England and Scotland have been drawn in the same group for the 2019 Fifa World Cup in France next summer.
Also in Group D are heavyweights Japan, who finished runners-up in 2015 after defeating England in the semi-finals, as well as Argentina.
England will face Scotland on 9 June in Nice in their first match of the tournament as they aim to better bronze in Canada three years ago. For Scotland, it will be their first World Cup match in history.
England and Scotland last met in the European Championships in 2017 where they were also drawn together in the group stage, however, the match resulted in a one-sided drubbing in favour of the Lionesses who stormed to a 6-0 victory.
“It’s a fine looking group we’ve got,” England manager Phil Neville said. ”We’ve got three teams that will compete against each other in a fabulous way.
“I think the Scotland game will get the most interest – and rightly so – because of the rivalry, which I think is something we all should enjoy and embrace. It shows how far the women’s game has come.”
Scotland and Manchester City defender Jen Beattie told BBC Two: “I think it just probably adds to the excitement even more now that we know who’s in our group. England again in the opening game of the tournament, only our second tournament ever.”
Defending champions USA who defeated Japan 5-2 in the final in 2015 received a favourable draw, pitted against Thailand, tournament debutants Chile and 2016 Olympic runners-up Sweden.
Hosts France will face South Korea, Nigeria and Norway, who will be without Ballon D’Or winner Ada Hegerberg as she remains on indefinite leave from international duty because of ‘fundamental’ discontent with Norway’s football federation.
The tournament will feature 52 matches over a month period beginning in Paris on 7 June, with the final played in Lyon on 7 July. Fifa announced that over 200,000 tickets have already been sold for the event and are hoping to breach the billion viewer mark next summer.
