U.S. Women to face Canada in D.C.

CHICAGO - The U.S. Women's National Team will return to Washington, D.C., for the first time since 2003 to take on Canada on Saturday, May 10, at RFK Stadium as the U.S. continues preparations for the 2008 Olympics.

The U.S. and Canada will both represent the CONCACAF region at the 2008 Beijing Games after recently completing successful qualifying campaigns from April 2-12 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The Olympic women's soccer competition will be played from August 6-21 in five Chinese cities.

The match vs. Canada is the third in three weekends for the U.S. with matches vs. Australia on April 27 in Cary, N.C. (tickets), and on May 3 in Birmingham, Ala. (tickets).

Tickets ranging in price levels from $20 to $70, plus special VIP on-field seats for $150, are available starting Monday (April 14) at 10 a.m. ET online at ussoccer.com, through all Washington-Baltimore Ticketmaster outlets (including Macy's stores), and by phone (Washington 202-397-SEAT (7328); Baltimore 410-547-SEAT (7328); Northern Virginia 703-573-SEAT (7328); out of state 1 800 551 SEAT (7328)). Groups of 20 or more can obtain a discount order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290.

Ultimate Fan Tickets (a special VIP package which includes a premium ticket, a custom made official U.S. national team jersey with a customized name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits) are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com. Visa is the preferred card of U.S. Soccer.

This will be the seventh trip for the U.S. Women to RFK Stadium, with the most notable meeting coming on Sept. 21, 2003, as the U.S. opened the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup with a 3-1 victory vs. Sweden on goals by Shannon Boxx, Kristine Lilly and Cindy Parlow. The Canada match will mark the first game in Washington for a majority of the next generation of U.S. stars, with only eight players from the Olympic Qualifying roster having suited up previously for the U.S. at RFK.

U.S. forward Abby Wambach has some of the deepest ties on the current team to the Washington, D.C., area playing professionally in the District in 2002 and 2003 as a member of the Washington Freedom.

Canada is ranked ninth in the most recent FIFA Women's World Rankings, and has faced the U.S. 41 times - tying Norway for the most of any opponent. This will be the third meeting between the U.S. and Canada this year, with last meeting between the teams decided 6-5 in the USA's favor in penalty kicks after 1-1 tie in the final of 2008 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying. The U.S. holds a 34-3-4 lead in the series that dates to 1986.

Following the friendly with Canada, the U.S. will continue a busy schedule up to the Olympics traveling to the Peace Queen Cup in South Korea in mid-June. Two additional home friendlies and a second international trip will also take place prior departing for China with dates and locations still to be finalized.