U.S., Sweden again grouped for World Cup

PARIS — The defending champion United States is grouped with Sweden again for the Women’s World Cup next summer in France.

The draw, which determined the group stage for the 24 teams set to play in soccer’s premier tournament, was held Saturday at a gala event in Paris amid a backdrop of unrest in the country.

Host France will open the World Cup on June 7 with a match against South Korea in Paris.

The Americans defeated Japan 5-2 — highlighted by Carli Lloyd’s hat trick — in Canada in 2015. The U.S. has played in every World Cup since the competition started in 1991, winning the inaugural event and also in 1999.

The No. 1-ranked U.S. team landed in the same group with Sweden for the fifth straight World Cup and the sixth time overall. Also in Group F are Thailand and Chile, which is making its World Cup debut.

The United States will open the tournament against Thailand in Reims on June 11.

Sweden, ranked No. 9 in the world in the latest FIFA rankings, will face the U.S. on June 20 in Le Havre. It will be the final group match for both teams.

“This is the first time for me (against the U.S.) but I know about the history, tough games during many years. We feel that we have a chance and that’s the most important thing,” said coach Peter Gerhardsson.

The game will be a rematch of the Olympic quarterfinal in Brazil, where Sweden advanced on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Afterward, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo famously called the Swedes “cowards” for bunkering on defense.

“It’s a good draw for us, it pits against a couple of teams we’re not that familiar with, which I like and then obviously Sweden. I like having Sweden in the third game because it allows us to settle into the tournament,” said U.S. coach Jill Ellis, who was in Paris for the draw.

The pots for the draw were based on the world ranking, except that No. 3 France, as host, was atop the first pot, followed by the top-ranked U.S., Germany, England, Canada and Australia. The updated FIFA rankings were released Friday.

France has gone 7-1-2 this year, with the loss coming against England in the SheBelieves Cup in the United States. This will be the fourth World Cup for Les Bleues.

England, ranked No. 4 in the world, drew a difficult group that includes No. 8 Japan and Scotland. England was the surprise third-place finisher in Canada. The Lionesses have gone 7-2-3 this year.

Also drawing a tough group was No. 6 Australia, which is joined by No. 10 Brazil and superstar Marta, who will be playing in her fifth World Cup.

It will be the seventh World Cup for the Matildas, who went 7-4-6 this year.

The groups that will play next year in France are:

Group A: France, South Korea, Norway, Nigeria.

Group B: Germany, China, Spain, South Africa.

Group C: Australia, Italy, Brazil, Jamaica.

Group D: England, Scotland, Argentina, Japan.

Group E: Canada, Cameroon, New Zealand, Netherlands.

Group F: United States, Thailand, Chile, Sweden.