National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side Gotham FC will play Chelsea Women in a friendly at the Red Bull Arena, New Jersey on August 19.
The match pits the holders of the NWSL against the Women’s Super League (WSL) champions Chelsea, who secured their fifth successive title on Saturday with a six-goal victory at Manchester United on Saturday.
It will be a summer of change at Chelsea with USWNT-bound Emma Hayes leaving her position as manager after 12 years in the role. The Athletic has reported that Chelsea have offered a contract to Lyon head coach Sonia Bompastor to replace Hayes.
The friendly announcement follows on from goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger — who has twice finished third in The Best FIFA Goalkeeper award and spent six seasons at Chelsea — joining Gotham from Chelsea earlier this year.
Gotham won their first NWSL title last year but are currently seventh in the 2024 table, with 15 points from their opening nine league matches.
The friendly will be during Gotham’s league campaign and will continue Chelsea’s preparations for the 2024-25 season, with the WSL due to get underway on the weekend of September 21-22.
(Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)
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