PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC forward Alex Morgan and midfielder Tobin Heath were named to the 23-player U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, it was announced today. The roster will not become official until it is submitted to FIFA on May 25, which is the deadline for all teams to submit their final squads.
The Women’s World Cup roster will make up the squad for the U.S. Women’s National Team’s final three matches before departing for Canada. The three-match Send-Off Series begins May 10 against Ireland at 11:30 a.m. (Pacific) at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif. The United States then faces Mexico on May 17 at 6 p.m. (Pacific) at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. Both matches will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1. In the final match of the Send-Off Series, the United States takes on Korea Republic on May 30 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.; kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will be broadcast on ESPN and WatchESPN.
Playing in Group D this summer at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the U.S. Women’s National Team opens group play with its first two matches at Winnipeg Stadium against Australia on June 8 at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific) and Sweden on June 12 at 5 p.m. (Pacific). The United States plays its final group match on June 16 in Vancouver at BC Place against Nigeria; kickoff is set for 5 p.m. (Pacific). The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup runs from June 6-July 5 and all 52 games will be shown live on FOX, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2 and on tablets and mobile devices through the FOX Sports GO app and FOXSportsGO.com.
Morgan, 25, appeared in 14 matches (13 starts) for Thorns FC during the 2014 NWSL season, recording six goals and four assists. Now in her third season for Portland, Morgan started and played 75 minutes in Thorns FC’s 4-1 victory over the Boston Breakers in their 2015 NWSL home opener on April 11 at Providence Park. This is Morgan’s second appearance on a FIFA Women’s World Cup roster. The U.S. Women’s National Team forward was the youngest player on the U.S. roster at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Making her debut in Germany, Morgan appeared in five matches as a substitute and was one of two U.S. Women’s National Team players, along with Abby Wambach, to score in both the World Cup semifinal and championship match. Against France in the semifinal on July 13, Morgan scored the clinching goal in a 3-1 victory, while she scored the opening goal and tallied an assist in a dramatic penalty-kick loss against Japan in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final on July 17.
Appearing in her second FIFA Women’s World Cup, Heath, 26, made five appearances (all starts) for Thorns FC during the 2014 regular season and begins her third season with Portland in 2015. Heath started and played 90 minutes, helping Thorns FC record a 4-1 win against the Boston Breakers in the team’s 2015 NWSL home opener on April 11 at Providence Park. The U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder appeared in four matches as a substitute at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, playing in the quarterfinal, semifinal and final in her first World Cup at the senior national team level.
