KC Current goalkeeper AD Franch selected to U.S. Women’s National Team roster for pair of April Friendlies

Kansas City Current goalkeeper Adrianna ‘AD’ Franch was named to the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) roster for a pair of friendly matches against Ireland. This is Franch’s second call up to the national team in 2023 after also being on the roster for the SheBelieves Cup in February.

The U.S. and Ireland will first face off Saturday, April 8 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas in a match presented by Truly Hard Seltzer (1:30 p.m. CT on TNT, Universo and Peacock) before finishing the two-leg set on Tuesday, April 11 at the brand new CITYPARK in St. Louis, Missouri (6:30 p.m. CT on HBO Max, Universo and Peacock).

Both teams will be making their final preparations for the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 – August 20. USA, FIFA’s #1 ranked team, will be in Group E with Vietnam, the Netherlands and Portugal while #22 Ireland will be in Group B with Australia, Nigeria and Canada.

“It’s exciting to get the group back together and we’re getting closer to how we want to look this summer,” said Andonovski. “The team is gelling and getting these players back in camp, all who know the environment very well, is just going to make it more competitive and turn the intensity up a notch. I know there is a lot of pressure on the players as the competition for World Cup spots increases, but that’s not something we shy away from. We talk about it, and we embrace it, as we all know these players make each other better.”

TICKETS
Both of the matches are nearing capacity crowds. U.S. Soccer has fewer than 1,000 tickets left to sell in Austin and St. Louis. What tickets remain are on sale via www.ussoccer.com.

Coaches Circle and Presidents Circle members supporting the U.S. Soccer Development Fund can receive individual customer support and concierge services for their ticketing needs. Click here or contact circles@ussoccer.org for more information.

Additional Notes:

• The roster features six players with 100 caps or more in defender Becky Sauerbrunn (214), Alex Morgan (204), Kelley O’Hara (156), Crystal Dunn (130), Lindsey Horan (126) and Julie Ertz (116).
• Forward Megan Rapinoe, who is on 199 caps, was ruled out of this camp as she recovers from a lower leg injury.
• The roster features 11 players with fewer than 30 caps – Sofia Huerta, Sophia Smith, Emily Fox, Alana Cook, Ashley Sanchez, Ashley Hatch, Trinity Rodman, Naomi Girma, Casey Murphy, Taylor Kornieck and Adrianna Franch.
• Morgan is by far the leading scorer on the roster with 121 career goals, good for fifth in U.S. history. Swanson has 32 goals and Horan has 26 while both Dunn and Rose Lavelle have 24.
• Swanson, who was named the 2023 Visa SheBelieves Cup MVP, leads the USA with seven goals in five appearances so far in 2023 and is in the midst of a six-game scoring streak dating back to the USWNT’s final game of 2022.
• Eight of the 12 NWSL clubs are represented on this roster, led by four players from OL Reign, four players from the Washington Spirit and three players each the Chicago Red Stars, NY/NJ Gotham FC, San Diego Wave FC and Portland Thorns FC.
• At the World Cup, which is taking place from July 20-Aug. 20 in 10 stadiums across nine host cities -- five in Australia and four in New Zealand -- the USA will open Group E play against Vietnam on July 22 at Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau, which will also serve as the host venue for the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 World Cup on July 20 when New Zealand plays Norway. The USA then faces Netherlands on July 27 at Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara, followed by the Group A Playoff Winner Portugal on Aug. 1 at Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau.
• In 2021, the USWNT played the first-ever match at Q2 Stadium, defeating Nigeria 2-0 in front of a sold-out crowd. This will the USA’s first match at Q2 since that historic night, which featured Christen Press and Lynn Williams score in the USA victory.
• The match at CITYPARK also carries some history as it will be the first game for the U.S. Women at the home of the newest franchise in Major League Soccer, St. Louis CITY SC, the first female majority-owned team in the league. This will be the USWNT’s sixth match all-time in St. Louis, and most recently played at Busch Stadium in the lead up to both the 2015 and 2019 Women’s World Cups.
• Ireland qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup – its first – in dramatic fashion. After finishing second in UEFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Group A behind Sweden, Ireland met rival Scotland in a one-game World Cup playoff at the famed Hampden Park in Glasgow. In front of more than 10,000 fans, a highly emotional goal in 72^nd minute from Amber Barrett, who plays in Germany for Turbine Potsdam, sent The Girls in Green to Australia and New Zealand.