USWNT Game At Rio Tinto Stadium Canceled Over Coronavirus Concerns

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A friendly soccer match between the United States Women’s National Team and Australia that was scheduled to take place at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah has been canceled over coronavirus concerns.

The match between the USWNT and Australia was originally scheduled to be played at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah on Friday, April 10.

U.S. Soccer announced the cancellation of the match on Thursday, March 12.

Due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic across the world, U.S. Soccer has canceled the upcoming #USMNT & #USWNT games in March & April, and the majority of #USYNT and Extended National Team matches and camps that were planned through the end of April.

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) March 12, 2020

In addition to the match on April 10, the USWNT’s match against Brazil scheduled for April 14 in San Jose, California was also canceled.

The United States Soccer Federation also canceled matches for the U.S. men’s soccer team due to coronavirus concerns.

Information on ticket refunds can be found below.

U.S. Soccer has issued refund information for the canceled April friendlies. pic.twitter.com/Rvni0dbREa

— The American Outlaws (@AmericanOutlaws) March 12, 2020

USWNT

The USWNT recently defeated Japan to win the SheBelieves Cup.

A soccer summit for the SheBelieves Cup that was scheduled for Saturday, March 14 was canceled on Thursday, March 12.

U.S. Soccer will continue to monitor the situation and consult with experts as we consider options for holding the SheBelieves Summit at a later date should conditions allow for a safe opportunity to do so.

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) March 12, 2020

The USWNT last visited Salt Lake City in the summer of 2018 following their 1-0 victory over China PR. In total, however, they have played five matches at Rio Tinto Stadium and are yet to be beaten, outscoring their opponents 16-1.

Utah Royals FC has a trio of national team members that, depending on final roster decisions, will hopefully be able to play in front of their home crowd. Kelley O’Hara and Christen Press, who have not played at Rio Tinto Stadium since the conclusion of the 2019 National Women’s Soccer League season on October 12, has scored a combined eight goals and four assists on the pitch at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Coronavirus Resources

Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.

What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy

What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus

Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered

The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found here.

Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC does not recommend wearing a facemask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.