USA Women's Soccer Team vs New Zealand for Rio Olympics 2016: Game Time, Lineup, TV Info and Live Stream
United States Women's Soccer team is bound for a face off against New Zealand on Wednesday, August 3, just two days before the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
The match is going to be televised at NBCSN and NBC Universo and will serve as opener for the US team at 6 p.m. ET, in a venue situated at 270 miles north of Rio de Janeiro.
"It's always a positive to learn your path at a major tournament and it gives our team and staff increased focus on the challenges we will face in Brazil. We have tremendous respect for all of our opponents and know each one will bring a different style that we must be prepared for, but as always our prime focus continues to be on the evolution of this team so we are playing our best during the Olympics," said US head coach Jill Ellis.
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Team New Zealand will debut in their first World Cup in 16 years and coach Tony Readings' Football Ferns will bank on long timers like Annalie Longo, Kirsty Yallop and Amber Hearn who possesses an impressive 115 caps and 50 goals in her career.
Meanwhile, Team USA stirred the soccer world upon the inclusion of Megan Rapinoe who is considered as one of the best players on the national team. However, the midfielder suffered an injury before the 2016 season and has not yet played in an official match since then.
Team USA will most likely rely on captain and midfielder Carli Lloyd and fellow captain Becky Sauerbrunn. Also expected to contribute are Hope Solo, Tobin Heath and Alex Morgan.
Intriguing for the current lineup of Team USA Women's Soccer is the non-inclusion in top-tier group as opposed to Brazil or Germany. The team also reeks of credible threats from group G, including France who is currently ranked No. 3 in the world, five spots ahead of Brazil.
August's Rio Olympic Women's Football Tournament showcases 12 teams, with the top two finishers in each group advancing to the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams. Should the US advance to the second round by winning the group, it would meet a third-place team from Group E or F. If the USA finishes second in the group, it would face the first-place team from Group F. A third-place finish could mean a possible meeting with the first-place team from Group E.
