U.S. women's soccer match is one more local net gain

A 2006 photo with soccer legend Abby Wambach is Simone Kolander's memento from the last time the U.S. women's national team visited Minnesota.

The team's return started Friday with a training session at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium before an audience of Kolander and many Gophers teammates. Now a senior and the reigning Big Ten forward of the year, Kolander felt as giddy as her 11-year-old self did a decade ago. Though she joked she has grown taller than the 5-11 Wambach.

Minnesota's soccer profile has grown as well.

The national team announced that more than 20,000 tickets have been sold for an exhibition match against Switzerland on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. That breaks the record of 15,614 set in 2001 at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

The women's match is the latest in a string of local high-profile soccer events this year.

In June, Minnesota United FC defeated Club Leon in the first soccer match at Target Field, drawing an announced crowd of 18,505. Soccer christened U.S. Bank Stadium two months later as a sellout crowd announced at 64,101 watched Chelsea defeat AC Milan in the International Champions Cup. The stage shifted to St. Paul later in August as Minnesota United FC confirmed its move to Major League Soccer in 2017 with plans for a new soccer stadium the following year.

"This is such a huge sports market, and it's really exciting to have the national team come here and then to get a new MLS team," Kolander said. "It does a lot for soccer."

National team veteran Carli Lloyd, one of Kolander's favorite players, shared her excitement. The national team's focus is building a roster to defend its World Cup title in 2019. But Lloyd, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion, and her 23 teammates are glad to help maintain soccer's momentum in the Twin Cities.

"To draw 20,000 for a lunchtime game is pretty spectacular," Lloyd said. "We go to some markets where you would think that we would draw a large crowd and we don't. Then you come to a place like this and it seems like a real hotbed for soccer so that's great. It's great to have a MLS team coming in. Maybe we'll get a women's team out here eventually."

Lloyd played for the national team on its last visit in July 2006, when the U.S. beat Sweden 3-2 in stifling 95-degree heat at the National Sports Center Stadium.

"All the games start to run together, but I will never forget that game," said Lloyd, 2015 FIFA Player of the Year who plays for the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League. "It was an oven."

Extreme playing conditions won't exist inside U.S. Bank Stadium, but the match will be memorable just the same. Lloyd drove by the $1.1 billion stadium Friday morning and came away impressed.

"It looks unbelievable," she said. "I'm looking forward to playing inside."

The expected turnout for Sunday's match also drew Minnesota United FC striker Christian Ramirez's admiration. The Loons won't return in time from their match in North Carolina to attend, but Ramirez knows the importance of another high-profile soccer event.

"It'll be a great atmosphere and more proof of soccer succeeding in Minnesota," Ramirez said.

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574