Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are expected to depart for the USA on Saturday (10 August 2024) where they will take part – for the first time ever – in the Women’s Cup. The games will be played in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Brazilians completed their preparations with a 1-0 win over Gaborone United from Botswana in Pretoria on Wednesday afternoon (7 August 2024).
The visitors were using the match to prepare for the tough CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier which will take place in Malawi from 15 – 25 this month.
Sundowns Ladies will open their Women’s Cup account on 14 August against hosts Kansas City Current at the iconic Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stadium, otherwise known as the CPKC Stadium – the first ever venue purpose-built exclusively for a professional women’s team.
In the other match-up, INAC Kobe (Japan) will face Athlético de Madrid.
The winners from both games will meet in the final on 17 August.
Sundowns Ladies are first ever team from the African continent to be invited to the tournament.
Meanwhile Chilean side Colo-Colo Femenino became the first foreign team to arrive for the second edition of the 2024 Women’s Cup, which will take place in Louisville, Kentucky from Friday, 9 August. The tournament marks its first return to USA soil since 2022 after being staged in Madrid, Spain in 2023 as well as in Cali, Colombia earlier this year.
Colo Colo are set to face Italian giants Juventus while hosts Racing Louisville take on Brazil’s Palmeiras at the Lynn Family Stadium – the home of Racing Louisville.
In a groundbreaking announcement, the Women’s Cup has teamed up with Join the Planet and will award the Player of the Match in all the games with a trophy co-designed with Leo Messi.
“Each trophy is not just a symbol of excellence but a beacon of sustainability,” said the organisers in a statement.
The teams will also use a special ball for the competition with the organisers unveiling the official match ball for the 2024 tournament, named Senda.
History of the Women’s Cup:
2021
The Women’s Cup has grown in leaps and bounds since inception in 2021 when only one tournament was played at the Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, USA. In that year, the competition featured hosts Racing Louisville, Chicago Red Stars (USA), Paris Saint Germain (France) and FC Bayern Munich (Germany). The home team defeated the Germans 7-6 on penalties after a 2-2 stalemate.
2022
The following year it was held at the same venue and expanded to six teams – four international sides Tottenham Hotspur (England), AC Milan (Italy), Club America (Mexico) and Tokyo Verdi Beleza (Japan) as well two NWSL clubs – OL Reign and Racing Louisville. The latter two met in the final with OL Reign lifting the trophy following a 2-1 victory.
2023
In 2023, for the first time ever the Women’s Cup was held outside the USA – taken to Madrid in Spain and returned to its four team format. Featured in the European debut were host Athlético de Madrid, AC Milan (Italy), America de Cali (Colombia) and River Plate (Argentina). Athlético took gold as they overcame 2022 bronze medal winners, AC Milan 1-0, while America de Cali finished third.
2024
Earlier this year the Women’s Cup Global Series broke new ground as they made their debut in South America, with the competition played in Cali, Colombia. It was also history in the making for North American teams as they travelled for the first time to the host continent.
The guests proved too strong for the home teams as NJ/NY Gotham FC lifted the trophy after beating Racing Louisville 3-1, with America de Cali picking up bronze from the tournament ahead of bitter rivals Deportivo Cali.
How to watch from around the world:
South Africa: SABC
USA: VIZIO WatchFree+, channel 1301
MENA: SSC
Europe: DAZN / www.thewomenscup.tv
Rest of the World: www.thewomenscup.tv
By Matlhomola Morake
