If you are a fan of the United States womens national team who slept through the 2:30 a.m. ET drawfor the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup from New Zealand, either by choice or by accident, do not feel guilty. It was the smart play. Any hours you can bank Roy Lopez Jersey between now and July can only help.In some ways, the schedule of games in Australia and New Zealand presented to the USWNT might be tougher on their fans than on the players pursuing the unprecedented distinction of three consecutive world championships. Depending on your timezone, youll need to get up early or stay up late to see whether Megan Rapinoe can reach a fourth final and raise the trophy a third time.If the No. 1-ranked USWNT can win their group which they have for seven of the eight World Cups staged they will find nearly all the most significant challengers to the crown in the opposite side of the bracket. The Americans would not have to face world No. 3 Germany, No. 4 England or No. 5 France unle s they reach the final.No. 6 Spain, which defeated the Americans in a friendly earlier this month, would not be an opponent until the semifinals if the U.S. takes care of busine s in Group E. The same is true of Sweden, Anthony Miller Jersey whose 3-0 victory in last summers Olympics was the most one-sided result to go against the USWNT in recent memory.MORE: This will not be like 2019, when the U.S. had to survive a gauntlet of Spain, France, England and the Netherlands in the knockout rounds. Only Spain was not ranked in the top 5 at the time.With a first-place group finish, the U.S. could be looking at a Round of 16 game against No. 14 Italy, a quarterfinal with No. 11 Japan, then the challenges that would be expected in the semis and final.The decision to place the tournament in Australia and New Zealand is logical given the absence, previously, of a senior-level FIFA event in the Oceania region.When the 2000 Olympics were in Sydney, though, organizers managed to make the occasion somewhat friendly to American television audiences. Not this time. At least not with every match. The group games in New Zealand were a signed start times of 9 p.m. ET, 3 a.m. ET, and 3:30 a.m. ET.Group Ematch scheduleDateMatchTime (Local)Time (ET)CitySat, July Reggie Robinson II Jersey 22USA vs. Vietnam13:0021:00(July 21)Auckland (NZL)Sun, July 23Netherlandsvs. PlayoffWinner19:3003:30Dunedin (NZL)Thu, July 27USA vs. Netherlands13:0021:00(July 26)Wellington (NZL)Thu, July 27Playoff Winner vs. Vietnam19:3003:30Hamilton (NZL)Tue, Aug. 1Playoff Winner vs. USA19:0003:00Auckland (NZL)Tue, Aug. 1Vietnam vs. Netherlands19:0003:00Dunedin (NZL)MORE: While the USWNT could see its first two knockout round matches kick off at 9 p.m. ET should it finish first in the group and advance, the semis will kick off at 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. ET and the final at 6 a.m. ET. If the USWNT finished second, it'd be early morning start times in the USA for any and every knockout match.Staging the World Cup in two countries also contributed to the one notable element of danger in what otherwise was a fortunate draw for the USWNT, who will face the Netherlands, Vietnam, and a playoff winner among Cameroon, Portugal and Thailand in Group E.Because world No. 22 New Zealand was elevated to Pot 1 as co-host, the No. 8-ranked Netherlands wound up in Pot 2. And thats the team that emerged to be placed with the U.S.The two teams played in the final of the 2019 Womens World Cup, a game won 2-0 by the Americans. They also met in the 2021 Olympic Games, which the U.S. won in a penalty shootout. Their Ka'imi Fairbairn Jersey game July 27 at Wellington Regional Stadium in New Zealand will kick off at 1 p.m. local time, which with the time difference makes for 9 p.m. ET on July 26 in the USA.I think its going to be a challenge, USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski told Fox Sports. Its two quality teams playing against each other. Its going to be a good game."It is not just getting ready for the tournament, it is getting ready for the actual opponents." speaks with head coach Vlatko Andonovski after the FIFA Women's World Cup draw FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) The Netherlands were a top-3 team and European champion when they faced the U.S. in the 2019 final, but this has been a challenging year for the Oranje. They fell 1-0 to France in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Euros, and that might have been one of the better performances by a team now struggling to defend against top opposition. France beat the Dutch 3-1 in a February tournament. England beat them 5-1 in a pre-Euro friendly. Norway shut out them out 2-0 in their most recent game, earlier this month.The Netherlands record in all games this year is 9W-4L-2D, with no wins in six tries Sam Cooper Jersey against top-20 opposition.MORE: Neither has it been an extraordinary year for the USWNT, as Andonovski attempted to revamp the attack around young stars Sophia Smith and Mallory Pugh while lacking the programs most exciting talent, injured Catarina Macario, and important veterans Sam Mewis (injury), Crystal Dunn and Julie Ertz (pregnancy).They won 13 of their first 14 games, but came against top opposition.They since lost consecutive road games against England and Spain that were impacted by the absences of striker Alex Morgan and Pugh. Theyll try to do better in two games against Germany next month. Those games will be in the early evening for American viewers. Dont get used to it.