On Friday, the 2019 women’s soccer World Cup in France was kicked off, and the United States team is one of the tournament’s favorites: the squad, after all, is the defending champion and is trying to make its third straight final. The team of head coach Jill Ellis will play its first game on Tuesday against Thailand — and among its many supporters it can also count the reigning champions of pro football, the New England Patriots.
The squad not only represents the United States in the international competition, after all, it also features two native New Englanders: midfielder Sam Mewis from Massachusetts and goal keeper Alyssa Naeher from Connecticut.