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England women to play USWNT at Wembley in October

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The England women's team will face the United States women's national team at Wembley on Oct. 7, the FA announced on Tuesday.

The match is subject to the Euro 2022 champions securing qualification for the 2023 Women's World Cup in their next batch of games in September. The Lionesses are five points clear at the top of Group D in the qualifiers, with a trip to second-placed Austria and a meeting with Luxembourg in Stoke to follow.

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If they secure qualification, the Lionesses will have a box-office match against the reigning World Cup holders in what will be their first meeting at Wembley, the ground where England secured their historic Euros triumph on Sunday, beating Germany 2-1.

"It is really exciting to have the chance to play the U.S. at Wembley if we can make sure of qualification for the World Cup," England manager Sarina Wiegman said. "It would be the perfect game for our squad to meet another strong team after so many tough games in the Euros. It is good we enjoy the moment we are in after this wonderful summer, but we know we still have to work to do to take the next step forward.

"As a team, we take nothing for granted with our goal of reaching the World Cup, and whoever we play at home in October it will be special to have another Wembley fixture. After the positive experiences we have had this summer, it will be great to welcome as many fans as possible so that we can say thanks again for their incredible support."

Meanwhile U.S. women's national team coach Vlatko Andonovski said: "To get a chance to play the European champions in London at Wembley is an opportunity that doesn't come around very often, so we're all thankful that the match could be arranged, and we'll be hoping that England finish their qualifying campaign in September.

"This is exactly the kind of match we need at exactly the right time in our World Cup preparations so we can test ourselves against a very talented England team. I saw England play live at the Euros, and I'm looking forward to an amazing atmosphere at Wembley and another big event for women's soccer on Oct. 7."

It will be England's first meeting with the USWNT since the group stages of the SheBelieves Cup back in March 2020. Phil Neville was manager of the team then, and he oversaw a 2-0 defeat with Christen Press and Carli Lloyd both scoring.

England are unbeaten under Wiegman since she took charge of the team in September 2021. That run of form included their historic triumph in Euro 2022, which they secured on Sunday thanks to goals from Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly.