LONDON — Both the U.S. men's and women's national soccer teams are in Europe for year-ending friendlies, separated this week by some 400 miles and a striking gulf in their global place.
While the men continue to operate without a permanent coach in the wake of failing to qualify for the World Cup a year ago, the top-ranked women have launched a seven-month run to defend their world championship in France next summer.
It's never fair to compare the programs – men's and women's soccer around the world varies in development, emphasis and history – but at no time in the past 30 years have the premier American teams sat in such divergent stages.