Preview | USA v WNT
Ireland have played the USA more than any other opponent, with 13 different meetings stretching back to 1999. Now this will be the first of two games in the second international window of the year as they will meet again in St. Louis on Tuesday, April 11.
Match Details
International Friendly
USA v Republic of Ireland
Saturday, April 8
KO 19:30 (Irish Time) / 13:30 (CT), 14:30 (ET)
Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
LIVE on RTÉ2
Match Officials
Referee: Carly Shaw MacLaren (CAN)
Assistant Referee: Melissa Snedden (CAN)
Assistant Referee: Gabrielle Lemieux (CAN)
Fourth Official: Jasmine Peralta (USA)
Team News
All players are available for selection, including the uncapped quartet of Sophie Whitehouse, Tara O’Hanlon, Sinead Farrelly and Alannah McEvoy.
Manager Quotes – Vera Pauw
“We are looking forward to this game against the World No 1 as it presents us with a fantastic opportunity to test ourselves against a quality opponent who will put us under the type of pressure that we will experience at the World Cup.
“We know how good the USA are with so many world class players and an excellent coach, but we will focus on what we can take from these two games – starting on Saturday in Austin. It is a challenge that we are ready to embrace, even if we remain realistic about how difficult it will be.
“These two games are part of our preparations for the World Cup and we will feel that playing against strong opposition will ultimately benefit us as we need to keep improving and be ready for what is to come.”
Notes
- Ireland are currently on a record unbeaten run of nine games – recording eight clean sheets in the process
- This will be the 14th meeting between United States and Ireland, with the last game taking place on August 4, 2019 in California
- Denise O’Sullivan will lead the team out as captain on what will be her 100th senior appearance – bringing her into the Centurion Club alongside Emma Byrne, Áine O’Gorman, Niamh Fahey, Ciara Grant and Louise Quinn
- Two players in the Ireland squad made their senior debuts against USA – Ciara Grant on November 28, 2012 in Portland, Oregon and Megan Connolly on January 23, 2016 in San Diego
- Four players in the Ireland squad were born in the United States (Courtney Brosnan, Sinead Farrelly, Kyra Carusa, Marissa Sheva), while Sophie Whitehouse has US citizenship
- Eleven players in the Ireland squad attended college in the United States (Courtney Brosnan, Sophie Whitehouse, Diane Caldwell, Hayley Nolan, Megan Connolly, Jamie Finn, Roma McLaughlin, Sinead Farrelly, Heather Payne, Kyra Carusa, Marissa Sheva)
- Twelve players in the Ireland squad previously played against USA (Harriet Scott, Diane Caldwell, Louise Quinn, Claire O’Riordan, Áine O’Gorman, Ruesha Littlejohn, Katie McCabe, Denise O’Sullivan, Megan Connolly, Ciara Grant, Heather Payne, Amber Barrett)
- This is the third of six preparation games for Ireland ahead of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 having already beaten Morocco last November and drew with China PR in February
- Midifelder Denise O’Sullivan will wear a rainbow captain’s armband to showcase the team’s support for LGBT awareness
Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Jessie Stapleton (Shelbourne), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Claire O’Riordan (Celtic), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Tara O’Hanlon (Peamount United), Áine O’Gorman (Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Roma McLaughlin (Fortuna Hjorring), Sinead Farrelly (NJ/NY Gotham)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers), Amber Barrett (Potsdam Turbine), Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit), Alannah McEvoy (Shamrock Rovers)
Ireland WNT Player Stats
Goalkeepers
Courtney Brosnan | DOB 10/11/1995 | 19 caps / 10 clean sheets | Debut vs Montenegro 11/03/2020
Megan Walsh | DOB 12/11/1994 | 1 cap / 0 clean sheets | Debut vs Russia 19/02/2022
Grace Moloney | DOB 01/03/1993 | 6 caps / 1 clean sheet | Debut vs Austria 02/03/2016
Sophie Whitehouse | DOB 10/10/1996 | 0 caps / 0 clean sheets
Defenders
Harriet Scott | DOB 10/02/1993 | 23 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Czech Republic 01/03/2017
Diane Caldwell | DOB 11/09/1988 | 93 caps / 4 goals | Debut vs Denmark 15/03/2006
Louise Quinn | DOB 17/06/1990 | 101 caps / 15 goals | Debut vs Poland 02/02/2008
Hayley Nolan | DOB 07/03/1997 | 2 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Belgium 11/04/2021
Claire O'Riordan | DOB 12/10/1994 | 17 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Hungary 07/03/2016
Áine O’Gorman | DOB 13/05/1989 | 115 caps / 13 goals | Debut vs Denmark 15/03/2006
Aoife Mannion | DOB 24/09/1995 | 1 cap / 0 goals | Debut vs China PR 22/02/2023
Jessie Stapleton | DOB 07/02/2005 | 1 cap / 0 goals | Debut vs Philippines
Tara O'Hanlon | DOB 14/03/2005 | 0 caps / 0 goals
Midfielders
Katie McCabe | DOB 21/09/1995 | 70 caps / 18 goals | Debut vs Hungary 04/03/2015
Denise O’Sullivan | DOB 04/02/1994 | 99 caps / 19 goals | Debut vs Wales 17/09/2011
Megan Connolly | DOB 07/03/1997 | 36 caps / 4 goals | Debut vs USA 23/02/2016
Ruesha Littlejohn | DOB 03/07/1990 | 68 caps / 6 goals | Debut vs Hungary 07/03/2012
Jamie Finn | DOB 21/04/1998 | 15 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Greece 12/11/2019
Lucy Quinn | DOB 29/09/1993 | 12 caps / 3 goals | Debut vs Australia 21/09/2021
Ciara Grant | DOB 11/06/1993 | 16 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs USA 28/11/2012
Roma McLaughlin | DOB 06/03/1998 | 10 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Wales, 20/08/2016
Sinead Farrelly | DOB 11/06/1989 | 0 caps / 0 goals
Forwards
Amber Barrett | DOB 16/01/1996 | 34 caps / 5 goals | Debut vs Wales 20/08/2016
Abbie Larkin | DOB 27/04/2005 | 6 caps / 1 goal | Debut vs Russia 19/02/2022
Marissa Sheva | DOB 22/04/1997 | 1 cap / 0 goals | Debut vs China PR 22/02/2023
Heather Payne | DOB 26/01/2000 | 31 caps / 1 goal | Debut vs Scotland 07/07/2017
Kyra Carusa | DOB 14/11/1995 | 9 caps / 2 goals | Debut vs Montenegro 11/03/2020
Alannah McEvoy | DOB 07/02/2001 | 0 caps / 0 goals