With a month to go in the regular season, Racing Louisville FC and other clubs around the NWSL will get this weekend off while national teams compete around the globe.
During that time, defenders Emily Fox (United States) and Rebecca Holloway (Northern Ireland) and midfielders Alex Chidiac (Australia) and Savannah DeMelo (United States) will join their respective national teams.
Savannah DeMelo & Emily Fox– United States
The United States will play a pair of friendlies against Nigeria to prepare for the 2023 World Cup.
The friendlies are set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Kansas City and 6 p.m. Tuesday in Washington, D.C. FOX and ESPN2, respectively, will broadcast the games.
The USWNT recently won the Concacaf W Championship, qualifying for the World Cup as well as the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Fox (17 caps) continues to cement herself as a regular with the USWNT, earning a call-up to every camp since October 2021. Over the summer, the defender featured in three matches during the W Championship, including the final. The UNC grad already has nine appearances this year for the U.S.
DeMelo earned her first senior team call-up when she replaced Trinity Rodman, who pulled out of the friendlies for a family commitment. In NWSL play, DeMelo has tallied three goals and an assist across 17 NWSL appearances. The midfielder leads all rookies in minutes played (1,520), chances created (45) and fouls won (62). She was named Rookie of the Month for July and made the May Team of the Month. DeMelo has previously featured at the youth international level, including appearances in the 2016 and 2018 U-20 World Cups.
Alex Chidiac – Australia
Co-hosts of the 2023 World Cup, Australia continues its preparations for the tournament by facing Canada in a pair of friendlies Down Under on Saturday and Tuesday.
Chidiac (17 caps) was called up by Australia in June but unable to join the Matildas then due to injury. Her most recent international cap came in April, when she came off the bench in 3-1 victory over New Zealand, the World Cup’s other host nation.
Rebecca Holloway – Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is set to play two World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg on Saturday and Latvia on Tuesday, but the Green and White have already been eliminated from contention.
After qualifying for its first European Championship, Northern Ireland went winless in their three group stage matches this summer.
Holloway (15 caps) worked her way into the Northern Ireland squad last year, scoring three times in World Cup qualifying. The defender joined Racing in mid-May and has made four appearances for the club.
How to follow along
Friday, September 2
Northern Ireland vs. Luxembourg (12:30 p.m. ET)
Saturday, September 3
Australia vs. Canada (12:45 a.m.)*
USA vs. Nigeria (1 p.m., FOX)
Tuesday, September 6
Australia vs. Canada (5:40 a.m.)*
Northern Ireland vs. Latvia (10 a.m.)#
USA vs. Nigeria (6 p.m., ESPN2)
* = Follow @TheMatildas on Twitter for updates and streaming information.
# = Follow @NorthernIreland on Twitter for updates and streaming information.
