Wales’ women lined up to face World Cup holders USA in glamour friendly

WALES’ women side are set to play a glamour friendly against the USA before the World Cup.

Gemma Grainger’s Dragons have been lined up to travel Stateside and face the World Cup holders, who will defend their title in Australia and New Zealand this summer.

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SunSport understands a verbal agreement for the mouth-watering warm-up fixture, likely to be in June, has been reached but contracts have not yet been signed off.

But Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney confirmed the friendly publicly during a visit to London earlier this month.

Mooney attended a number of functions during the Wales Week in London event including a St David’s Day dinner in front of 500 guests at the Guildhall.

USA faced Euro champions England last October, losing the friendly 2-1 at a sell-out Wembley.

The fixture was viewed as a huge success for women’s football.

USA will also host Republic of Ireland, who have qualified for the global finals which will kick-off Down Under on July 20, twice for friendly matches in April.

Wales did not reach the World Cup after losing to Switzerland in the playoffs last October.

Grainger’s side beat Bosnia and then came close to reaching a first major tournament.

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But Wales suffered heartbreak when Swiss substitute Fabienne Humm scored a winner as the second half of extra time moved into stoppage time.

The Dragons have USA-based Jess Fishlock in their ranks.

The 36-year-old midfielder, who is Wales’ most-capped female player with 134 caps, plays for OL Reign in Seattle.