The United States, the current champions, is one of the favourites to win. But who will be on the team for the World Cup with USWNT Coach Vlatko Andonovski? The U.S. women’s national team will attempt to become the first team in history to win a third straight Women’s World Cup championship this summer. Women Football World Cup fans can buy USA vs Vietnam Tickets from our website.
The global champion has not had it easy recently, as losses to England, Spain, and Germany in the final months of 2022 demonstrate the expansion of women’s football in Europe. Nevertheless, despite recent struggles, this is still a talented team, and head coach Vlatko Andonovski will face high expectations at his maiden World Cup competition struggle.
Who will he put his faith in to perform admirably on the international stage and manage the strain of competing for the USWNT?
Let’s take a closer look at the 23 players on Andonovski’s World Cup roster.
GOALKEEPERS
The goalkeepers are anticipated to be this roster’s most predictable position. The trio that Andonovski has chosen for the USWNT’s previous four camps includes Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy, and Adrianna Franch, with Naeher probably being the No. 1 pick.
Bella Bixby (uncapped) and Aubrey Kingsbury (one cap) were both called up in 2022, but it now seems doubtful that either will force their way into the World Cup roster.
| Name | Club |
| Bella Bixby | Portland Thorns |
| Adrianna Franch | Kansas City Current |
| Aubrey Kingsbury | Washington Spirit |
| Casey Murphy | North Carolina Courage |
| Alyssa Naeher | Chicago Red Stars |
DEFENDERS
There will undoubtedly be a major figure left off this roster given the calibre and experience the USWNT’s defence options possess. Alana Cook, Naomi Girma, and Becky Sauerbrunn seem like lock-ins, and Emily Fox and Sofia Huerta also secured regular starting positions in the run-up to the World Cup. Another person who is quite likely to join the roster is Crystal Dunn. That’s already six names.
Who will Andonovski choose next?
Tierna Davidson, who returned from an ACL injury in March, provides excellent coverage for both the full-back and centre-back positions. As for Emily Sonnett, who made her first appearance in six months following an injury during the USWNT’s January camp.
Andonovski has also had a look at Hailie Mace, Carson Pickett, and Imani Dorsey, with Casey Krueger joining the team again in April after giving birth to her first child last year.
When choosing the 23 players he will take to Australia and New Zealand, one of Andonovski’s biggest responsibilities will be choosing a balanced group of defenders and making sure there is talent and coverage in all areas.
| Name | Club |
| Alana Cook | OL Reign |
| Tierna Davidson | Chicago Red Stars |
| Imani Dorsey | Gotham |
| Crystal Dunn | Portland Thorns |
| Emily Fox | North Carolina Courage |
| Naomi Girma | San Diego Wave |
| Sofia Huerta | OL Reign |
| Casey Krueger | Chicago Red Stars |
| Hailie Mace | Kansas City Current |
| Kelley O’Hara | Gotham |
| Carson Pickett | Racing Louisville |
| Becky Sauerbrunn | Portland Thorns |
| Emily Sonnett | OL Reign |
MIDFIELDERS
There are several uncertainties regarding the USWNT’s midfield, especially its backbone. After the 2021 Summer Olympics, Julie Ertz took some time off to give birth to her first child. Andonovski had a hard time casting a replacement for her in her absence. Women Football World Cup fans can buy Portugal vs USA Tickets from our website.
Sam Coffey, who seems to be the ideal candidate for the position, didn’t get any playing time despite Rose Lavelle’s success in a deeper position versus New Zealand in January. While many people think Coffey should be on the World Cup squad, it appears that Andonovski has other plans.
He is now testing Taylor Kornieck as a No. 6 and also has Andi Sullivan as a capable replacement there. Then, in April, Andonovski called up Ertz to his team despite the fact that she had not yet returned to the pitch. Her return is significant, and it undoubtedly alters predictions about the midfielders who will be selected.
She demonstrated against Ireland that she can play very much like her former self, but can she be ready in time to make the World Cup roster?
Lavelle and Lindsey Horan from Lyon will undoubtedly be travelling to Australia and New Zealand. Ashley Sanchez also seems to have cemented her place in the coach’s ideas.
USA Women Football World Cup Players
Catarina Macario, one of this team’s most crucial players, is currently in the last phases of her recuperation from an ACL injury. One would assume she would also have a ticket if all went well upon her return. While Kristie Mewis had a great chance to shine at the SheBelieves Cup and stake her claim, Jaelin Howell still has a remote possibility of making the roster.
| Name | Club |
| Sam Coffey | Portland Thorns |
| Julie Ertz | Unattached |
| Lindsey Horan | Lyon |
| Jaelin Howell | Racing Louisville |
| Taylor Kornieck | San Diego Wave |
| Rose Lavelle | OL Reign |
| Catarina Macario | Lyon |
| Kristie Mewis | Gotham |
| Ashley Sanchez | Washington Spirit |
| Andi Sullivan | Washington Spirit |
FORWARDS
The USWNT currently possesses an absurd amount of depth in the forward areas. Sophia Smith, the youngest MVP in the history of the NWSL, had one of the best years in football in 2022. At the age of 33, Alex Morgan became the first player to ever win the NWSL Golden Boot by scoring more league goals than any other player.
Ashley Hatch and Mallory Swanson (née Pugh), who started 2023 in unbelievably fantastic condition, were fifth and sixth in those scoring standings, respectively. But against Ireland, tragedy struck as Swanson was hoisted off with a knee injury. Her chances of playing in the World Cup will most likely be dashed, depriving the Americans of their best striker.
In Swanson’s absence, Trinity Rodman, one of the most promising young players in international football, might be given more responsibility. Or maybe Andonovski will start to use someone with more expertise, like Megan Rapinoe, more frequently as a result.
SWNT Coach Vlatko Andonovski
The coach’s selection dilemma will have only gotten worse with Lynn Williams’ comeback in January because both she and Midge Purce made an impression on the coach enough to keep their spots on the team for the SheBelieves Cup.
Alyssa Thompson, a talented young performer who made her debut in October, isn’t even mentioned yet. She wasn’t initially on Andonovski’s roster for April, but he said he expected her to “make a case” for the World Cup team. She was brought in to replace Swanson after her injury and made her NWSL debut in March with a sensational goal.
The most likely candidates to be added to the roster for this summer are Smith, Rapinoe, and Morgan, with Andonovski expected to make some really difficult decisions regarding the other players.
| Name | Club |
| Ashley Hatch | Washington Spirit |
| Alex Morgan | San Diego Wave |
| Midge Purce | Gotham |
| Megan Rapinoe | OL Reign |
| Trinity Rodman | Washington Spirit |
| Sophia Smith | Portland Thorns |
| Alyssa Thompson | Angel City |
| Lynn Williams | Gotham |
PREDICTED XI
The USWNT will continue to play in a 4-3-3 formation, with Naeher probably taking the starting position in goal. Girma, Sauerbrunn, and Cook are competing for the two centre-back positions, with Cook perhaps missing out on a spot in the starting lineup.
When it comes to the outside backs, there are three guys battling for two positions once more. Fox might defeat Huerta on the other flank while Dunn ought to start on the left.
The USWNT’s best possibilities for a midfield three would be Lavelle, Horan, and Macario, albeit that relies on the latter’s fitness. The forward line, where Smith will play, Rodman will start on the left, and Morgan will lead, is perhaps the most difficult to predict from the right possibility.
USWNT XI (4-3-3): Naeher; Fox, Girma, Sauerbrunn, Dunn; Horan, Lavelle, Macario; Smith, Morgan, Rodman.
IMPORTANT ABSENTEES
The most glaring absence of all is Swanson, who has emerged as the USWNT’s more dependable goal scorer to begin 2023. She is the most recent celebrity to have her World Cup aspirations dashed by injury problems, and her World Cup is probably certainly done.
Abby Dahlkemper, a defender, underwent surgery in November, and while she has since offered a favourable report, there is no estimated time for when she will return to the field of play.
There is also no word on when Tobin Heath will resume performing. She had knee surgery in September after returning to the United States to join OL Reign after an injury-riddled time with Arsenal.
Christen Press, who has been sidelined since June 2022 due to an ACL injury, is also affected. “1 knee. a year. 3 operations. My special voyage,” Press stated in a March 1, 2023 statement on Instagram.
“Continuous hope and unwavering optimism. Small wins. giving up.”
Since August 2021, Sam Mewis has not played for club or country. The midfielder underwent a second operation in January 2023 to address a knee issue.
“This has been a really difficult time for me personally, and I’ve been devastated to be away from football for so long,”
Upon giving the update, she said. No timetable has been given for her return.
| Name | Club | Reason |
| Abby Dahlkemper | San Diego Wave | Injury |
| Tobin Heath | OL Reign | Injury |
| Sam Mewis | Kansas City Current | Injury |
| Christen Press | Angel City | Injury |
| Mallory Swanson | Chicago Red Stars | Injury |
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