Jill Ellis will coach the U.S. against France and Spain this month. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

CHICAGO – U.S. women’s national head coach Jill Ellis Friday named a 26-player roster for the January training camp that will be held for the first time in Europe.

The camp will be followed by the USA’s first two matches of the year, against France Jan. 19 (2:30 p.m. ET on FS1) and against Spain Jan. 22 (2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 & UDN).

“It’s a real positive to start the year with this training period in Portugal and then play two top teams in France and Spain away,” Ellis said. “Finding ways to be successful against European teams in Europe is something every team in the World Cup will have to do to advance deep into the tournament, so this is an essential trip in our prep for the summer.”

The USA will spend just over a week in southern Portugal, which marks the team’s return to the Algarve region, a yearly destination for the USA over 20 Algarve Cup tournaments between 1994 and 2015, before traveling to France to face the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup hosts at Stade Océane in Le Havre, one of nine World Cup venues and the site of the USA’s third Women’s World Cup Group F match on June 20 against Sweden.

The USA will then travel to Spain to face the rising the European power which will compete in its second Women’s World Cup this summer. The match at Estadio José Rico Perez in Alicante will mark the USA’s first match against Spain and in Spain.

“We are fortunate to have solid depth in numbers for this pre-camp, because having the ability to train against ourselves is a vital part of our preparation,” added Ellis. “Inviting seven central midfielders and seven forwards for three starting positions each, speaks to the depth and competitiveness of the front six. We recognize that we have formally entered a World Cup year and I know the players’ focus and enthusiasm will reflect the importance of the work we have to do in January.”

U.S. WNT Roster by Position – January Camp 2019 (Caps/Goals):

GOALKEEPERS (4): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 3/0), Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 19/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 38/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage; 30/0), Tierna Davidson (Stanford; 12/1), Crystal Dunn (NC Courage; 75/24), Emily Fox (UNC; 2/0), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC; 112/2), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 149/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 27/0), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 26/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars; 81/6), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars; 2/0), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 73/18), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 62/7), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 20/6), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage; 41/8), McCall Zerboni (NC Courage; 7/0)

FORWARDS (7): Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 142/25), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 265/105), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage; 3/1), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride;153/98), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 106/46), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 43/12), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC; 145/41)

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.