USA Women's Squad Announced: Powerhouses Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan Gear Up for Title Defence in Women's World Cup
Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan headline the USA Women's squad for the upcoming Women's World Cup Talented youngster Alyssa Thompson joins the star-studded roster as they aim for a historic third consecutive title The tournament kicks off on July 20
Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan will be participating in their fourth Women's World Cup, along with several new additions, as announced by USA head coach Vlatko Andonovski. The team comprises a diverse range of players, spanning nearly two decades in age. From 18-year-old forward Alyssa Thompson to 37-year-old Rapinoe, they will be competing in the tournament set to commence on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
Thompson, a standout rookie for Angel City in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) this season, was summoned to join the team in early April to replace the injured forward Mallory Swanson. Swanson is just one of several crucial players who will be absent from the USA's World Cup squad as they strive for a third consecutive tournament victory.
Becky Sauerbrunn, Catarina Macario - who tore her ACL last year while playing for Lyon - and midfielder Sam Mewis are all sidelined.
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Key defender Naomi Girma secures her place in the team after making a remarkable entrance onto the scene last year. Additionally, there is an unexpected inclusion of uncapped midfielder Savannah DeMelo.
In the forward positions, Andonovski shows his trust in NWSL's MVP Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, and the experienced 33-year-old Morgan.
Andonovski expressed his anticipation for the World Cup, stating that the level of play is expected to reach new heights. He emphasized the need for all teams to keep up with this growth. Having closely observed the evolution of the game over the years, he finds it thrilling to witness its trajectory. As one of the teams that have been at the forefront of women's international soccer, he takes pride in their contributions. Andonovski is confident that the tournament will once again showcase the immense talent and greatness of the players across all 32 teams.
The USA's full squad
Goalkeepers: Aubrey Kingsbury of the Washington Spirit, Casey Murphy of the North Carolina Courage, and Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars.Defenders: Alana Cook of OL Reign, Crystal Dunn of Portland Thorns FC, Emily Fox of the North Carolina Courage, Naomi Girma of San Diego Wave FC, Sofia Huerta of OL Reign, Kelley O'Hara of NJ/NY Gotham FC, and Emily Sonnett of OL Reign.
Midfielders: Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC), Julie Ertz (Angel City FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyonnais, FRA), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), and Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit).
Forwards: Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), and Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC).
What is the World Cup schedule?
The group stage of the competition is set to commence on July 20 and will span a duration of two weeks, culminating on August 3. During this phase, the teams that top their respective groups, as well as the runners-up, will advance to the round of 16, which is scheduled to take place from August 5 to August 8.Following the group stage, the quarter-finals are slated to be held in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney on August 11 and 12.
The first semi-final is scheduled for August 15 in Auckland, while the other semi-final will be held on August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney. The final will then take place at the same stadium on August 20. Additionally, a third-place play-off is set to be played on August 19 in Brisbane, a day prior to the final.
