The U.S. women’s soccer team plays the first of two friendly matches against No. 22-ranked Republic of Ireland on Saturday as players have a final chance to make an impression before final World Cup rosters are named by July 10.
Julie Ertz, Casey Krueger, and Kelley O’Hara are back in the mix as they look to show they deserve a spot to help the USA defend their world title in Australia and New Zealand.
The Republic of Ireland have also qualified to the expanded 2023 World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history and will use the match to test players and prep for Group B action against co-hosts Australia, Nigeria, and Olympic champions Canada.
Sporting News is following the USA vs. Ireland match live and providing live score updates and commentary.
USA vs Ireland live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| USA | — | — | — |
| Ireland | — | — | — |
Goals:
None.
USA vs Ireland live updates, highlights from women’s soccer friendly
120 mins from kickoff: In the lead-up to the match, Ireland coach Vera Pauw faced questions from the media about being mentioned in the reports that unearthed systemic abuse in women’s soccer in the USA. Here’s how the former Houston Dash coach responded:
A fiercely defiant Vera Pauw faced the media in Austin this evening. @Corktod has the latest ahead of Ireland’s friendly against the USA tomorrow night #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/aQnLkKApgZ
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) April 7, 2023
USWNT vs Ireland lineups
Only 23 of the 26 players named by manager Vlatko Andonovski will get to suit up for the match. It will be interesting to see how many minutes midfielder Julie Ertz, who is still without a club, will receive as she works her way back up to match fitness. Also, Tierna Davidson returns to camp for the first time since tearing her ACL last spring.
Among the notable names not on the U.S. roster are Megan Rapinoe (leg), Catarina Macario and Christen Press (both ACL).
USWNT projected lineup (4-3-3): Alyssa Naeher (GK) — Emily Fox, Alana Cook, Becky Sauerbrunn, Crystal Dunn — Rose Lavelle, Andi Sullivan, Lindsey Horan — Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan, Mallory Swanson.
USWNT subs (12): Adriana Franch (GK), Casey Murphy (GK), Tierna Davidson, Naomi Girma, Sofia Huerta, Casey Krueger, Kelley O’Hara, Emily Sonnett, Julie Ertz, Kristie Mewis, Ashley Sanchez, Taylor Kornieck, Ashley Hatch, Trinity Rodman, Lynn Williams
U.S. born Sinead Farrelly, a Gotham FC midfielder who was one of the whistleblowers and victims in the abuse scandal that rocked U.S. women’s soccer in 2022 and led to several investigations and changes, was a late addition to the Irish roster. Farrelly is one of four U.S.-born players on the squad, while 11 members played college soccer in the USA.
Ireland projected lineup (5-4-1): Courtney Brosnan (GK) — Jamie Finn, Aoife Mannion, Louise Quinn, Hayley Nolan, Megan Connolly — Aine O’Gorman, Abbie Larkin, Denise O’Sullivan, Katie McCabe — Heather Payne.
Ireland subs (12): Grace Moloney (GK), Megan Walsh (GK), Sophie Whitehouse (GK), Harriet Scott, Jessie Stapleton, Diane Caldwell, Claire O’Riordan, Tara O’Hanlon, Ruesha Littlejohn, Sinead Farrelly, Lucy Quinn, Ciara Grant, Roma McLaughlin, Amber Barrett, Kyra Carusa, Marissa Sheva, Alannah McEvoy
Watch USA vs Ireland soccer live stream, TV channel
| Date | Saturday, April 8 |
| Time | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| TV channel | TNT (English), Universo (Spanish) |
| 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.