The U.S. womenÆs national team kicks off 2003 with a friendly against Japan on Sunday:

4 pm ET, Torero Stadium in San Diego, live on ESPN.

The USA is preparing to defend its World Cup title in China (Sept. 23-Oct. 11), for which it qualified while winning last yearÆs Gold Cup. Japan is preparing for AsiaÆs World Cup qualifying tournament in April.

Against the Japanese, Coach April HeinrichsÆ squad will be aiming to extend its 16-game home unbeaten streak. Its last defeat on home soil was a 3-1 loss to Canada on Nov. 11, 2000.

The USA is unbeaten against Japan in 14 games since their first encounter in 1986. The Americans won the first 13 games before tying, 1-1, in 2000.

U.S. WOMENÆS SCHEDULE

Jan. 12 USA vs. Japan Torero Stadium in San Diego, Calif.

Jan. 23 USA vs. Norway Zhejiang Province, China

Jan. 26 USA vs. Germany Wuhan, China

Jan. 29 USA vs. China Shanghai, China

Feb. 16 USA vs. Iceland Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C.