U.S. women have tough first-round draw

CARSON, Calif. (AP) -- The defending World Cup champion United States will face Sweden, North Korea and Nigeria in the tournament's toughest first-round group.
"It's going to be a fight every single game," U.S. star Mia Hamm said. "To be the best you have to play the best and we understand that."
The United States found out its schedule during Thursday's draw at the new Home Depot Center, site of the championship final Oct. 12.
The Americans play their first game in Group A on Sept. 21 against Sweden in Washington, play Nigeria four days later in Philadelphia and play North Korea on Sept. 28 in Columbus.
Sweden, ranked fifth in the world, is the top non-seeded team in the 16-nation tournament, which opens Sept. 20.
North Korea, at a political standoff with the United States over the Asian nation's nuclear weapons programs, is ranked seventh, and Nigeria 23rd.