2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup TV Schedule & Preview

Ryan Berenz June 4, 2019, 12:00 pm

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FIFA Women's World Cup - Alex Morgan, Lauren Holiday, Abby Wambach and Whitney Engen — RANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images

(L-R) USA's Alex Morgan, Lauren Holiday, Abby Wambach and Whitney Engen celebrate after winning the final 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup match between USA and Japan at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver on July 5, 2015.

As the reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup champions and the favorite to repeat in the 2019 tournament in France, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has high expectations—and a big target on their backs.

“The rest of the world, truthfully, is catching up to the U.S.,” says Heather O’Reilly, who played for the USWNT from 2002-16 and will serve as an analyst for Fox Sports’ World Cup coverage.

“I think for the majority of my career there were always maybe about three to four teams that most people would agree would have a real chance of winning the tournament. I think that a lot of experts can agree now that that pool has probably opened up to about seven or eight teams that are poised to be able to go seven games straight and to win the World Cup. Although it’s wonderful for the global game and for global women’s football, it does make the U.S.’s job a little more difficult.”

The USWNT received a favorable draw in the group stage, and they’ll open their tournament against Thailand, ranked 34th by FIFA and as close to a sure victory as the U.S. could get.

“Hopefully they’ll carry that momentum playing Chile and then finishing the group against Sweden, who’s always been a big thorn in the U.S.’s side,” O’Reilly says.