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Katie McCabe among Republic of Ireland players left out for USA matches

Republic of Ireland will have to cope with Katie McCabe for the two friendlies
Republic of Ireland will have to cope with Katie McCabe for the two friendlies

Katie McCabe is among a host of Republic of Ireland players left out the squad for the upcoming matches with USA, while defender Hayley Nolan and midfielder Ellen Molloy receive first call-ups under Carla Ward.

Ward has selected a 23-player squad for the two friendlies.

McCabe is omitted with Ward having already indicated it would be the case after their most recent matches due to the amount of matches the Arsenal star has played this campaign.

Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne, Tara O'Hanlon, Jamie Finn, Lily Agg, Jess Ziu and Leanne Kiernan also sit out the camp.

Midfielder Aoibheann Clancy is not part of the squad due to a bereavement.

Nolan, a defender, last featured for Ireland on their most recent US tour in April 2023, while midfielder Molloy returns to the squad following recent impressive performances with Wexford in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.

Ireland will take on the world’s number one side for the 16th time in their history in the first game on Thursday, 26 June in Denver, Colorado at 2am Irish time before they meet again three days late in Cincinnati. The second match will begin at 8pm Irish time.

Ward said: "The two games against USA are an opportunity for us to work together on a number of things – both on and off the pitch – as we build towards the UEFA Nations League play-off against Belgium in October.

"We will be coming up against the best team in women’s football, so we will have a plan for those games but it’s also important that we make the most out of this camp as a whole.

"When these games were first proposed to us we knew that we would be without certain players, but that opens the door for others to step up. We are building, camp by camp, so we are looking forward to getting together again and putting in some extra work that will stand to us moving forward."

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 03: United States head coach Emma Hayes along the sidelines during the second half of an international friendly against Jamaica at Energizer Park on June 03, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
USA boss Emma Hayes

Ward is old friends with USA boss Emma Hayes, and was part of the the Americans' backroom staff for last summer's Paris Olympics.

"We know how good USA are, " Ward added. "They've always been world class but I believe Emma has taken them to another level and that’s why this is a great test for us. To be coming up against the very best is a good opportunity for us.

"Of course you always want to win games but, for me, the most important aspect of these two games will be the performance and continuing to implement our processes."

Hayes has also vowed to rest some of her big names, revealing her squad will be mostly NWSL-based players. Vice-captain Naomi Girma - who joined Chelsea for just over €1m last January - is the sole exception.

Both USA-Republic of Ireland games will be broadcast live on the RTÉ Player, with the second game also live on RTÉ2.


Republic of Ireland squad:

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Unattached), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic)

Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Unattached)

Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Shamrock Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Ellen Molloy (Wexford)

Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Saoirse Noonan (Celtic), Erin Healy (Adelaide United), Izzy Atkinson (Unattached)

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