Michigan Women's Soccer: Scandinavian Tour
Daily Travel Blog
Michigan women's soccer is set to depart on a 10-day international trip with stops in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden. The team will play international matches against Brøndby IF (May 8) in Denmark and Hammarby Fotboll (May 12) in Stockholm. Between games, the Wolverines will attend two professional Swedish matches while mixing in training sessions, sightseeing, and more exciting excursions. Stay tuned to MGoBlue.com, @UMichWSoccer on Instagram and X, and follow Michigan Women's Soccer on Facebook for behind-the-scenes content of the Scandinavian tour.
DAY 9: The sadness of the team’s final day in Stockholm was eased by a three-hour spa session at Centralbadet. The student-athletes enjoyed a variety of Swedish saunas and cold tubs, plus an authentic Roman bath experience that saw multiple pools in the three-story spa.
Lunch in the city held the travel party over during a trip to the Vasa Museum on the island of Djurgården. The exhibit featured the nearly intact Vasa ship, the pride and joy of 17th-century Sweden. The Wolverines also toured the Swedish royal palace after watching the elaborate changing of the guards ceremony outside the residence.
The trip was wrapped up with a three-course farewell dinner at Hotorget Kvarterskrog, featuring breaded veal schnitzel with sauerkraut and pan fried potatoes.
Being a part of this international trip has allowed Team 32 to experience different cultures and explore the world while creating new memories and connections with one another. It’s been a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we will never forget!Jenna Lang
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DAY 8: The second game day of the trip began with a boat tour through the canals and rivers that line the islands of Stockholm. A buffet lunch offered multiple authentic Swedish dishes to fuel up for the match, and by 3 p.m., the travel party was en route to Hammarby for their last match of the Scandinavian Tour.
The Wolverines conceded early to the talented club, which is currently ranked first in the Damallsvenskan, the highest level of professional women’s soccer in Sweden. But Elle Ervin pulled Michigan even when Sam Supplee found her streaking into the box.
Ervin’s impressive touch sneaked by the keeper, and after a dance party with Beanie Hershe, the score was knotted at one. Despite standout play and constant pressure from U-M, the Maize and Blue would fall to Hammarby in a fiercely contested battle.
The remainder of the day was given as free time as the travel party continued exploring the city and soaking up the remaining time in Sweden’s capital.
We are very happy with our game versus Hammarby. They were a fantastic team and excellent hosts. Such a great opportunity for our team to not only play but compete with them. It was a high level and the game presented many scenarios for us to challenge and express ourselves both in and out of possession. Overall, this was an experience that has brought our team and program closer together and we are so thankful for it.Jennifer Klein
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DAY 7: Ocean-side training at the Bosön Riksidrottsförbundets Idrottsinstitut kicked off Day 7 as the team prepared for a Monday matchup with Hammarby Fotboll. After showering up post-practice, the Wolverines boarded a bus to Strawberry Arena, where the AIK men faced off against Mjällby AIF in a fiercely contested first-place battle.
In front of more than 20,000 fans, AIK thrilled the home crowd with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory. The electric atmosphere featured flares, smoke grenades, and nonstop chanting, as the loyal AIK supporters never sat down throughout the entire match.
Back in central Stockholm, the travel party used some free time to explore Old Town before heading to a team dinner at Bistro Bestick. The group enjoyed a beautifully prepared sirloin steak with parsley root and pickled red endive topped with a spiced marrow crust before calling it a night.
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DAY 5-6: On the team’s final day in Denmark, the morning began with a canal-side recovery workout and a cold plunge in the 42-degree water of Copenhagen. The travel party checked out of the hotel and hopped on a bus to enjoy the rest of the afternoon exploring the city before a tour of the Roseburg Castle.
Before leaving Denmark, the team ran into some aspiring American soccer players in the Copenhagen airport. Then it was time to board the plane and head over the Baltic Sea as the Wolverines traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, where they will spend the final five days of the trip.
A walking tour through the Old Town of Stockholm kicked off day one, showcasing the rich history of the Swedish capital. The travel party then ventured out to Solna, Stockholm, to watch the AIK women take down Hammarby Fotboll in an intense 1-0 match.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent exploring the streets of Stockholm before regrouping at the Grodan Kungila Operan, where the team enjoyed authentic Swedish meatballs to cap off day one in Stockholm.
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DAY 4: The first game day of the Scandinavian Tour kicked off with an early morning boat tour through the canals of Copenhagen. The guided tour offered a different point of view from the bike tour the day before, this time providing wider views of the city from the water.
A pregame buffet meal was served in the stunning Tivoli Hotel before the team departed for the match with Brøndby IF.
Playing on the home pitch of the current third-place team in the Denmark Elite Division, Michigan played to a scoreless draw in an intense, physical match. An evenly played first half gave way to an explosive second half of action where the Wolverines upped the intensity on defense.
The stellar backline play for U-M created numerous chances on the offensive end, but a handful of stout saves and a few shots just off target kept the contest scoreless for the full 90 minutes. A postgame social with the Brøndby IF side allowed both teams to swap stories and form new relationships over a catered dinner in the club’s cafeteria.
First, we want to thank Bronby IF for their hospitality. They have been incredible hosts and have helped make our experience in Denmark unforgettable. We are pleased with the game. It was a great opportunity for our team to play against a great international opponent. The level was high, and I thought we handled the shift in momentum well. We created some quality chances and defended well.”Jennifer Klein
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DAY 3: The first full day abroad started with a Denmark breakfast buffet, featuring ice-cold Dennish milk, pear and banana yogurt, traditional pastries, an assortment of cheeses and largely untouched pickled herring.
After getting all fueled up, the Wolverines hit the streets for a bike tour of the city. Some quick bounces on the streetside trampolines gave way into some scenic views of the canal. The squad stopped in the King’s Garden to enjoy a beautiful sunny day before pedaling into Amalienborg Palace, home of the Danish royal family.
The loop finished past the Danish stock exchange and some additional stunning neighborhoods. Back on the bus, the travel party headed for Brøndby IF for a training session on the pitch of Gjensidige Kvindeliga, the highest league of professional women’s soccer in Denmark.
The rest of the afternoon was spent roaming the city in a bit of free time before dinner, which consisted of fried crabcakes, baked salmon with a dill-butter sauce, and a special Danish desert: chocolate teacakes.
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DAYS 1-2: The Michigan women’s soccer team departed for its Scandinavian Tour on Monday (May 5), with a red eye flight from Detroit to Amsterdam. After a brief layover, the Wolverines landed in Copenhagen, Denmark, and spent some time traveling through the capital city with their tour guide, Thomas.
The first stop of the trip was Parken Stadium, home of F.C. København. The behind-the-scenes tour gave the Wolverines field-level access as they walked the length of the Superliga Championship pitch. A pitstop on the visitor’s bench, a walk to suite-level VIP seating, and a walk up to the iconic perched patio offered incredible views of the 38,065-seat stadium.
The hour-long tour concluded in the home locker room, and day one wrapped up with a welcome dinner at the hotel featuring celery carpaccio, baked chicken and deconstructed strawberry lemon cake for dessert.
A little @nike gear haul before we head to Sweden on Monday ?? pic.twitter.com/B5WD1fC873
— Michigan Women’s Soccer (@umichwsoccer) May 3, 2025
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