US women to face Brazil, Japan in April

The U.S. Women's soccer team will play in Japan against the host country and against Brazil in April.

The games will be April 1 against the World Cup champion Japanese at Sendai, and April 3 against the Brazilians in Chiba in the new Women's Kirin Challenge Cup.

Japan will face Brazil on April 5 in Kobe.

U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, who led the Americans to second place in last year's World Cup, says ''playing two of the world's best teams almost back to back will be a tremendous challenge for our entire roster.''

Before that trip, the Americans will play in the Algarve Cup in Portugal, an event the United States has won eight times.