After a record-breaking performance by the USWNT in its World Cup opener against Thailand on June 11, the USA will now take on Chile in its second match of Group F play on Sunday, June 16 at 12 p.m. ET on FOX and Telemundo. The two nations met in back-to-back friendly games in 2018 with the USA winning both matches.
Here are five things to know about Chile.
GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Christiane Endler (Paris Saint Germain, France), 12-Natalia Campos (Universidad Catholica), 23-Ryan Torrero (unattached)
DEFENDERS (8): 2-Rocio Soto (Zaragoza, Spain), 3-Carla Guerrero (Rayo Vallecano, Spain), 4-Francisca Lara (Sevilla FC, Spain), 5-Valentina Diaz (Colo Colo), 15-Su Helen Galaz (Zaragoza, Spain), 16-Fernanda Pinilla (Cordoba, Spain), 17-Javiera Toro Santiago Morning), 18-Camila Saez (Rayo Vallecano, Spain)
MIDFIELDERS (7): 6-Claudia Soto (Santos, Brazil), 8-Karen Araya (Sevilla, Spain), 10-Yanara Aedo (Valencia (Spain), 11-Yesenia López (Sporting Huelva, Spain), 14-Daniela Pardo (Unión La Calera), 21-Rosario Balmaceda (Colo Colo), 22-Elisa Duran (Colo Colo)
FORWARDS (5): 7-Maria José Rojas (SK Slavia Praha, Czechia), 9-Maria Urrutia (3B da Amazônia), 13-Javiera Grez (Curicó Unido), 19-Yessenia Huenteo (Cáceres, Spain), 20-Daniela Zamora (U. de Chile).
One of La Roja Femenina’s most important players is 27-year-old goalkeeper and captain Christiane Endler. Endler appeared in goal for the Chile National Team for the first time at age 15. She played collegiate soccer in the United States at South Florida and currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain in France. The six-footer has an impressive presence in the nets and holds 67 international caps, the most on Chile’s roster.
Additionally, midfielder Yanara Aedo was responsible for three of the thirteen goals Chile scored in seven matches at South American qualifying helping them earn a berth to France.
The United States and Chile faced each other for the first time in the fall of 2018, paying back-to-back international friendlies on Aug. 31 and Sept. 4. The USA came out on top in the first match with goals from Tierna Davidson and Christen Press, both of whom are a part of the 2019 World Cup roster. Endler made numerous world class saves and Chile scored an own goal for the final 3-0 score line.
The second game played out in a similar manner with a final score of 4-0 favoring the USA while Endler was once again in top form. While Chile put together a few dangerous attacks, U.S. goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris didn’t let anything past her and the USA goals came courtesy of Mallory Pugh and Tobin Health in the first half, while Carli Lloyd netted a brace to close out the match.
Chile is making its FIFA Women’s World Cup debut at the senior level this year in France. Chile turned heads with its second-place finish behind Brazil at the 2018 Copa América Femenina, which it hosted last April, to earn its first ticket to a World Cup. La Roja Femenina fell to Sweden 2-0 in its first game of group play on June 11 with two late goals from the Europeans.
Chile is among three other nations, Jamaica, Scotland and South Africa, that earned their way to the world stage for the first time this year.
Chile had the benefit of hosting the 2018 Copa América Femenina and in the preliminary stage, finished second in Group A behind Colombia to qualify for the four-team Final Stage. Chile lost to Brazil to open round-robin play and was put into a tough position after tying with Colombia. However, Chile pulled off a 4-0 victory over Argentina in front of a Raucous home crowd, sending them to France this summer. Chile’s only defeat of the tournament came at the feet of Brazil.
Chile’s head coach, José Letelier, was appointed in June 2015 to lead the march to the World Cup. He played for Colo Colo in the 1980s and 1990s as a goalkeeper. Letelier won the Copa Libertadores championship in 1991. As for his coaching career, he managed the Colo Colo Femenino, winning 10 national titles and a Copa Libertadores Femenina in 2012.