Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan were both named to the FIFA Women’s World Cup roster for the fourth time on Wednesday.

U.S. women’s national team coach Vlatko Andonovski revealed his 23-member roster for this summer’s tournament taking place in Australia and New Zealand. It includes six forwards, seven midfielders, seven defenders and three goalkeepers.

Including Rapinoe and Morgan, the group includes nine players who helped Team USA win the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France. Rapinoe and Morgan also won the 2015 World Cup together in Canada and finished runner-up to Japan at the 2011 edition in Germany.

“The task of selecting a World Cup team is never easy, but I’m proud of the players for their work ethic and focus during the process and of our coaching staff for doing the work to put together the best team possible,” Andonovski said. “It’s the players that make the biggest impact on our environment; they push each other to be better, and I know as a group they are extremely motivated to make our country proud at the World Cup.

“Every player has a different journey to get to this point, so our roster has some amazing stories, and we have a really good mix of veterans and younger players.”

Rapinoe, who turns 38 on July 5, is the oldest player on the roster. Alyssa Thompson, 19, is the youngest.

Rapinoe’s next match will mark her 200th cap with the Stars and Stripes. She sustained a leg injury during NWSL play earlier this month that had threatened her status for the World Cup.

The two-time defending champions will be without captain Becky Sauerbrunn and fellow veterans Sam Mewis and Catarina Macario due to injuries.

The expanded 32-team tournament opens on July 20. The USWNT is in Group E with the Netherlands, Portugal and Vietnam.

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden and entertainers Taylor Swift and Megan Thee Stallion were among a star-studded cast who helped to announce the USWNT lineup on social media.

Full U.S. Women’s National Team roster by position (club; caps/goals):

GOALKEEPERS (3): Aubrey Kingsbury* (Washington Spirit; 1), Casey Murphy* (North Carolina Courage; 14), Alyssa Naeher*** (Chicago Red Stars; 90)

DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook* (OL Reign; 24/1), Crystal Dunn** (Portland Thorns FC; 131/24), Emily Fox* (North Carolina Courage; 28/1), Naomi Girma* (San Diego Wave FC; 15/0), Sofia Huerta* (OL Reign; 29/0), Kelley O’Hara**** (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 157/3), Emily Sonnett** (OL Reign; 74/1)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Savannah DeMelo* (Racing Louisville FC; 0/0), Julie Ertz*** (Angel City FC; 118/20), Lindsey Horan** (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 128/27), Rose Lavelle** (OL Reign; 88/24), Kristie Mewis* (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 51/7), Ashley Sanchez* (Washington Spirit; 24/3), Andi Sullivan* (Washington Spirit; 44/3)

FORWARDS (6): Alex Morgan**** (San Diego Wave FC; 206/121), Megan Rapinoe**** (OL Reign; 199/63), Trinity Rodman* (Washington Spirit; 17/2), Sophia Smith* (Portland Thorns FC; 29/12), Alyssa Thompson* (Angel City FC; 3/0), Lynn Williams* (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 52/15)

* — First Women’s World Cup
** — Second Women’s World Cup
*** — Third Women’s World Cup
**** — Fourth Women’s World Cup

–Field Level Media