CHICAGO (May 10, 2024) – Continuing in its mission to celebrate soccer in all of its forms, U.S. Soccer has announced the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team will face Australia, in a match presented by Volkswagen, in the first game of a historic doubleheader with the U.S. Women’s National Team on June 1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. Adding to this historic event, the three-time World Deaf Football champions’ match against Australia will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. ET / noon MT on truTV and Max, marking the first time one of the Federation's nine Extended National Teams will play on television in a U.S. Soccer-controlled match, while Volkswagen's title sponsorship is the first time an ENT match has had a presenting partner.
Following USA-Australia, the four-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion USWNT will face Korea Republic at 5 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. MT (TNT, truTV, Universo, Max and Peacock).
Fans with tickets to USA-Korea Republic will be able to attend both matches, with gates opening at 11 a.m. MT. Limited tickets remain for the first-of-its-kind doubleheader and can be purchased via ussoccer.com/tickets.
“The U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team is honored to take part in this historic doubleheader with the U.S. Women’s National Team and I know all the players are excited to participate in this unique event,” said Deaf WNT head coach Amy Griffin, a member of the USA’s 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions. “Along with a legacy of international success, our team serves as an inspiration for deaf and hard of hearing players and is a catalyst for growth in those communities. This doubleheader and the broadcast of our game marks a huge step forward for the Extended National Teams program and will magnify what success looks like when more opportunities and access are provided to everyone.”
“All of us at Volkswagen are beyond excited and proud of U.S. Soccer for this historic programming decision,” said Rachael Zaluzec, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience & Brand Marketing for Volkswagen of America. “As ‘the people’s car', it is paramount we pursue inclusivity for all people, and it thrills us to see our partner share the value. Providing this visibility for the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team furthers the message that there is a place on the pitch for everyone who wants to be there.”
Just as the USWNT has set the standard of success for international women’s soccer, the U.S. Deaf WNT has been a dominant force in the deaf game, winning three DIFA World Deaf Football Championships and four Deaflympics, while compiling a remarkable 37-0-1 international record since beginning play in 2005. The team is coached by Griffin (née Allmann), who earned 24 caps for the USWNT, while two-time Women’s World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Joy Fawcett, who played 241 times for the USWNT, serves as an assistant coach.
Set to train in Commerce City in the week leading up to the match, this will mark the Deaf WNT’s first camp since winning the 2023 World Deaf Football Championships in Malaysia last October and will serve as preparation for the 2024 Deaf Pan American Games to be held Nov. 7-18 in Canoas, Brazil.
The game against Australia will also mark the Deaf WNT’s first-ever full international match on U.S. soil.
Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer has been the official governing body of the sport in the United States for more than 100 years. As U.S. Soccer looks toward the future amid an unprecedented moment of opportunity, it has aligned its efforts around five strategic pillars: Grow the game by increasing youth and adult participation and accessibility to the sport; Foster best playing environments through quality of referees and coaches, and commitment to participant safety; Develop winning teams through solidified pathways and success of professional leagues; Grow the soccer economy to fuel reinvestment by increasing membership, fandom and commercial success; and Create a world-class organization through revitalized structure and culture, best-in-class talent, progress in DEIB, and more. For more information, visit ussoccer.com/ourvision.