U.S. women headed to Sweden Invitational in June

• by Soccer America , Apr 18, 2012

[DATEBOOK] The U.S. women's national team will participate in the Sweden Invitational when it travels to the home country of head coach Pia Sundhage to take on host Sweden on June 16 and Japan on June 18. The game against Japan will be the third of the year against the 2011 Women's World Cup champions.

Both U.S. matches will take place at Orjans Vall Stadium in Halmstad, which is located on the southwest coast of Sweden about 90 miles south of Gothenburg. Sweden and Japan will meet on June 20 at Stadium Rambergsvallen in Gothenburg.

"All games are important and playing against two of the top teams in the world is the absolute best preparation for the Olympics," said Sundhage. "We are of course very familiar with both Sweden and Japan, but we are always excited about the different challenges those teams present. Being in Sweden during the summer and playing in a venue that will be used for the European Championships will create a great soccer atmosphere for our team."

The Sweden Invitational will be a dress rehearsal of sorts for the 2013 European Women's Championship to be played in Sweden.

U.S. Schedule:
May 27 USA vs. China in Chester, Pa.
June 30 USA vs. Canada in Sandy, Utah
June 16 Sweden vs. USA in Halmstad
June 18 USA vs. Japan in Halmstad