USA vs Vietnam LIVE: Women’s World Cup updates and latest score

Close Teary eyed teammates pay tribute to Rapinoe The United States begin the defence of their Women’s World Cup crown as the four-time champions play Vietnam in Auckland tonight. The USA are aiming to become the first team to win the World Cup three times in a row, with stars such as Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe returning from their victory in France four years ago. The defending champions are favourites to retain their title but they will face competition from the top European sides, such as England and Germany, who are confident they have closed the gap. The stage is set for the next generation to shine, such as star forward Sophia Smith, who is one of 14 players in the squad who are making their first appearance at the World Cup finals. The USA also have a new head coach from four years ago, with Vlatko Andonovski taking over from Jill Ellis, who led the team to titles in 2015 and 2019. Follow live updates as the USA begin their Women’s World Cup campaign. USA begin World Cup campaign against Vietnam (Kick-off 9pm ET, 2am BST) Defending champions are aiming to win their third World Cup in a row Megan Rapinoe is playing in her last World Cup before retirement USA are joined by Netherlands, Portugal and Vietnam in World Cup Group E 1689980880 The United States kick off their World Cup campaign against Vietnam on Saturday in a tournament that will prove the ultimate test of head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s tenure. The Americans enjoyed tremendous success under previous manager Jill Ellis, who led the team to their third and fourth titles in 2015 and 2019. She may prove a tough act to follow. No country has ever won three straight World Cups but U.S. fans will accept nothing less from the world’s top-ranked side. ‘When I took this job four years ago, it wasn’t unknown what the expectations are,’ said Andonovski, who accepted the post months after the U.S. beat the Netherlands in the 2019 final. ‘I was very well aware of it and I was aware of the pressure of the job and I embraced it and it helped me. It helped me in the preparation because the pressure turned into excitement.’ Jamie Braidwood 22 July 2023 00:08 1689980460 If you’ve won the past two World Cups, it seems fair to go into the next tournament with confidence. Naturally, the USA are comfortable in such a position. ‘Good luck with that,’ Alex Morgan says in a pre-World Cup advert which centres around the topic of ‘how the rest of the world can stop the USA’. The four-time champions head into Australia and New Zealand on a high having formally signed their historic equal pay agreement last year – they filed their discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer before the previous World Cup in 2019. On the pitch, for the past eight years they’ve been the best, and they know it. But for how much longer? That will really be the defining question of this World Cup. Group E preview: The defending champions are trying to become the first team in history to win three World Cups in a row, but has Europe caught up? Jamie Braidwood 22 July 2023 00:01 1689980100 The United States begin the defence of their Women’s World Cup crown as the four-time champions play Vietnam in Auckland tonight. The USA are aiming to become the first team to win the World Cup three times in a row, with stars such as Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe returning from their victory in France four years ago. The defending champions are favourites to retain their title but they will face competition from the top European sides, such as England and Germany, who are confident they have closed the gap. The stage is set for the next generation to shine, such as star forward Sophia Smith, who is one of 14 players in the squad who are making their first appearance at the World Cup finals. The USA also have a new head coach from four years ago, with Vlatko Andonovski taking over from Jill Ellis, who led the team to titles in 2015 and 2019. Follow live updates as the USA begin their Women’s World Cup campaign. Jack Rathborn 21 July 2023 23:55 1689943364 Follow all the latest as USA begin their World Cup campaign in New Zealand. Lawrence Ostlere 21 July 2023 13:42