The U.S. women’s national team will play its April friendlies against the Republic of Ireland as both teams prepare for the Women’s World Cup.
The teams will meet on Saturday, April 8 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas (2:30 p.m. ET on TNT, Universo and Peacock) before finishing the two-leg set on Tuesday, April 11 at CITYPARK in St. Louis, Mo. (7:30 p.m. ET on HBO Max, Universo and Peacock).
These will be the final international matches for the USWNT players before head coach Vlatko Andonovski and his staff choose the USA’s 23-player World Cup roster later in the spring.
In 2021, the USWNT played the first match at Q2 Stadium, defeating Nigeria, 2-0, in front of a sold-out crowd. This will the USA’s first match at Q2 since thrn. The match at CITYPARK also carries some history as it will be the first game for the USWNT at the home of the newest franchise in Major League Soccer, St. Louis CITY SC, the first female majority-owned team in the league.
Ireland qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup – its first – in dramatic fashion. After finishing second in UEFA Women’s World Cup Group A behind Sweden, Ireland met rival Scotland in a one-game playoff at Hampden Park in Glasgow. In front of more than 10,000 fans, an emotional goal in 72nd minute from Amber Barrett sent The Girls in Green to Australia and New Zealand.
“Ireland is a highly motivated, hard-working team that has talented players with big hearts who I know are really excited to be representing their country in a World Cup,” USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski said in a statement. “The two games will be a great test at a crucial time in our team’s run to the World Cup. While there will be plenty of league games for us to watch after April, these will be the final matches for our players with the national team before we have to pick the World Cup roster, so they will carry that importance.”
