With the 2023 regular season completed, eight members of Racing Louisville FC have been called up for international duty.
Defenders Rebecca Holloway (Northern Ireland) and Elli Pikkujämsä (Finland); midfielders Ary Borges (Brazil) and Savannah DeMelo (USA); and forwards Emina Ekic (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria), Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa) and Nadia Nadim (Denmark) have all been selected to represent their national teams during the October international window.
Here’s what is ahead for Racing’s internationals over the next two weeks:
Savannah DeMelo (United States)
Savannah DeMelo received her third straight national team call-up for the United States in 2023 following her two starts at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and selection to the roster for friendlies against Thembi Kgatlana and South Africa in September.
This time around, the USWNT hosts Colombia for two friendlies. The first match takes place at 9 p.m. ET Thursday at America First Field in Sandy, Utah, and will be broadcast on TBS, Universo and Peacock. The rematch will be played on Oct. 29 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California and can be watched on TNT, Telemundo, Universo and Peacock with a 5:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
Ary Borges (Brazil)
Ary Borges and Brazil return to action in October after last window’s training camp under new head coach Arthur Elias. Seleção Feminina takes on Canada in two friendlies to close out October, first on the 28th at Stade Saputo in Montreal and again on the 31st at Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Borges has started six of Brazil’s eight matches in 2023, including all three group stage matches at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where she scored a hat trick and assisted the fourth goal in Brazil’s opening group stage 4-0 win against Panama.
Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria)
Forward Uchenna Kanu joins the Super Falcons in her first competitive matches for her country since starting three of four matches during Nigeria’s 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign, which ended with a round of 16 exit against eventual runner-up England.
On the docket next for Nigeria is the Confederation of African Football’s Olympic qualification tournament, with a home-and-home second-round matchup against Ethiopia. The first match takes place in Ethiopia on Monday before a return match in Nigeria on Oct. 31. Match updates can be found on X at @NGSuper_Falcons.
Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa)
Racing attacker Thembi Kgatlana and South Africa have their own CAF Olympic qualifying fixtures in their own return to competition after a historic-best round of 16 exit against the Netherlands at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Kgatlana scored twice and assisted twice more during the World Cup run, starting all four matches.
Banyana Banyana take on Congo, first away in the DRC on Wednesday before returning to South Africa for the second match at home on Oct. 30. Match updates can be found @Banyana_Banyana on X.
Nadia Nadim (Denmark)
International Nadia Nadim has been called up to represent Denmark for the first time since suffering a ligament injury late in 2022.
The Danes currently sit atop their group in UEFA’s Nations League A and aim to continue their form with matches against Iceland and Wales during this window. The finalists of the UEFA Nations League A will qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
First up is an away trip to take on Iceland at 2:30 p.m. ET next Friday at Laugardalsvöllur in Reykjavik, followed by a return home to face Wales at Energi Viborg Arena in Viborg, Denmark, at 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 31. Match updates can be found @dbulandshold on X.
Elli Pikkujämsä (Finland)
Currently atop their group, Finland and defender Elli Pikkujämsä have the opportunity to continue their good run of UEFA Nations League B form with two matches against Croatia during this international window.
Pikkujämsä has played in four friendlies for the Boreal Owls in 2023, and her chances to log more minutes for her country will come at home next Friday against Croatia, with an 11:45 a.m. ET kickoff scheduled for Bolt Arena in Helsinki, and away against the Croatians at Stadion Šubićevac in Šibenik, Croatia, starting at 12 p.m. ET on Oct. 31. Updates can be found at @HelmaritFI on X.
Emina Ekic (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Receiving her third call-up to the Bosnia & Herzegovina national team, Emina Ekic looks to follow up two starts against Belarus and Slovenia in the last international window with more minutes in the UEFA Nations League B. Bosnia sit second in its group, and both its matches this window come against current group leaders the Czech Republic. The first match will be at home for Bosnia & Herzegovina on Oct. 28 at the Bosnia & Herzegovina FA Training Center in Zenica, kicking off at 8:30 a.m. ET. The second will take place on Oct. 31 at Všesportovní Stadium in Hradec Králové in the Czech Republic. Match updates can be found on X at @NFSBiH.
Rebecca Holloway (Northern Ireland)
Rebecca Holloway looks to resume her contributions to the Northern Ireland national team in 2023 following two starts and three appearances in summer friendlies for the Northern Irish team.
Holloway and Northern Ireland sit second in their UEFA Nations League B group, and both their matches this window come against current group leader Hungary. First, they’ll play on Oct. 27 at Alcufer Stadium in Györ, Hungary, at 12:15 p.m. ET before returning to Belfast to host Hungary at Seaview at 3 p.m. ET on Oct. 31. Updates can be found on X at @NorthernIreland.
