USA vs Ireland time, live stream, TV channel, and lineups for USWNT soccer friendly
The USWNT will play its final two international friendlies before getting back together for this summer’s Women’s World Cup, as they take on the Republic of Ireland in a pair of matches, with the first coming Saturday in Austin, Texas with kickoff at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Vlatko Andonovski has very little time left to determine his squad for the World Cup, which begins on July 20. He still has lots to figure out, between fringe players looking to make the team, plus those not present as they recover from injuries.
The Republic of Ireland are ranked 22nd in the world, and will be playing in the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history.
Julie Ertz is back on the U.S. roster for the first time in over a year, but she is currently without a club team, facing an uphill battle to make the final World Cup roster. She will be recognized before the match for reaching 100 caps though she is sitting on 116 appearances, with a combination of the pandemic, injury, pregnancy, and official competitions delaying the ceremony.
MORE: Projecting the USWNT 2023 Women’s World Cup roster
Watch USA vs Ireland live stream, TV channel
- Date: Saturday, April 8
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- TV channels: TNT, Universo
- Streaming: Fubo, Peacock, Universo NOW, Watch TNT
The USWNT friendly against the Republic of Ireland will be broadcast on TNT as part of the new long-term rights deal between U.S. Soccer and Turner Sports.
A Spanish-language broadcast will be available on Universo, which can be streamed on NBC’s premium subscription service Peacock or on Universo NOW.
Both these channels are available to stream on Fubo in the USA, which offers a free trial for new users.
Making history is always possible. 🇺🇸
🎙️ Natalie Portman#AlwaysPossible | #TodoEsPosible pic.twitter.com/Qmj0nhMSDx
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 5, 2023
USA vs Ireland lineups, team news
It’s likely that U.S. manager Vlatko Andonovski, who has been adamant about getting all goalkeepers time on the field, will go with Alyssa Naeher on Saturday and Casey Murphy in Tuesday’s match against Ireland.
Midfielder Julie Ertz is in the squad for the first time since 2021, but since she does not currently have a club team she will likely be lacking full match fitness. Another veteran, Kelley O’Hara, is also back on the roster for the first time since last July, and Tierna Davidson returns for the first time since tearing her ACL last spring.
Megan Rapinoe misses out as she recovers from a leg injury. Catarina Macario has not yet returned from her torn ACL but is getting very close, which also applies to Christen Press.
Both teams can only name 23 players for matchday squads in these friendlies, meaning three players of the 26 in the USWNT squad will have to be listed as healthy scratches.
USWNT projected lineup (4-3-3): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Cook, Sauerbrunn, Dunn — Lavelle, Sullivan, Horan — S. Smith, Morgan, Swanson.
Back in camp and celebrating another trip around the sun…
Happy birthday, @julieertz! 🎉🎂 pic.twitter.com/KZXs3Fa3PZ
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 6, 2023
Veterans dot the map for the 22nd-ranked Irish, with defenders Aine O’Gorman and Louise Quinn both sporting over 100 international caps, and midfielder Denise O’Sullivan set to reach the century mark in this match.
There is a lack of goalscoring in the Republic of Ireland squad, as midfielders O’Sullivan and Katie McCabe are the leading scorers in the group with 19 and 18 goals, respectively. McCabe usually wears the captain’s armband, having played for Women’s Super League powerhouse Arsenal the last eight years, but O’Sullivan is set to do so in this game as a nod for reaching 100 caps.
Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes), Tara O’Hanlon (Peamount United), and Alannah McEvoy (Shamrock Rovers) are in the international squad for the first time in their careers.
Ireland projected lineup (5-4-1): Brosnan (GK) — de la Harpe, Mannion, Quinn, Connolly, Campbell — Larkin, Agg, O’Sullivan, McCabe — Payne.
Published at Sat, 08 Apr 2023 08:32:46 +0000