The 2023 World Cup is set to begin this week, as the United States Women’s National Team prepares for its tournament debut against Vietnam on July 21.
However, there will be some key members of previous USWNT teams not present in New Zealand for this year’s World Cup. A lot of names you probably recognize if you’re a casual soccer fan.
A good number of the women on this list are struggling with various ailments, while one all-time talent retired in 2021.
Before you spend too much time wondering where somebody is, let’s run down some of athletes who won’t be competing in the World Cup this year for the United States.
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Carli Lloyd, midfielder/forward
One of the most notable figures in U.S. women’s soccer history, Lloyd retired from the team in 2021 after playing in four FIFA World Cups.
Mallory Swanson, forward
A key player in the 2019 World Cup, Swanson tore her patella tendon in April during a friendly and will miss this year’s competition.
Becky Sauerbrunn, defender
Like Swanson, Sauerbrunn played a major part in the last U.S. World Cup victory and won’t be able to play this time around because of an April injury.
Sam Mewis, midfielder
The elite American midfielder had to undergo another knee surgery in January and doesn’t have a clear timeline for her return to the field.
Abby Dahlkemper, defender
Dahlkemper joins Sauerbrunn as one of the key defenders missing on the USWNT roster this World Cup round because of a recent back surgery.
Christen Press, forward
Press won’t be able to rejoin the USWNT this World Cup because of injury, taking away a valuable offensive piece of the roster. She tore her ACL in 2022, and she announced Monday a fourth surgery to repair her knee.
Catarina Macario, midfielder
Macario won’t join the USWNT this World Cup because of continued recovery from an ACL injury sustained last summer.
Tobin Heath, forward
The veteran forward Heath was not selected for the USWNT this past spring as she’s been dealing with a knee injury sustained last fall.
Ali Krieger, defender
While still playing professional soccer, Krieger opted not to return to the USWNT for this year’s World Cup. She was a major part of the team’s defense in previous runs.
She’s set to retire at the end of the NWSL season.
