest question mark of the match -- will Alex Morgan be ready to play? When asked if Morgan was fully training with the team on Saturday, U.S. Soccer spokesperson said "Not to my knowledge." But Morgan herself put those rumors to rest.
So, will she get much playing time on Monday? The line between cautious and injured remains blurred. Head coach Jill Ellis will not put Morgan into a position where she will not thrive 100 percent, which leaves her to only step onto the field if absolutely necessary and then, only for enough minutes just to get her rhythm back. 4) In the team's mind there are six more games to go and a deep and versatile bench to experiment with along the way. To the United States, it is not a matter of "will they win?" but "how will they do it?" If USA can hold off the Matildas all 90, prevent further injury and remain focused, the team will be well on its way to living through the Group of Death. As much as USWNT say they focus on one game at a time, they are looking ahead at Sweden, who poses the biggest threat in the early stages. 5) Of the 47 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) players to compete in the Women's World Cup, four come from Australia: Steph Catley (Portland Thorns), Caitlin Foord and Samantha Kerr (Sky Blue FC) and Katrina Gorry (FC Kansas City). Overall though, the two NWSL teams who share ownership with Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers and Houston Dynamo boast 8 and 6 players, respectively. Allysha Chapman, Erin McLeod and Lauren Sesselmann (Canada), and Morgan Brian, Meghan Klingenberg and Carli Lloyd (USA) represent the Dash. In addition to Catley, Kayln Kyle, Christine Sinclair and Rhian Wilkinson (Canada), Jodie Taylor (England), Nadine Angerer (Germany) and Tobin Heath and Alex Morgan (USA) represent the Thorns. Monday could not come soon enough as the United States kicks off its Women's World Cup group play against Australia at Winnipeg Stadium (7:30pm ET on FOX Sports 1, NBC Universo).
Follow official hashtag #USAvAUS to stay up-to-date on game commentary as it happens.
Canada Use Stoppage-Time Penalty Kick To Beat China In 2015 Inaugural Match
Special to MLSSoccer.com It was mission accomplished for the Canada women's national team after securing a 1-0 win over China in the opening match of the 2015 Women's World Cup on Saturday at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium. In front of 53,058 people – the largest crowd for any Canadian national team match in Canada – striker Christine Sinclair proved to be the difference maker. The captain put the game away in the 91st minute with a well-placed penalty kick, joining an elite group in the process.
WAS IT A PENALTY KICK?
There was some debate whether Canada received a hometown call with the late stoppage time penalty kick. Here's the foul that led to the penalty:
Canada coach John Herdman himself admitted "that's your home-field advantage," when discussing the penalty kick. He also said that "when the call came, I celebrated like we'd just scored."
STANDINGS: See how Group A looks after the first group matches The fans at Commonwealth Stadium could not care any less judging by their reaction when the ball hit the back of the net:
Sinclair and her teammates celebrated the win like the monumental win that it was -- a group match at the biggest tournament for women's soccer in their own backyard. The three points will take some pressure off.
OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN
As hosts, Canada really needed the "W." But China were organized, they remained disciplined and they bunkered down in the defense, proving to be impenetrable. As China dominated the flow and interrupted Canada's rhythm, the play was frantic in the first half. A collective gasp from those in attendance came in the 23rd minute after China's Lisi Wang struck a free kick which dramatically bounced off both posts and then went out of play (WATCH THE CRAZY PLAY HERE). But Herdman saw his side play with a lot more composure and they wound up outshooting their opponents 14-5. But Canada could not find the back of the net until the controversial PK. BLATTER'S MESSAGE An hour before the opener, none other than the biggest name from this past week's news cycle -- FIFA President Sepp Blatter -- wished the 24 nations good luck. And he shared some nifty facts about the tournament:
NEXT MATCHES Canada is back in Group A action against New Zealand on Thursday, June 11, while China take on the Netherlands earlier that same day.
It only got worse as the game progressed since FIFA's gamecast used male pronouns -- "him" instead of "her" -- during the play-by-play.
Artificial turf stole the Saturday's commentary. According to an on-field thermometer, it came in at 120-degrees which was about 45-degrees hotter than the atmospheric temperature. The Twitterverse blew up about gender inequality and FIFA's lack of respect for the women's game. As the tournament progresses, the heat can prove to be a massive game-changer.
Special to MLSSoccer.com
Women's World Cup 2015 opens play Saturday, June 6 -- with host Canada versus former powerhouse China as the opening match (6pm ET, FOX Sports 1 and Telemundo in USA and CTV in Canada). These are the five things you need to know before kickoff: 1) The two have played 26 times since 1987 for an overall 14-5-7 record in favor of the Chinese. However, the teams have only played head-to-head three times since coaches John Herdman (Canada) and Hao Wei (China) have taken their posts. During these matches Canada won by one goal each: 1-0 in 2012 and 2013, and 2-1 in most recently. Canada vs. China | Women's World Cup Match Preview
As hard as it is to believe that it has been sixteen years since the USA won, it is equally as hard to believe that China fell from grace. The country hosted the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991 and again in 2007 after pushing the responsibilities back from 2003 due to a SARS outbreak.
The last time the two met, at BaoAn Cup CFA Women's International Football tournament Shenzhen 2015 (also known as the Four Nations), Christine Sinclair scored back-to-back goals in under two minutes to overcome the team's 31st minute deficit and put the game away. For the first time in history, Canada went on to win the entire tournament, resulting in a total ego booster for the Big Red. However, the infrequency of recent play makes Saturday's opener a tad bit unpredictable. 2) Despite previous results, do not rule out China. They use to be a super power -- remember when they faced the United States in the final back in 1999? China also took home silver at the first ever Olympic women's soccer competition in 1996. However, the team did not even qualify for the last tournament in 2011. Long surpassed by another Asian power - reigning WWC champion Japan, China has a chip on its shoulder. But then again so does Canada who has long been in the shadow of its Southern neighbor. 3) In years past, China has been known for its precision and Canada for its physicality. Because the teams will be playing different styles from one another, it will be imperative to adapt quickly while remaining focused to their own game plans. They are both known for playing quality to be dependent on their opponents' level. The two nations have a recent common competitor, No. 6-ranked England -- Canada won 1-0 and China lost 2-1. 4) China has proven be a very secretive team. There are not many reports on its recent performances, which leads some to think they may have a few tricks up their sleeves or at least that is what they want us to think. Due to its inexperienced and fairly untested squad, it will most likely not continue deep into the tournament but it could place second in the group just for trying hard. Its primary purpose this year is to be a disruptor more than a contender. However, Canada really needs this win. 5) China has a lot at stake but Canada has even more. As host, they have a massive home field advantage. Canada will be riding an adrenaline rush after the Opening Ceremonies as the host of the tournament and in front of a sea of red, for the Red Nation not the Steel Roses.
Come game time there will be no more niceties -- who will handle the pressure best?
Women's World Cup: Everything you need to know about the Canada women's national team
SPECIAL TO MLSSOCCER.COM From coast to coast, Canada Soccer - and its biggest names - welcomes the world to the biggest tournament in women's soccer.
But it would not be a proper celebration if there was no Opening Ceremonies to kick off the games on June 6 in Edmonton. Canada brought in homegrown talent: Vancouverite Sarah McLachlan and Alberta twins Tegan & Sara to unite and empower women. Grammy winner McLachlan will play "In Your Shoes" inspired by the story of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani schoolgirl who defended her right to an education and survived gun wounds suffered from the Taliban. On a lighter note, you may remember the sisters performed the Academy Award nominated The LEGO Movie's "Everything is Awesome!!!" with The Lonely Island. The inspirational lyrics: "Everything is cool when you're part of a team. Everything is awesome when we're living our dream" certainly resonate with the 24 nations competing in front of 45,000 cheering fans. In just one month, only one will win the most coveted gold trophy, an Oscar, erm, the Women's World Cup. ROAD TO THE FINAL “Big Red” automatically qualified as the host nation for 2015, but they're regulars, making it to every Women's World Cup since 1995 (they did not qualify in 1991). Their best result came in 2003, when they finished in fourth place. And that was also the only time Canada have ever made it out of the group stage at a World Cup. In the last edition in 2011, they finished dead last in their group with only one goal. The 2011 disappointment prompted the hiring of John Herdman as coach in late 2011 and the Englishman has completely transformed the Canadian women's team. With the help of assistant coach and ex-USWNT boss Tom Sermanni, Herdman has injected new spirit into the group which resulted in a bronze-medal finish at the 2012 London Olympics and hero status back home in Canada. Canada's run in that Olympic tournament fell just short in a memorable semifinal that USWNT fans will never forget. The two nations clashed in an epic match that featured a Christine Sinclair hat trick and a late Alex Morgan goal in extratime to clinch a 4-3 US win at Old Trafford. Ranked No. 8 in the world heading into the 2015 tournament, Herdman’s team has something to prove. The recently released documentary "RISE" captures Canada's emergence as a dark-horse contender in 2015. THE TEAM Herdman's squad is a mix of youth and experience, including three players under the age of 20 and nine in their 30s. Known for their physically dominant and aggressive style, the Canadians can throw possession and rhythm-oriented teams off their game. They don't have a deep bench, which means a lot will rest on the shoulders of these players: One of Canada’s most famous athletes, and the country's darling, Sinclair was the flag bearer in the 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony and even found herself on a commemorative stamp. Back in 2013, she and US forward Abby Wambach battled head-to-head in pursuit of Mia Hamm's 158 goal-scoring record. Sinclair, with 223 appearances, finds herself in second place all-time among active players with 153 goals, trailing Abby Wambach by 25. Making her fourth World Cup appearance, Sinclair is the heart and soul of the team: the captain and powerful, tenacious goalscorer who gets the job done when it matters most. Sophie Schmidt, MF – Led the team in goals last year after transitioning into a more attacking-midfielder role. She not only serves well, she can finish, too. Check out her game-winning goal from the send-off match against No.6-ranked England. Melissa Tancredi, FW – A fierce striker who loves to get stuck in, she will be a key target for her team (and Schmidt's passes) in the final third. Kadeisha Buchanan, DF – At only 19, Buchanan will be making her first Women's World Cup appearance. The West Virginia University product may be young, but you would never know it based on her composure at center back. Erin McLeod, GK – Although Canada has three goalkeepers all vying for minutes and all capable of holding down the posts, McCleod has earned the starting spot for now. She has competed in three WWCs and started in two. As the longest serving player in Canadian soccer history, goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc will retire after the tournament. The player known as "KK" made her international debut in 1998 and has earned 110 caps for the senior team. Canada will compete in Group A with matches against China on June 6 (6 pm ET on CTV), New Zealand on June 11 (9 pm ET on CTV) and Netherlands on June 15 (7:30 pm ET on CTV). MLS CONNECTIONS There are a few players from the Portland Thorns and Houston Dash on the World Cup roster, namely Kaylyn Kyle, Sinclair and Rhian Wilkinson (Portland) along with Erin McCleod, Allysha Chapman and Lauren Sesselmann (Houston). The six are important members of the multi-talented Canadian team. Here's proof below in the form of an emotional rendition of Celine Dion's "The Power of Love". With optimism around the team at an all-time high, the host cities are getting behind the Canadian women: Edmonton is ready! This is the giant mural that awaits #canWNT when they arrive at the airport pic.twitter.com/gGI0OR24Zh — Sheri Forde (@SheriTSN) June 3, 2015 That's a sample of the kind hearts and friendly nature that Canadians are renowned for around the world. And the national team is no exception. Just this week the CanWNT welcomed their opening match foes on their arrival to the Twitterverse like only Canadians could: Welcome aboard @CFA! We’ll see you on the pitch Saturday! #GameOn @FIFAWWC #Canada2015 — Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) June 3, 2015 For more of those good vibes, here are the hashtags and handles you need to follow the CanWNT on Twitter during this World Cup: #CanadaRED, #canWNT, #Canada2015, @CanadaSoccerEN and @CanadaSoccerFR in French. We've arrived Edmonton!!!! pic.twitter.com/HxJv24kSsB — Kaylyn Kyle (@KaylynKyle) June 3, 2015 Women's World Cup: How to watch and follow the 2015 tournament
SPECIAL TO MLSSOCCER.COM Fox Sports Network plans to provide the most comprehensive multiplatform coverage of the Women's World Cup. It will televise all 52 matches between June 6 and July 5 between its three main channels. Never before has a broadcast network aired 16 World Cup matches - male or female - but FOX made the unprecedented commitment to do so. Of the 16, five will be in prime time and include one semifinal, the third place match and the final. FOX Sports 1 will show 29 matches while FOX Sports 2 will carry the remaining seven. There will be over 200 hours of Women's World Cup coverage this summer, averaging six to seven hours of content a day over the course of the tournament. Every match will be available digitally on FOX Sports GO app and online at www.FOXSportsGo.com. With a robust WWC social media lineup, any avid fan can stay on top of the latest news. Follow Canada at @CanadaSoccerEN, USA at @ussoccer_wnt and the official tournament at @FIFAWWC. Get involved in global conversations with several hashtags - #FIFAWWC and #WWC2015. FIFA has encouraged women and girls to achieve their goals through #LiveYourDreams while USWNT has run a similar campaign with #SheBelieves. Both have extensive social media presence with interaction from the teams and players. To see how people are watching and following the tournament around the world, check out #myFIFAWWC. For the first time at a FIFA competition, LED advertising boards will broadcast those messages in-stadium. The goal is to make the world a little bit smaller through a Global Stadium. Dedicated supporters group, the American Outlaws will travel to cheer on the USA for at least the group matches with Australia, Sweden and Nigeria. Their goal is to unite and strengthen the United States fan base through meetups the night before the match, pregame preparation and wild support during the full 90. Women's World Cup 2015 has Fan Zones in all six host cities: Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton. The largest of them, Vancouver invested $1.2 million into 2.7 acres for the celebration. It will include two large screens, concessions, live music and entertainment, sports demonstrations, and pavilions for the tournament sponsors and FIFA. All are open to the public and have designated days of events but limited capacity. Stateside, several MLS teams will host watch parties including Sporting KC at Sporting Park and Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. As the tournament nears, more venues and cities will organize watch parties. Four days until the biggest and longest Women's World Cup kicks off in Edmonton between host nation and China. When the U.S. Women's National Team opens up play on June 8 against Australia, the two-time champions begin the pursuit of becoming the only team to win three titles.
The U.S. also happens to be the only team to reach the semifinal of all six Women's World Cup editions - three finals (two titles and one runner-up) and three third places finishes. The Red, White and Blue are poised as favorites, if they can overcome injury. USA's match Group D Schedule United States will need to play seven matches to get to the championship - that includes the three group (Australia, Sweden and Nigeria), the Round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal and final. But it will be no easy task. If it finishes second in Group D, it will travel across the country to Moncton, where it will likely take on Brazil and potentially meet Japan in the quarterfinal. The only time the team did not finish first in the group was at WWC 2011 behind fellow Group D member Sweden. Head Coach Jill Ellis' Chosen 23 Jill Ellis has a deep and well-experienced team, as it averages 103 caps per player. Fifteen have already made at least one other World Cup squad. Keep an eye on these World Cup rookies - check out the 2015 #USWNT Roster Card videos: Sydney Leroux - powerful and tenacious forward, averaging the most goals in fewest minutes of any player in USWNT history. Morgan Brian - youngest player on the team, at 22, controls the central midfield with such composure and sophistication. Julie Johnston - tough defender with a dominating presence in the air and on the ground and has a sixth sense in positioning, scoring three consecutive goals while holding down the back line. Christen Press - effective as a midfielder and forward, the fast and versatile striker has the ability to finish anywhere on the field. Key notes - United States creates opportunities but needs to finish more accurately and consistently, and put their chances away earlier. - Starting goalkeeper Hope Solo made 23 saves and only let in two goals in the last eight matches. - The team is one of the strongest defensively but needs to improve upon set-plays, as it has been known to get caught off guard in its own box. - USA's success heavily rides on the appearance and minutes of Alex Morgan, who has not played in 59 days due to injury. If she comes back in full-health, the team will be a serious force to reckon with. - Despite Morgan being a question mark, the team has many strong options up top - with Abby Wambach, Press, Leroux and Amy Rodriguez ready and able to have immediate impact. Social Media Easter Egg For the tournament, Twitter Sports reintroduced #hashflags after making their debut at last year's World Cup. Hashflags are flag emoticons related to a country's hashtag. Just type in a three letter hashtag and it will show the country's flag in the iconic Canadian maple leaf, for instance #CAN and #USA. USWNT's #SheBelieves campaign got a customized one too. Dwyer and Leroux (at 25:33) Dom Dwyer played the Newlyweds Game on ExtraTime with Sydney Leroux by his side. Let's see if Dwyer follows through on the bet that if the United States win the World Cup, he will change his last name to Leroux. What Makes Us espnW filmed What Makes Us original shorts featuring American standouts Sydney Leroux and Megan Rapinoe. They provided insight into their upbringing and how that shaped their personalities and personal growth in "Syd" and "Pinoe." USWNT players on Garbage Talk The United States can kick it on the soccer field but they could not make it sting like a bee. Host of Garbage Talk Katie Nolan asked Leroux, Alex Morgan and Kelley O'Hara to trash talk Australia before the team's first match. Amp Up for World Cup To help them get hyped up for the big games, midfielder Morgan Brian and defender Megan Klingenberg elicit help from fans to create a #WCPlaylist. Suggest songs on social media or take a listen on Spotify. ICYMI: USWNT on Simpsons You know you made it when you get Simsonized. Fox teamed up with the Simpsons to create Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach and Christen Press characters that made their debut in May. What is the Women's World Cup? Get the lowdown of 2015 event in Canada Special to MLSSoccer.com It takes seven games to win it all. At this summer's edition of the Women's World Cup in Canada there are several changes from years past, namely expanded field and roster sizes. And for the first time, Hawk-Eye goal-line technology will be utilized and controversially, the matches will be played on artificial turf. Hawk-Eye technology makes its debut at Women's World Cup As women's soccer developed around the world creating dark horse contenders, the biggest international soccer tournament had to adapt. For 2015, eight more teams were added for a total of 24 nations from six confederations. (This has steadily increased from 12 in 1991 and 16 in 1999.) As a result of more games, the roster size increased by two, to 23. Final rosters for every competing nation in 2015 Women's World Cup Competition kicks off between the host nation and China on Saturday, June 6 in Edmonton. With 52 matches to be played in six venues from Moncton to Vancouver, the tournament will be the largest and longest. It also allows for many solid favorites to take home the title and trophy. The final will be played on Sunday, July 5 at BC Place. For the first time in U.S. history, the team is not entering the tournament with the #1 FIFA World rank, that honor goes to Germany. But also France, reigning champion Japan, Brazil, Sweden and Canada will not make it easy to reach the final. What was once considered a small group of potentials has now increased, and the tournament can be anyone's any day. Complete match schedule on FIFA Adding to the intensity, 2015 will be the first time a World Cup - male or female - has been played on artificial turf. Back in fall 2014, the players filed a suit accusing FIFA and Canada Soccer Association of gender discrimination, as the men do not compete on turf at the World Cup level. The surface has been known to cause injury, overheat up to 10-degrees from atmospheric temperature and impact the speed and quality of play. However, the organizations were not budging and thus the players dropped the lawsuit to focus on preparing for the games. Players drop gender discrimination suit against FIFA, CSA The inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991, held in China, was called the World Championship for Women's Football for the M&M's Cup - as FIFA did not want to make it a "World Cup" just yet. Back then, the women played 80 minute games. FIFA bestowed the World Cup brand upon the 1995 tournament and increased matches to 90 minutes. In the past six Women's World Cups, there have been four victors - U.S. in '91 and '99, Norway in '95, Germany in '03 and '07, Japan in '11. Just like in men's soccer, stars above the jersey shield signify World Cup titles, and in the case of the United States women, they have earned two. It has been 16 years since the team hoisted up the highly coveted trophy. World Cup: USWNT draws South Korea in final send-off match at sold-out Red Bull Arena Special to MLSsoccer.com American fans stole the show at Red Bull Arena Saturday afternoon. With a Women's National Team record setting crowd of 26,467 at the arena (and its third consecutive sellout this year), the supporters showed up in full force, outfitting the already Red, White & Blue stadium with an overwhelming presence. During the national anthem, Sammers S.C., The American Outlaws, New York Red Bull's Southward and Sky Blue's Cloud 9 rose a custom tifo with a resounding demand - "Bring It Home" - in reference to the 2015 Women's World Cup title and trophy. The fans then began to chant "We Love Ya" and "I Believe" giving the stadium an undeniable energy. BRING IT HOME tifo The U.S. carried that electric vibe, as it donned volt socks for the first time. The neon also outlined the black lettering on the back of the jersey, making it appear green. (This is the second time the U.S. has had difficulty with name and number visibility - back in 2012, Nike had to reissue the adhesive because the silver did not show well on TV.) USWNT white kit unveiled Despite the Unites States storied dominance in the women's game, one may be shocked that it did not put the game away early. Korea Republic proved a formidable competitor, in what was believed to be a handed win. The international friendly ended in a 0-0 draw. The most riveting part of the game was a final attempt from Korea Republic's as the seconds wound down - a blast from outside the box forced Hope Solo to make an impressive dive to the upper right 90. Had the ball gone through her finger tips, the U.S. would have ended its home winning streak. Hope Solo's last minute save to preserve tie Midfielder Megan Rapinoe suffered a quad injury in training on Friday so she sat out as a precaution. She plans to be back in action for the team's Women's World Cup debut against Australia on June 8. Meanwhile, New Jersey native and USWNT veteran Christie Rampone made only her second appearance of the year, this time in front of her hometown crowd, after battling a nagging back injury since January. Despite these alterations to the roster, the team anticipates all 23 members of the squad will be healthy for the tournament. U.S. hopes that Saturday was the last time on American soil that it would wear two stars above the crest, aiming for its third Cup - the previous two were in 1991 and 1999. I will be reporting on the 2015 Women's World Cup for Major League Soccer this summer.
Abby Wambach leads USWNT against Korea in final Women's World Cup tuneup at Red Bull Arena Special to MLSSoccer.com The last time the U.S. Women's National Team played at Red Bull Arena, Abby Wambach broke the all-time record for most goals scored by any male or female player in the world. Not only did she surpass FIFA World Champion Mia Hamm's 158, she shattered it with four goals against Korea Republic on June 20, 2013. Entering Saturday's final send-off match before the Women's World Cup in Canada, also against Korea Republic (4:30 pm ET, ESPN), she now has 182 goals to her name. Wambach is on the fast-track to 30 goals in under two years, having scored a brace in the previous two send-off matches -- wins vs. Mexico (5-1) and the Republic of Ireland (3-0). Today will be the team's third appearance at RBA and its second against Korea there, with an overall 7-0-1 record. It also will be the team's final match before the Women's World Cup, having already bested Mexico and Republic of Ireland in the first two legs of the series. One of the team's biggest names will not be stepping onto the pitch today -- Alex Morgan is still nursing a bone bruise in her left knee that has put her out of commission for the U.S. over the last two months. She plans to be healthy for the USA's first World Cup group stage match against Australia on June 8 in Winnipeg. Good news for the team is that veteran and captain Christie Rampone has the all-clear to play since a nagging back injury dating has kept her on the sidelines since January. With 304 appearances for the Red, White & Blue, Rampone will join only four others who have competed in five WWC tournaments. As the remaining player from the storied 1999 Championship squad, she has the most caps of any active player in the world and second most in soccer history. We arrived in Jerusalem on Shabbat. After services and dinner, everyone else made plans to stay near the hotel for the evening. But I had my own agenda. I quickly changed into my gear and jumped in a taxi, arriving at 11pm. I was told there would be a pickup game at that time but the park was completely deserted. I wandered around, hoping to find someone to ask where to find it. Far off in the distance, I saw bright lights. So I gravitated towards the only signs of life and was greeted by a dozen young boys, all of whom spoke Arabic.
I realized then that I would not be spotting any Israeli Jews on the court because of what day it was - the day of rest. Despite my U.S. Soccer shorts and tee, my American accent, my Jewish star necklace and my gender, they let me join. The wonderful thing about The Beautiful Game is that you can find it anywhere around the globe, especially in the form of pickup. My friend Gwendolyn Oxenham documented the phenomenon in her film "Pelada" where she traveled the world with her husband and two close friends in search of the stripped down game. One of the locations shot was in Jerusalem, where I currently stood. Her documentary confirmed that soccer is a universal language unto itself. Through hand gestures and all sorts of body language, you can communicate your intentions. It does not matter if you are tall or short, young or old, skinny or overweight, male or female, gay or straight, white or black, American or Israeli, Jewish or Muslim, you can still play the game as long as you can play the game. Despite me being everything they were not, I played with the young boys until grown men showed up just after midnight. I then continued to play with the new group. No problems there either. I slotted some promising through balls, scored a few integral goals and defended against some feisty forwards. Despite my successes, they would not give me high-fives or defend me properly because I was a woman, and according to their religion, men do not touch the opposite sex. The most profound moment came when I took a hard shot at goal, missed and screamed, "Oh my G-d!" What was meant to be an exasperated frustration turned into a revelation when a teammate asked, "To which G-d do you refer?" It was then that I really acknowledged I was in the birthplace of three prominent religions and the home to devout religious followers. Surprisingly, my answer did not bother him, and we continued to play. My team won by two, and we all said our goodnights. No harm, no foul, just an appreciation for the global sport that brought us together against many odds. If we all could co-exist without judgement or blame on the soccer field then the only thing that really mattered was the game. Sport has the potential to be a microcosm of society. It is the first to break barriers and encourage empowerment, diversity, inclusion and social justice. It is the universal language that allows anyone from anywhere in the world to communicate with one another. When you get into that huddle at a local pickup game, your race, gender, religion, socio-economic status all disappear because you cannot win unless you all pull together. Sport has the power for social change at the macro-level, if we only enable it to reach its potential. After years of contemplation, I finally caved. Yes, I'm launching a blog! I was worried about continual upkeep since it can be time-consuming and I don't have much time. Then I thought, what would I write that others would want to read? But I realized, most blogs are just about the author anyways so why not keep a log of my conversations, insights and opinions? Maybe someone else will find them valuable.
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