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USWNT Learns Its Group Stage Opponents For World Cup And Olympic Qualifying

The draw is complete and we now know the USWNT schedule for the 2022 Concacaf W Championship in Monterrey, Mexico, which serves as the qualifying tournament for both the 2023 World Cup in Australia/New Zealand and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. 

This will be the 10th edition of the competition with the USWNT winning it on eight occasions, including the last two. In 2018, the U.S. won all five of its matches by a combined scoreline of 26-0. Canada is the only nation to disrupt the American's dominance, winning it in 1998 and 2010. The only other Concacaf nations to reach the final are Mexico and Costa Rica (Brazil and New Zealand previously made it as guests). 

As the reigning Olympic gold medalist, Canada again serves as the USWNT's main rival. However, the U.S. heads Group A and Canada leads Group B, meaning the two nations couldn't possibly meet until the knockout rounds with World Cup qualification already secure.

The top two finishers from each group qualify for the World Cup while the third-place teams advance to the inter-confederation playoffs. However, only the tournament winner qualifies directly for the Summer Olympics. The loser of the final faces the winner of the third place playoff for a spot in Paris, although that match won't be contested until September. 

USWNT Schedule 2022 Concacaf W Championship

The tournament will be played between July 4-18 at Estadio BBVA (home of Monterrey) and Estadio Universitario (home of Tigres). CBS Sports has the broadcast rights to the tournament, so expect a lot of these matches to be on Paramount+.

Group A

USWNT (FIFA Ranking: 1st) 

Mexico (FIFA Ranking: 27th) 

Opponent Breakdown: Mexico is attempting to qualify for its fourth World Cup and first since 2015. La Tri was bounced at the group stage in 2018 after losing to the U.S. (6-0) and Panama (2-0). The side is captained by Real Madrid defender Kenti Robles. 

Jamaica (FIFA Ranking: 51st)

Opponent Breakdown: Jamaica qualified for its first World Cup in 2019 after finishing third at the 2018 tournament. The Reggae Girlz beat Costa Rica and Cuba in the group stage and rebounded from a 6-0 loss to the USWNT in the semifinals by beating Panama in a dramatic penalty shootout in the third-place playoff. The team is captained by Manchester City forward Khadija "Bunny" Shaw. 

Haiti (FIFA Ranking: 61st)

Opponent Breakdown: Haiti has never qualified for the World Cup and is back at the W Championship after failing to qualify for the 2018 tournament. Les Grenadières have never advanced beyond the group stage. The side is captained by Montpellier forward Nérilia Mondésir. 

USWNT Concacaf W Championship Schedule

Monday, July 4: USWNT vs. Haiti (Estadio Universitario) at 7:00 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+ 

Thursday, July 7: USWNT vs. Jamaica (Estadio BBVA) at 7:00 p.m. ET on Paramount+ 

Monday, July 11: USWNT vs. Mexico (Estadio Universitario) at 10:00 p.m. ET on Paramount+  

Thursday, July 14: Semifinals (Estadio Universitario)

Monday, July 18: Final and Third Place (Estadio BBVA) 

Group B

Canada (FIFA Ranking: 6th)

Costa Rica (FIFA Ranking: 36th) 

Panama (FIFA Ranking: 58th) 

Trinidad and Tobago (FIFA Ranking: 73rd) 

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