Photo: Sipa USA-USA TODAY Sports

A survey of 2023 Women’s World Cup players, conducted by world players’ union FIFPRO, underscored the growing conflict between international duties and professional leagues in women’s soccer. The problem was particularly pervasive due to the timing of this year’s World Cup, which started and ended approximately one month later than previous editions due to it being staged in Australia and New Zealand during the Southern Hemisphere’s winter.

Fifty-three percent of players surveyed felt they did not have enough rest time before their first World Cup match, FIFPRO said, while 60% felt their post-tournament rest was insufficient, with most players reporting that they had less than two weeks off before rejoining their clubs.

It is a predictable aftermath for a problem that brewed ahead of the World Cup. The National Women’s Soccer League and U.S. Soccer clashed last winter over whether players would be released outside of mandatory FIFA dates and quietly came to an agreement ahead of the World Cup. Months later, the problem played out publicly in Europe, with the European Clubs Association initially taking a stand against releasing players to their national teams — most of which planned for and eventually executed weeks-long training camps ahead of the World Cup — outside of required dates. Individual decisions were ultimately left with clubs as part of a compromise.

Sarah Gregorius, FIFPRO’s director of policy and strategic relations for women’s football, called the conversations “polarizing” in a roundtable with reporters earlier this week.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 — Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
M6: B2 vs B3
M7: Brazil (B1) vs B4

Thursday, February 22, 2024 – Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX
M8: C2 vs C3
M9: Canada (C1) vs C4

Friday, February 23, 2024 — Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA
M10: A4 vs A2
M11: A3 vs United States (A1)

Saturday, February 24, 2024 — Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
M12: B4 vs B2
M13: B3 vs Brazil (B1)

Sunday, February 25, 2024 — Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX
M14: C4 vs C2
M15: C3 vs Canada (C1)

Monday, February 26, 2024 — Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA
M16: A3 vs A4
M17: United States (A1) vs A2

Tuesday, February 27, 2024 — Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
M18: B3 vs B4
M19: Brazil (B1) vs B2

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 — Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX
M20: C3 vs C4
M21: Canada (C1) vs C2
 
Saturday, March 2, 2024 — BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA (Quarterfinals)
M22: 1st vs 8th
M23: 2nd vs 7th 

Sunday, March 3, 2024 — BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA (Quarterfinals)
M24: 3rd vs 6th 
M25: 4th vs 5th 

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 — Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA (Semifinals)
M26: WM22 vs WM25
M27: WM23 vs WM24

Sunday, March 10, 2024 — Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA (Final)
M28: WM26 vs WM27

(RIchard Callis/SPP)

After a disappointing World Cup, now is a time of change for the United States women’s national team. Interim head coach Twila Kilgore is exploring different options for the team, and has handed debuts to Mia Fishel, Jaedyn Shaw and M.A. Vignola. Ahead of the upcoming friendlies with China in early December, Korbin Albert became the latest newcomer called up to the squad.

Albert made her name as a goal-scoring midfielder with the University of Notre Dame. In her final year, she found the net 16 times and was nominated for the Mac Hermann Trophy alongside Jenna Nighswonger and eventual winner Michelle Cooper. She was in the U.S. squad for the U-20 World Cup last year, starting two of their three games. Then, in January 2023, she made the move to professional soccer, joining French giants Paris Saint-Germain on a two-and-a-half year deal.

With PSG, the 20-year-old primarily plays in a more withdrawn role, sometimes acting as their deepest midfielder. She has started in both of their Champions League group games so far, against Bayern Munich and Ajax, as well as three of their seven league fixtures. PSG are a fluid attacking side whose setup fluctuates regularly, and Albert is still developing an understanding with her teammates. As a consequence, her role can look very different from one game to another.