USWNT Roster Announced for Matches Against England and Netherlands

CHICAGO (Nov. 18, 2024) – Emma Hayes, head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT), has unveiled a 24-player roster for the upcoming matches in Europe against England and the Netherlands. These games are scheduled for November 30 at Wembley Stadium in London and December 3 at the ADO Den Haag Stadium. Both England and the Netherlands are notable for being recent finalists in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, with England falling to Spain in 2023 and the Netherlands losing to the USA in 2019.

«In terms of our schedule, this is the end of a wonderful year, but we’re still at the beginning of our process of building towards qualifying for the next World Cup,» Hayes remarked. «This trip will be about testing ourselves against two world-class teams and developing our roster.»

The roster notably excludes the “Triple Espresso” front line of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson, as they are resting injuries following a demanding season. Hayes emphasized the strategic aspect of her selections, including the call-up of some newcomers to the senior team like Phallon Tullis-Joyce, a goalkeeper with Manchester United, and Ally Sentnor of Utah Royals FC.

The inclusion of 17-year-old Lily Yohannes from Ajax was highlighted. Yohannes recently committed to representing the USWNT internationally over the Netherlands, to whom she has significant ties. «Getting the commitment from Lily Yohannes is massive for us,» Hayes expressed, indicating both the player’s potential and the coach’s strategy for the team’s future.

The squad includes a blend of veterans like Lindsey Horan, who has 159 caps, and emerging talents, aiming to add depth and discover potential stars ahead of future tournaments. The current roster features a significant number of players with fewer than 20 caps, showing Hayes’ focus on building a versatile team for the upcoming 2027 World Cup in Brazil. This effort involves planning strategic international fixtures to test the squad’s mettle.

Hayes also mentioned, «Yes, I’d love to [have more tests like this], but we’ve got to plan it strategically with people that do that in the background.» She stressed the importance of rigorous competitions outside the U.S. to enhance team preparedness.

The matches against England and the Netherlands are expected to be competitive, with more than 70,000 tickets already sold for the Wembley game. These fixtures will conclude the USWNT’s 2024 schedule, with further preparation to continue in January with a «Futures Camp» aimed at identifying and nurturing new talents.