The Westfield Matildas will face World No. 1 USA as well as highly fancied Sweden and Nigeria in Group D at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup following the draw in Ottawa, Canada this morning.

 

Coach Alen Stajcic was in Canada for the draw with FFA Head of Women’s Football Emma Highwood and was excited by the opportunity to play the high profile USA team to open their World Cup tournament, which starts on 6 June 2015.

 

“We’re really looking forward to it. You come to a World Cup and expect to play the best teams and we certainly got that in our group,” Stajcic said. “We can’t wait to play the number one team in the world in the first game.

 

“There won’t be an easy game for anyone in the group. All four teams are of a similar quality. It definitely gives us a sharp focus now heading into the World Cup and the players know now it’s no holds barred playing possibly the toughest teams in each pot.

 

“We think we’re an improving team and this is the chance to test ourselves.”
Stajcic immediately set his sights on the Matildas preparations for the event, which will step up following the conclusion of the Westfield W-League in December.

 

“We’ve really got to prepare well and I can’t wait for January to get stuck into preparations and show the world what we can do.”

 

The Westfield Matildas 2015 FIFA World Cup matches:

8 June:                  USA v Australia at Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg

12 June:               Australia v Nigeria at Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg

16 June:               Australia v Sweden at Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton

 

World Cup Groups:

 

Group A
Canada
China PR
New Zealand
Netherlands

Group B
Germany
Cote d’Ivoire
Norway
Thailand

Group C
Japan
Switzerland
Cameroon
Ecuador

Group D
United States
Australia
Sweden
Nigeria

 

Group E
Brazil
Korea Republic
Spain
Costa Rica

 

Group F
France
England
Colombia
Mexico