As the FIFA international window approaches, San Diego Wave FC has six players that have been announced to represent their respective countries. Defender Naomi Girma, forward Alex Morgan and midfielder Jaedyn Shaw will join the U.S. Women’s National Team, forward Kyra Carusa will represent Ireland, midfielder Emily van Egmond with Australia, goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan with Canada and midfielder Sofia Jakobsson with Sweden.
The USA will play in Utah at America First Field on Oct. 26 (6:00 p.m. PT on TBS, Universo and Peacock) and in San Diego at Snapdragon Stadium on Oct. 29 (2:30 p.m. PT on TNT, Telemundo, Universo and FDP Radio). Both matches, as well as pre and postgame coverage, will be available for English language streaming on Max.
Girma, 23, was one of four players to play every minute for the USWNT in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She has 22 international appearances since making her international debut in April 2022. The 2022 Defender and Rookie of the Year has appeared in 19 games (19 starts) for the Wave this season, helping the club earn nine clean sheets in 2023.
As for Morgan, the forward ranks in the top 10 in USWNT history in goals, assists and multi-goal games. A two-time U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year (2012, 2018) and four-time Concacaf Player of the Year (2013, 2016, 2017, 2018), Morgan is heading into camp with 213 international appearances and 121 goals. The Wave captain finished the regular season leading the club in goals (7) and assists (4).
Shaw, 18, appeared in 22 matches (19 starts) for the club this season while scoring six goals. Shaw’s goal on Sunday in the NWSL’s Decision Day match set a new league record for career regular-season goals scored by a teenager. The midfielder made her professional debut on July 30, 2022, at 17 years of age, scoring in the 28th minute to make her the youngest player in NWSL to score in their debut. Following her debut professional season, Shaw was named the 2022 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.
Republic of Ireland will play in the upcoming Nation’s League matches against Albania. Ireland will face Albania at a sold-out Tallaght Stadium on Friday, Oct. 27 at 9:45 a.m. PT, before they travel to face the same opposition on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 10:00 a.m. PT.
Carusa, the Wave’s latest signing, has appeared in seven matches (four starts) for her hometown club. The forward has scored two goals for the club, including the Wave’s game-winning goal on the road in Portland to help the team secure a playoff berth.
The Commbank Matildas roster for Round 2 of the Asian qualifiers for the Paris Olympics in 2024 will take place in Perth. This month’s Asian Qualifiers will mark the Matildas first time playing back on home soil since the team’s historic fourth place finish at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Matildas will play three matches across three match days with the group winner joining the winners of Group B and Group C, as well as the best-ranked runners-up, in Round 3. Round 3 will take place on Feb. 24, and Feb. 28, 2024 with the winners of the two home-and-away series progressing to Paris.
The call-up for van Egmond marked her fourth World Cup with the Matildas, as the midfielder has been a prominent figure of the Matildas since 2010, earning her first cap at just 16 years of age. This season, van Egmond has appeared in 10 matches (nine starts), while being a key midfield presence for the Wave.
Canadian Women’s National Team will host two friendly matches against Brazil during the FIFA window. The two matches will mark Canada’s first steps after securing their spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in last’s month’s home-and-away Concacaf W Olympic Play-In qualification series. The opening match of the series will kick off on Oct. 28 at 11:30 a.m. PT in Montréal at Stade Saputo, before heading to Halifax at Wanderers Ground on Oct. 31 at 12:30 p.m. PT.
Sheridan, 28, has played in 19 matches (19 starts) for the Wave this season and finished the regular-season with a career-high and league-leading nine clean sheets. Sheridan joined the San Diego Wave ahead of the club’s inaugural season in 2022, where she earned 2022 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year.
In the inaugural UEFA tournament, Sweden currently sits in second place with an overall record of 1-0-1 in group play. Sweden will host Switzerland at Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg on Oct. 27 at 9:30 a.m. PT. The Blue and Yellow will then travel to Malmö, Sweden to face Italy at Eleda Stadium on Oct. 31 at 10:30 a.m PT.
Jakobsson, 33, has appeared in 16 matches (eight starts) for the Wave this season, while earning two goals and one assist. At the international level, Jakobsson has represented Sweden since 2011, earning her first senior cap in May before being named to the FIFA World Cup roster later that year. The international has since earned 144 caps and been a apart of four World Cups and three Olympics for Sweden.
The Wave claimed the NWSL Shield with a win over Racing Louisville FC on Sunday at Snapdragon Stadium. With the win, San Diego earned a first-round bye and home field advantage for the semifinals and will host either OL Reign or Angel City on Sunday, Nov. 5. Tickets for the match are currently on-sale here.
