CHICAGO (Nov. 27, 2012) – Sam Gordon, the nine-year-old football player and YouTube sensation, and Julie Johnston (Mesa, Arizona), the captain of the U.S. team that won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup this past September in Japan, will both be at the USA’s training session at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. PT. It will be the USA’s only practice session in Arizona before facing Ireland on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. MT. Gordon, Johnston and the U.S. Women’s National Team will be available to the media following the conclusion of training.
Star striker Abby Wambach, inspired by Sam’s exploits on the football field playing against boys, reached out with the invitation for Sam to attend training and the USA’s match against Ireland on Dec. 1 and offered to fly her and her dad to Arizona. Sam, who is from outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, is also a soccer player for USA Utah Soccer Alliance, and soccer is her favorite sport.
Johnston, who attended Dobson High School in Mesa and who plays at Santa Clara University, played a major role in the USA’s U-20 Women’s World Cup triumph. She marshaled the USA’s back line to knockout round victories against North Korea (2-1) in the quarterfinal, Nigeria (2-0) in the semifinal and Germany (1-0) in the final.
At age 20 Johnston is already one of the most accomplished female youth players ever from Arizona, was awarded the Bronze Ball as the third-best player in the tournament, a rare honor for a defender. She has also been nominated for the 2012 Young Female Athlete of the Year Award, U.S. Soccer’s highest honor for a Youth National Team player, Johnston will also flip the coin before the USA-Ireland match on Dec. 1.
