Ireland Women's World Cup 2023 squad: Who's in & who's out?
16 December, 2025n8rngtd.top0 Comments1 category
Details about the Ireland squad for the Women's World Cup 2023, including the players who may be included and those who may miss out.
The Republic of Ireland have reached a major competition for the first time ever with their qualification for the 2023 Women's World Cup finals.
Beating Scotland by a solitary goal in a play-off final, and with the tournament expanding the number of teams to 32 this time around, Ireland picked up one of the last UEFA spots to become the 41st different nation to qualify for the finals.
The Irish women will begin their campaign against co-hosts Australia on July 20 in Australia, with Nigeria and Canada making up the rest of Group B.
Given Vera Pauw's 23-member final squad announcement on Wednesday, along with a few training members, skipper Katie McCabe, Denise O'Sullivan, Sinead Farrelly and Marissa Sheva joined the squad after the Zambia friendly that Ireland won 3-2.
The Girls in Green will play two more preparatory friendly games against France and Colombia slated for July 6 and 14, respectively, as GOAL takes a look at who made it to the Ireland Women's World Cup squad.
Having started crucial qualification games and friendly games that followed, Everton's American-born goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan is the number choice in between the sticks.
Megan Walsh is one of the five players exiting Brighton but would be looking to give Reading's Grace Moloney a healthy competition for the chance to wear the gloves whenever called upon.
Name
Club
Courtney Brosnan
Everton
Grace Moloney
Reading
Megan Walsh
Free Agent
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DEFENDERS
Former Manchester United defender Diane Caldwell will be looking to make a century of international caps at the World Cup, alongside veterans Louise Quinn and Niamh Fahey who are already in the 100 club.
Aine O'Gorman also has over 100 international appearances, while 21-year-old Isibeal "Izzy" Atkinson got the nod following her impressive showing in the recent friendly win against Zambia.
Claire O'Riordan had a successful season with Celtic, with Chloe Mustaki representing the newly promoted Bristol City.
Heather Payne has started up front for Ireland on multiple occasions but as often as in her natural position as a right wing-back.
Name
Club
Louise Quinn
Birmingham City
Niamh Fahey
Liverpool
Claire O'Riordan
Celtic
Chloe Mustaki
Bristol City
Diane Caldwell
Reading
Aine O'Gorman
Shamrock Rovers
Izzy Atkinson
West Ham
Heather Payne
Florida State University
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MIDFIELDERS
Arsenal's Katie McCabe was cleared for the friendly games against the United States in April despite suffering a bruised ankle in the Bayern defeat in the Women's Champions League, and made it to the playing XI as well, given the x-ray results dismissed injury concerns.
Ruesha Littlejohn's Aston Villa contract on Friday, but has made the cut after recovering from a broken foot that had left her out of the qualification play-off against Scotland.
Meanwhile, leaving Brighton by June end, Megan Connolly played a crucial role in Ireland's qualifiers – scoring in the 2-1 win over Finland and assisting with a free-kick in the return game in which she reportedly took to the field with broken ribs.
Denise O'Sullivan adds in as a playmaker with a plausible work rate, with Lucy Quinn well equipped to play in the middle as well as further up.
Despite early concerns of Lily Agg's torn ankle ligaments in March, the London City Lionesses' midfielder brings in a wealth of experience to the side, while Ciara Grant went from doctor to footballer and scored four goals for Hearts last season.
American-born Sinead Farrelly, eligible through her Irish-born father, would make her Irish debut in April after an eight-year football absence prompted by alleged sexual abuse.
Name
Club
Katie McCabe
Arsenal
Denise O'Sullivan
North Carolina Courage
Megan Connolly
Free Agent
Sinead Farrelly
NY/NJ Gotham
Lily Agg
London City Lionesses
Lucy Quinn
Birmingham City
Ruesha Littlejohn
Free Agent
Ciara Grant
Hearts
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FORWARDS
Amber Barrett's goal against Scotland in the qualification play-off turned out to be historic in terms of Ireland's first-ever Women's World Cup appearance, and the Standard Liege forward would look forward to delivering on the big stage.
Another US-born in the side, Kyra Carusa has Women's Champions League experience under her belt with Danish side HB Koge before she joined London City Lionesses in February.
Also, a US-born, Marissa Sheva can be a menace on the wings with a good run with Washington Spirit, while 18-year-old Abbie Larkin is the youngest member of the squad.