PARIS — The defending champion United States is grouped with Sweden again for the Women’s World Cup next summer in France.
The draw, which determined the group stage for the 24 teams set to play in soccer’s premier tournament, was held Saturday at a gala event in Paris amid a backdrop of unrest in the country.
Host France will open the World Cup on June 7 with a match against South Korea in Paris.
The Americans defeated Japan 5-2 — highlighted by Carli Lloyd’s hat trick — in Canada in 2015. The U.S. has played in every World Cup since the competition started in 1991, winning the inaugural event and also in 1999.