The USWNT touched down in Auckland, New Zealand, at around 7 a.m. local time on Tuesday, July 11. Now, with just 10 days to go until the USA Women's World Cup schedule begins with an opening match against Vietnam on July 21, the team needs to battle jet lag, adjust to the time difference and establish normal routines as soon as possible.
We’re heeeeeere!!!!!!
Auckland, New Zealand pic.twitter.com/n8iEXX4VKr
In front of a sellout crowd at PayPal Park in San Jose, the USWNT battled to a 2-0 victory over Wales in their send-off match before the World Cup thanks to Trinity Rodman's brace off the bench.
The U.S. struggled to breakdown Wales' compact defensive structure in the opening 45 but Rodman's halftime introduction led to the opener in the 76th minute before the 21-year-old added a spectacular second in the 87th.
SAN JOSE, Calif. - United States forward Megan Rapinoe will retire after this season, the 38-year-old said on Saturday, days before she leaves for the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The charismatic veteran will compete in her fourth World Cup when the tournament kicks off on July 20, and said she will hang up her cleats after completing her National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season.
U.S. midfielder Lindsey Horan and forward Alex Morgan were named on Friday as captains of the team that will begin their quest for a third consecutive Women's World Cup title in two weeks.
The duo are assuming the captain's role as defender Becky Sauerbrunn will miss the July 20-Aug. 20 tournament in Australia and New Zealand due to a foot injury. When the players are on the field at the same time, Horan will wear the armband.
Jet lag is no joke. And teams arriving in Australia and New Zealand for the upcoming Women's World Cup are trying to deal with the issue the best way they can. Some even have shared online their antidotes against the annoyance. And boy! There are some different approaches out there.
England chose technology. On the trip down to Oceania, the Lioness wore a gadget called chrono glasses, which promises "more energy and better sleep" when time zone differences mess up with your body.
Rose Lavelle said she is more comfortable taking on the responsibilities of leadership and is ready to step up as a senior member of the U.S. squad when she heads to her second Women's World Cup, even as questions remain around her fitness.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who scored in the 2019 final as the Americans won their fourth title, has been nursing a knee injury and last played on April 8 in a friendly against Ireland.
The Brazil women's national team has arrived in Australia to begin preparations for the World Cup, where they'll open play on July 24 against Panama in Adelaide.
The squad played one final send-off match on July 2 in Brasília — hammering Chile 4-0 in front of over 15,000 — before heading to the local airport the following day.
It was an emotional send-off for 23-year-old forward Nycole Raysla, who's from the city and whose father actually works for the airport. The pair brushed away tears as Nycole said her goodbyes before jetting away to fulfill her life's ambition.
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's Women's World Cup preparations were plunged into chaos on Sunday when a shadow national team including a 13-year-old took on Botswana in a friendly as the squad selected for the finals were locked in a dispute with the national association.
The match was supposed to be a send-off for the squad going to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand before they continue their preparations outside the country.
It's been almost a year since two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas went down with an ACL injury that cost her a place at last summer's European Championship and almost the entire 2022-23 club season with Barcelona.
Her last appearance for Spain was actually July 2, 2022, when she received her 100th cap and scored her 27th goal in a friendly against Italy.
Now, after a long and demanding road to recovery, Putellas made her long-awaited return to the national team Thursday during a friendly against fellow World Cup participants Panama.
According to a report by Nielsen Sports, Swiss international Alisha Lehmann is the most influential player heading to the 2023 World Cup by Instagram standards.
Lehmann has an active presence on social media, posting updates not only about her soccer career but also as an ambassador of different brands and an activist for various causes. And all in front of 13.5 million followers.