The U.S. women’s national soccer team will begin defense of its world title next summer with group matches against Sweden, Thailand and Chile — a favorable draw for the top-ranked Americans.
In the Women’s World Cup draw conducted by FIFA on Saturday near Paris, the Americans were placed in Group F. They will face No. 29 Thailand on June 11 in Reims, No. 38 Chile on June 16 in Paris and No. 9 Sweden on June 20 in Le Havre.
If, as expected, the United States wins the group, it would play the Group E runner-up — probably Canada or the Netherlands — June 24 in Paris.