体坛英语新闻：US women's soccer team to launch 10-game, 10-city warmup tour in buildup to World Cup

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- The US Soccer Association Thursday announced a 10-game, 10-city warmup tour ahead of next summer's FIFA Women's World Cup to be held in France.

The team will fly to Europe to take on France on Jan. 19 and Spain on Jan. 22 respectively, before playing eight matches in the United States. Their rivals also feature top teams including Japan, England, Brazil and Australia.

"This schedule checks a lot of important boxes in our preparation for the World Cup. We'll get to experience a variety of teams in regard to their strengths and styles of play and almost all of them will be in their World Cup preparation as well. We are playing tough games in Europe, which is vitally important, and also get to play in front of our home fans at venues all across the USA. It will go fast, but these games will be a major factor in pushing us to be at our peak once we arrive in France next summer," said US coach Jill Ellis.

The defending champions will learn their group opponents and schedule for the 2019 World Cup on Dec. 8 when the final draw is held in Paris.