The first passage of positive attacking play from England and Karen Carney appears to stumble uncomfortably on the ball. She was limping away after it went out for a throw but she recovers to play a cross into the back of Ali Krieger. Jill Scott blazes one way, way over.

Patient play from USA before Laura Bassett shanks a clearance behind for a corner, which is driven in low. The ball works its way out wide where Alex Scott wins it back for England. But again it's given away and USA build. All the early going with the visitors.

Early pressure for the away side as first a hopeful ball is hit long before a wayward cross flies across the England penalty area.

We are under way at Stadium MK. The brass band is in.

Image source, @mkdonsfc

MK Dons on Twitter:, external Here come the teams.

For England it's all arms across the backs and some pretty dodgy singing indeed. A little bit late in getting under way here then.

For the US anthem all the players turn 180 degrees to face the flag. Not many singing the words though...

David Owen:, external Come on England, good performance tonight to set things up the World Cup please and raise the profile of the women's game again.

Get in touch using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, text us on 8111 (UK only), or drop us a line on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+ page., external

The players are in the tunnel getting ready to come out onto the pitch. From behind the two ranks you can just see the green of the turf - a slither. All chatter and conversation stops as the atmosphere builds...

Image source, Getty Images

England and Manchester City women's captain Stephanie Houghton believes "a lot of people would be open" to the men's and women's World Cup tournaments being staged together.

In an interview for Canada Calling, a monthly sports programme on the BBC World Service, Houghton adds: "If you're talking about exposure there'll be no better way than to join them both together."

The second Canada Calling show is on Sunday from 18:30 GMT on Sportsworld on the BBC World Service.

What do you make of the idea? Get in touch using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, text us on 8111 (UK only), or drop us a line on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+ page., external

United States head coach Jillian Ellis, speaking to BBC Sport: "England are a very organised team now and they have a great balance. They are in the top six or eight in the world. We want a response and this is very important for us in our preparations for the build up to the World Cup. Ultimately it is all about June."

Crowds are starting to gather in the stands and there's quite a few USA supporters too.

Under 10 minutes to go before kick-off - the pictures at the top of this screen should get going just before.

Image source, Empics

Former England women's captain Faye White on the return of Katie Chapman after a four-year absence: "It is a long time out of international football but I played with Katie at Arsenal and England and she was one of our most consistent international performers through the tournaments back in 2009, in the Euros when we got to the final and also in 2011.

"She's one of the stewards really of the women's game who's a midfield general so she'll have an older head for some of the younger girls coming in."

Emma Lucy Whitney:, external Really looking forward to the game. Beating the US would be a great confidence boost for England before the World Cup.

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Tony Leighton
Women's football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"Chelsea midfielder Katie Chapman is in line to win her 83rd cap after a break that began just before England's last meeting with America, a 2-1 home win in April 2011.

"That was the first time in nine attempts that England had beaten the USA, who were then the world's top-ranked team but are now second behind Germany.

"A run of poor form has seen them win only one and lose two of their last five games, the most recent of them a 2-0 defeat by France on Sunday."

Chapman has been named on the England bench for the game against USA.

Read more from Tony here.

Image source, Empics

So USA, ranked second in the world, are quite good at football then. But England goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain says her side will not be overawed tonight.

"Women's soccer is huge there and they are massive stars - bigger stars than the men's players," she said.

"Their high profile makes it a bigger occasion. But when you're in the tunnel and it's 11 players stood next to 11 players, it's just about how you go out there and get the job done, regardless of the name on the back of the shirt.

"It's a huge game for Milton Keynes, a huge game for England and a huge game for women's football."

Ohigho Musa:, external Come on ladies, don't disappoint me! Don't want a repeat of the Germany game please.

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Image source, Getty Images

Since their final qualifying win over Montenegro, England have played just the once - the 3-0 friendly defeat against Germany at Wembley that drew a record crowd of 45,619.

Between now and and the opening match of their World Cup campaign against France on 9 June, Mark Sampson's side will also compete in the Cyprus Cup - an invitational tournament they've won twice before, in 2009 and 2013.

Last year the Lionesses just lost out to France in the final, and this year they start off in the group stage against Finland, Australia and Netherlands.

Colombia and Mexico are the other teams in England's World Cup group. And don't forget - BBC Sport will be bringing you every game from the tournament.

Image source, @ussocer_wnt

US Soccer Women's National Team, external on Twitter: "The USWNT has arrived at stadiumMK. The players got a look at the pitch on a cold and rainy night north of London."

Image source, Getty Images

Goalscorers don't come much more prolific than USA forward Abby Wambach. The 34-year-old has scored a record 177 international goals in 233 games, won the Ballon d'Or in 2012 and was nominated for the award again this year.

Definitely one to watch for the England defenders tonight (as if they didn't know already)...