U.S. WNT to Face Germany on May 22 at Cleveland Browns Stadium

The U.S. Women's National Team will face Germany on May 22 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, as the world’s top two women’s soccer nations meet on American soil for the first time since the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The game in Cleveland is the second match of a home-and-home series between the two international powers. In the first contest, played Oct. 29, 2009, in Augsburg, Germany, Abby Wambach's goal gave the Americans a narrow 1-0 victory in front of an enthusiastic German crowd. The two teams also recently met in the championship game of the Algarve Cup in Portugal with the USA coming away with a 3-2 victory.

Germany and the USA have combined to win four of the five FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments contested so far. Germany will host the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup from June 26 through July 17 in nine German cities.

“It’s rare for the Women's National Team to play in Ohio so it will be special to return to my home state,” said U.S. defender Heather Mitts. “It’s always fun when a player gets to represent the national team especially close to home and to do it against a great team like Germany is even better. We’ve played two amazing games against them over the past few months and we’re all looking forward to another one in May. I know a lot of people will come out to support us and they are going to see a very entertaining, attacking game.”

The match will mark the 27th meeting between the two countries (counting two games against the former West Germany) with the USA having won 18, lost four and tied four. The world’s two most successful women’s soccer nations have met in several epic matches in U.S. history, including a 5-2 U.S. win in the semifinal of the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a 3-2 U.S. win in the quarterfinal of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup and a 3-0 Germany win in the semifinal of the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Germany boasts tremendous depth and some of the world’s top players, including team captain Birgit Prinz, who has scored 126 career international goals, and forward Inka Grings, who scored seven goals at the recently completed Algarve Cup. The USA is currently first in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings while Germany is second.