The Women World Champions are going to begin their title defence on 22nd July and want to become the first team in the history of the game to win three consecutive World Cup tournaments. They're ranked no. 1 in the world by FIFA and they intend to keep that status during the World Cup. USWNT World Cup squad is released and there are some big name who haven't made it due to injuries and some new names are added because of their club performances.

USWNT's World Cup campaign

This year, the Women's World Cup is jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, one month of competitive football to decide the next Women's World Cup champion. USWNT, having won the previous two editions of the the World Cup in 2015 and 2019 respectively, desire to make it three times in a row.

It's not gonna be an easy title defence with teams like England, Germany, Spain and other teams challenging for the title. The world of women football has seen a rise of no. of new talented emerging players who have burst onto the scene for their respective countries, making it much harder for USA to win it this time around.

Vlatko Andonovski has announced the players who are gonna represent USA in the 2023 Women's World Cup. And some of the names there might surprise you a bit.

Selected in the squad

Alex Morgan is gonna lead the way with 206 international caps for the United States, in which she scored 121 goals. This could very well be her last world cup but the decision lies upon 33-year-old who has been immense for both club and country. This is going to be her fourth World Cup which gives her the veteran status.

Another veteran of the USWNT is Megan Rapinoe. This is also gonna be her fourth World Cup. Her selection was triggered by the injuries of a few attacking players. Defender Kelly O'Hara has also made the squad after being absent from the team due to injuries in 2022. Rose Lavelle was selected by the coach to many Americans' relief but her fitness is still doubtful to many. 

Sophia Smith is the one to look out for. She is making her World Cup debut after an impressive season for Portland Thorns and was also named the NWSL's most valuable player in 2022. Among the goalkeepers, the selection of Aubrey Kingsbury was also a surprise as she has only one international cap but is expected to play as a third choice goalkeeper. Savannah DeMelo is the only player in the squad with zero international caps. She has been selected on the basis of her recent performances for her club, Racing Louisville.

Players who missed out due to injuries

Becky Sauerbrunn, the team captain was not selected because of a foot injury she suffered in the month of April and still haven't recovered. Catarina Macario was also unable to make the squad because of her torn ACL, she was an integral part of the US attack. The biggest name in the list of players "not selected" would be Mallory Swanson. She suffered a torn patella tendon in an international friendly against Ireland and haven't recovered from it yet.

USWNT World Cup 2023 Squad :

Among the 23 selected in the squad, 14 players are gonna be making their World Cup debut so it would a difficult challenge for Andonovski to guide them to their third consecutive World Cup win.

Goalkeepers

• Alyssa Naeher
• Casey Murphy
• Aubrey Kingsbury

Defenders

• Alana Cook
• Crystal Dunn
• Emily Fox
• Naomi Girma
• Sofia Huerta
• Kelly O'Hara
• Emily Sonnett

Midfielders

• Savannah DeMelo
• Julie Ertz
• Lindsey Horan
• Rose Lavelle
• Kristie Mewis
• Ashley Sanchez
• Andi Sullivan

Forwards

• Alex Morgan
• Regan Rapinoe
• Trinit Rodman
• Sophia Smith
• Alyssa TThompson
• Lynn Williams

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In their final home game of 2024, the United States Women's National Team delivered a memorable win for a packed Lynn family stadium in Louisiana, giving fans exactly what they hoped for. 

This victory was especially significant for midfielder Rose Lavelle, who celebrated her 100th cap with the national team. Here’s a recap of the key moments from the match.

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First Half

The first shot of the game came from Vanina Preininger of Argentina in the 4th minute from 35 yards out and it was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Amanda Haught. USA responded in the 10th minute with a right footed shot from Emma Sears that was blocked.

OH YAY, NAE!#USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/BgrbbVQupZ

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) October 30, 2024

Both sides kept on mounting pressure on each other until 37th minute when Naomi Girma headed the ball from close range following a setpiece situation to give USA the lead her first international goal. Argentina tried to equalize through series of effort but were unable to find the back of the net.

Seven minutes later, Rose Lavelle delivered a corner, and Girma went for a header. The ball deflected off Cometti’s leg and into her own net, extending the United States’ lead to 2-0. This brought the first half to a close.

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Second Half 

In her first cap and start, Alyssa Malonson assists Naomi Girma's first career brace!!! #USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/pmg0pcJsqx

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) October 31, 2024

Girma struck again early in the second half when Malonson passed to her, allowing Girma to head the ball into the upper right corner of the net in the 49th minute, increasing the lead to three goals. 

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In the 82nd minute, Jaedyn Shaw had an opportunity for the USWNT but sent her right-footed free kick over the goal.

Read Also| Latest FIFA Rankings announced: Argentina remains on top, India climbs up to 125th

USWNT Upcoming Fixtures

The U.S. will finish the year with two matches in Europe, starting with a game against England at Wembley on November 30, followed by a matchup against the Netherlands in The Hague on December 3.

2023 saw many iconic sporting moments throughout the 12 months. From Cristiano Ronaldo's welcome in Saudi, to Spain winning the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, or, from Virat Kohli scoring his 50th ODI ton to Sheetal Devi shooting an archery with her legs, we have seen it all. Here's 20 iconic sports photos from the year 2023.

#20 | Healy, the photographer

#19 | Spain win the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023

#18 |Australia loves football

#17 | Messi magic in Miami

#16 |Lauren Hemp breaks Colombian hearts

#15 | Selfie of the year in ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier Zimbabwe 2023

Also Read: Most International Runs in 2023

#14 | Danielle Collins' iconic serve

#13 | Postigo can do it on one foot

#12 | Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic

#11 | Cummins silences the Indian crowd

#10 | Chloe Kelly's bicycle kick

#9 | Kohli gets past the GOD

#8 | Saudi welcomes Cristiano Ronaldo

#7 | Wrestlers Protest

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#6 | Bou Samnang's inspiring last-place finish

#5 | Mad-Max-Well's double ton

#4 | Neeraj's gold and praise for Arshad

#3 | Australia crowned World Champions for sixth time

#2 | Armless archer Sheetal Devi creates history

#1 | Messi infinity

New coach Montse Tome was about to announce her squad on Friday for the Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland on September 22 and 26. Spanish Women's Football team continue to reject national team call-ups as they want more changes at the Spanish football federation following the scandal over Luis Rubiales' kiss."

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Spanish football is in the mud since Rubiales forcibly kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips in front of the world's media after Spain defeated England in the Women's World Cup final on August 20 in Australia. 81 Spanish players, including the 23 world champions wrote a letter last month stating they would not play for the national team without significant changes at the head of the federation.

Since then Rubiales has resigned and the football federation sacked their controversial coach Jorge Vilda. Spanish media said the players would release a statement outlining the changes that they still expect to see before they return to the pitch.

World Cup-winning Spain midfielder Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual and a Spanish judge has summoned Rubiales to appear in court on Friday in a sexual assault investigation. Luis Rubiales stood down from his post on Sunday, three weeks after the incident during the final medal ceremony following Spain's World Cup triumph. He continued to insist on his kiss on Hermoso's lips to be consensual.

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"What we had is a spontaneous act, a mutual act, an act that both consented to, which was driven by the emotion of the moment, the happiness, so I maintain that that is the truth of what happened," Luis Rubiales told TalkTV show Piers Morgan Uncensored.

The 46-year-old described the kiss as "non-sexual". He also compared his behaviour to how he would act with his daughters. "My intentions were noble, enthusiastic, 100 percent non-sexual, 100 percent, I repeat, 100 percent," said Rubiales.

"You can imagine if you win the lottery or hopefully soon one day the war in Ukraine finishes, I mean celebrations will go on up and down the globe," he added. "People don't ask permission, it's just a happy, happy time and people celebrate. Of course, I have said it from the beginning, I made a mistake, and I apologized in a sincere manner," he further added.

Over 80 women's players went on strike from the national team. Spanish Football Federation sacked the controversial coach Jorge Vilda. The former chief stepped down on Sunday to help Spain's 2030 men's World Cup bid, as well as his family who came under pressure after his actions.

Spanish public prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against football chief Luis Rubiales for sexual assault after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent. Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rubiales faced backlash after a video went viral on the internet. Rubiales kissed Hermoso during the medal ceremony of Spain's Women's World Cup triumph in Sydney on August 20.

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"The prosecutors request that Luis Rubiales be questioned as an accused and Jenni Hermoso as a victim," the prosecutors' office said in a statement. It happened after Hermoso filed a complaint at the National Court on Tuesday, formally accusing Rubiales of sexual assault.

If the judge accepts the request, a magistrate will be assigned to head an investigation. It will end either with a recommendation for the case to go to trial or dismissed. Under Spanish law, sexual assault includes a wide array of crimes from online abuse and groping to rape, each with different penalties. The punishment for a non-consensual kiss can range from a fine to four years in prison.

Hermoso's complaint against Luis Rubiales:

Hermoso said the unwanted kiss had left her feeling "vulnerable and like the victim of an assault". On social media, she described it as "an impulsive, macho act, out of place. There were no type of consent on her part.

She also accused Rubiales of pressuring her to speak in his defense immediately after it went viral on social media. World football governing body FIFA provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days after he refused to resign from his post. 81 players went on strike from the women's side in protest after Rubiales' "false feminism" speech.

In a statement last week Rubiales reiterated that the kiss was "a mutual and consensual act" with "overflowing jubilation on both sides". The RFEF apologized for the "totally unacceptable behaviour" of Rubiales on Tuesday and fired Jorge Vilda.