Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher, will join the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) in Australia and New Zealand this summer for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.  

This will be Naeher’s third World Cup as a part of the USWNT, since earning her first appearance in 2014. In the 2019 World Cup cycle, Naeher only allowed three goals by USWNT opponents, and Naeher’s shutout of the Netherlands in the Championship match helped win it all for the United States for the second time in a row. Since 2014, Naeher has earned 90 caps and recorded 53 shutouts for the U.S. The Connecticut native has extensive international experience dating back to 2004, her first appearance on the United States U-16 Youth National Team roster. 

Playing in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) since the league’s inception in 2013, Naeher is one of only 19 original players still active in 2023 . After playing for the Boston Breakers from 2013-2015, Naeher joined Chicago in 2016, making 614  saves over 182 total appearances in all competitions during her tenure with the Red Stars. In 2023, Naeher reached another milestone when the veteran goalkeeper was named team captain. This milestone kicked off a year of achievements for Naeher.    

On May 12, in a match against Racing Louisville FC, the Red Stars captain played in her 150th regular season NWSL match, becoming the first goalkeeper in league history to reach that milestone. During that match, Naeher also recorded her 500th career save, making her the second keeper in league history to reach 500 saves. Just two weeks later, and in epic fashion, Naeher surpassed Ashlyn Harris’ regular-season saves record when her initial block on a corner kick ricocheted off the cross bar, allowing Orlando Pride’s Marta to take another shot that required Naeher to get back on her feet and leap to push the ball away from goal. 

Leading up to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the United States will participate in a friendly match against Wales at Paypal Park in San Jose, California Sunday, July 9 (1:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. CT on TNT, Telemundo, NBC Universo and Peacock). The USWNT will kick off World Cup play at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand on Friday, July 21 at 8:00 p.m. CT, taking on fellow Group E nation, Vietnam, in the group stage. The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will run July 20-August 20, played in multiple venues across Australia and New Zealand. The United States has four Women’s World Cup titles, more than any other country in Women’s World Cup history.