Holders US may run into France
England, Scotland, Japan to meet in same group at women’s World Cup as Paris stages draw
England and Scotland will meet each other in their opening game at the 2019 women’s World Cup in France after being placed in the same group in Saturday’s draw alongside former winners Japan as well as Argentina.
The ceremony at La Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, just outside Paris, also set reigning champions the United States up for a clash with Thailand to begin their defence of the title.
Meanwhile, hosts France were given a meeting with South Korea in the opening game of the 24-team tournament at the Parc des Princes in Paris on June 7 as Les Bleues hope to match their male counterparts, who won this year’s World Cup in Russia.
The final will be played on July ■ 9 in Lyon, the 58,000-seat stadium in the city that is home to the Champions League holders.
For England, the draw cohosted by their former star Alex Scott handed them the tantalising prospect of an opening game in Group D against old rivals Scotland in Nice on June 9.
They also met in their opening group game at Euro 2017 in the Netherlands, with England romping to a 6-0 victory on their way to a semi-final defeat at the hands of the hosts.
The USA have won three of the previous seven tournaments and will fancy their chances of going all the way again, even if they could meet France in the last eight.