Canberra is a long way from the US state of Virginia; 15,765 kilometres, to be exact.
Born and raised in America, Chantel Jones never thought she would live in Australia - nevermind play football here.
"Sometimes I wake up and I'm like, 'holy cow, I live in Australia', it's so strange," Jones, who now plays for Canberra United in the W-League, told SBS News. 
Like so many of her fellow Americans, Jones's dream of becoming a professional footballer started after the USA won the FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil in 1999.
Chantel Jones played goalkeeper for the USA at youth level. Source: Adrian Arciuli
“I was 11 and I remember sitting in the living room with my whole family ... We had pots and pans out and when they won, we just went outside and were banging them.”
“I said 'that’s what I want to do, that’s my goal'. I didn’t quite achieve it, I came pretty close but I’m really satisfied with my career.”
Jones quickly became one of the best young goalkeepers in her country and represented the USA at Under-17, 20 and 23 levels. She attended the University of Virginia and kept a record 47 clean sheets during her four-year career with the Cavaliers.
Football experts point to America’s college system as the reason why it continues to develop some of the world’s best female football players.
“From age 18 to 22, you’re training every day,” Jones said.
“You have strength programs, you play in competitions all year which I think helps us ... We get stronger, we get fitter, faster.”
“America has always prided itself on being fit and dominant physically.”
Gender pay dispute
The USA are favourites to win this year's Women's World Cup in France. It would be their fourth title but holds extra significance this time around, following the team's attempts to sue the sport's national body this year.
Twenty-eight members of the team, including star midfielder Megan Rapinoe, filed a lawsuit against the organisation on International Women’s Day in March.
They are seeking equal pay to their male counterparts and say they had been victims of institutionalised gender discrimination for years.
Playing for the men's national team can earn a player about US$13,000 each game, while the women take home a maximum of US$5,000 per game, the lawsuit claimed.
USA star players Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe. Source: Getty Images
While US$4 million will go to the winning team at the Women's World Cup this year, France, the winners of the 2018 men's tournament, received US$38 million.
Jones says the gender pay gap is a problem across her home country.
“It’s been hard for women to be seen as equal.”
“It’s something that we fight for in the workforce, in sport, and not just in football, but every aspect of sport.”
US Soccer denied the discrimination claims in May and the players have committed to continuing the fight for equality after the tournament.
Megan Rapinoe in action against New Zealand in May. Source: Getty Images
“It’s really nice to see the girls sticking up for it and not just being silent,” Jones said.
“I hope they can get a result and with everything they’re going through, they deserve it.”
“They deserve to be compensated at the same level as the men.”
Following her college career, Jones came to Australia in 2013 to play in the W-League.
After a season with Perth Glory, she joined Canberra United in 2014 - when her life would change forever.
Jones met her wife Grace Gill, a star player for Canberra United at the time, at a noodle house in the city.
Grace Gill and Chantel Jones at Deakin Stadium in Canberra. Source: Adrian Arciuli
“She walked through the door and I know it sounds cheesy to say it was love at first sight,” Jones said laughing.
“I looked up and said, 'holy crap, who is that?' And I couldn’t look at her for the rest of dinner ... I was so embarrassed and shy.”
The American and Australian pair soon became teammates and soulmates.
“I guess worlds collided,” Gill said.
They made key contributions as Canberra United won the W-League title before Gill retired in 2015. She proposed to Grace four days after moving to Australia.
The USA and Australia have developed a strong rivalry in women’s football over the past decade.
The couple at their wedding. Source: Supplied
In 2017, at the 27th attempt, the Matildas finally beat the USA.
Jones jokingly says that match didn’t matter, but don’t tell that to an Australian.
Watching the Matildas has become a challenge for Jones.
“The longer I’ve been here, and having been able to get to know some of the Australian players, it’s been a lot harder,” she said.
“I want them to do well and I want them to win, but when they play America, I’m a bit torn.”
And, she admits, she’ll support Australia if they progress further in the tournament then the USA.
The USA kicks off its campaign against Thailand on the 12 June.
The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup takes place in France, 7 June-7 July.
Read more news from the and see the rest of the stories in the .
SBS will offer all Matildas matches, the opening game, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final live, free and in HD. All SBS games will also be live streamed on website and app.
