The United States was placed in Group B and will play Sweden, North Korea and Nigeria. Sweden was second at the 2003 World Cup and is ranked fourth by FIFA. North Korea is ranked fifth in the world.

"It presents an incredible challenge to this team," Ryan said. "... I think it’s here where you say, ‘OK, look, everything that you could have go against you in this draw did, so you will have to play every game like an elimination game, even the first game. If you lose the first one, you are in trouble to get through the group.’ So it’s an incredible challenge to this team. Let’s take that challenge and go out and prove to the rest of the world that we can get this done."

The United States also played Sweden, North Korea and Nigeria in the group stage in 2003. The U.S. plays its first game of the 2007 World Cup on Sept. 11 against North Korea. The Americans then play Sweden on Sept. 14 and Nigeria on Sept 18.

"(The draw) is certainly going to give us added focus once we get to the World Cup," Ryan said. "There won't be any easy games. Every game is going to require great focus and intensity to get the results we want."

The United States won the World Cup in 1991 and 1999 and finished third in 1995 and 2003. The Americans lost to eventual champions Norway and Germany in the semifinals 1995 and 2003, respectively.

Germany is in Group A with Japan, England and Argentina. Norway is in Group C with Ghana, Australia and Canada. Host China, New Zealand, Brazil and Denmark are in Group D.

The Americans can advance by finishing first or second in Group B. Should the U.S. advance, it will face a team from Group A in the first round of the knockout stage.

The tournament takes place in China from Sept. 10-30.