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The 2019 Women's World Cup is a year away, but it seems closer for U.S. coach Jill Ellis

MOSCOW — Jill Ellis’ World Cup is another summer away, her calendar packed with training camps, tournaments and roster decisions. The thought of being in France for the women’s version of soccer’s global championship — one that her top-ranked U.S. national team will seek to defend — has seemed a thousand years away.

But upon visiting the Russian capital this week as part of a brief promotional visit arranged by Fox Sports, the Americans’ head coach took in the World Cup spirit that will resurface on a smaller scale in 2019.

“It’s been so far on the horizon, now it starts to come into focus,” she said.