World Cup champion women set soccer schedule

By The Associated Press

First the Victory Tour, now the Great Soccer Exhibition Tour for the U.S. women's World Cup champions.

Stars Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain and Julie Foudy, along with the rest of the team, will regroup in October for a three-month indoor soccer exhibition tour, it was announced Tuesday.

The team will compete against a world all-star team in 11 matches starting Oct. 22 in Pittsburgh and ending Dec. 12 in Tacoma, Wash.

Lee Berke, a vice president with the sports marketing firm SFX Sports Group, which helped organize the tour, said it will allow the players to earn money from soccer, stay close to their fans and demonstrate the viability of a professional league.

He said a number of sponsors, including beverage, financial services and packaged goods companies, have expressed interest in the tour. He said talks are under way about producing a TV special during the tour.

The U.S. players' plans, though, conflict with recently announced plans by the U.S. Soccer Federation to send the women's team on a tour of South Africa, Egypt and Australia from late October through December.

The issue is expected to be discussed next week when the players meet with the USSF to negotiate a new labor agreement.

The Washington Post reported that each player is guaranteed $41,250 for playing in the 11 games, with the possibility of earning more if other games are added.

In addition to Pittsburgh and Tacoma, the team will make stops in Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Washington, Raleigh, N.C., San Jose, Calif., and Anaheim, Calif.

The U.S. team captured the World Cup with a 5-4 penalty-kicks victory over China in the title game at the Rose Bowl.