Megan Rapinoe to play final match as member of USWNT on Sept. 24 in Chicago
CHICAGO – U.S. Women’s National Team legend bwill end her international career on Sept. 24 at Soldier Field in Chicago as the USWNT finishes a two-game series with South Africa (4:30 p.m. CT on TNT, Universo and Peacock).
Rapinoe will be honored before the match to celebrate her iconic career and for her 200th cap, which was earned on July 9 vs. Wales in San Jose, Calif.
The complete training camp roster for the September friendlies will be announced soon, but Rapinoe will not play in the first match against South Africa on Sept. 21 in Cincinnati (7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, Universo and Peacock).
Rapinoe, 38, will end her international career with 203 caps and is the 14th American to reach 200 games played for her country. One of the most iconic players in U.S. Soccer history whose impact off the field has matched her historic success between the lines, she currently has 63 career goals and 73 assists for the USWNT, ranking her in the top-10 in U.S. history in both categories. She debuted for the USA in 2006, missed 2007 and 2008 due to injury, and restarted what would become an historic international career in 2009.
On July 8, 2023, Rapinoe announced her retirement from professional soccer following the conclusion of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League season. Rapinoe’s final regular season match with OL Reign, for whom she has played her entire 11-year NWSL career, is scheduled for October 15. The Reign will play its final regular season home game on Oct. 6 vs. the Washington Spirit in a match being billed as “Forever Reign: A Celebration of Megan Rapinoe.”
“People may think that my career coming to an end would bring sadness, but when I think back on the past 30-plus years of playing this game, my overriding emotions are joy and gratitude,” said Rapinoe. “It’s been an unbelievable ride. It will be special to have this one last opportunity to play for my country in front of our incredible fans and get the chance to thank my teammates and everyone who has had an impact on me as a person and player over the years.”
Rapinoe played in four Women’s World Cups, having represented the USA in 2011 in Germany, 2015 in Canada, 2019 in France and 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, famously helping win two World Cup titles. She also played in the 2004 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Thailand as well as the Olympic Games in England in 2012 (when she won a gold medal), Brazil in 2016 and Japan in 2021 (where she won bronze).
Rapinoe is tied with Abby Wambach for third all-time in assists for the USWNT and is one of only eight players in USWNT history with 50+ career goals and 50+ career assists. She is one goal away from tying Christen Press for ninth on the USA’s all-time goal scoring list and is the only player in the 50 goal/50 assist club with more career assists than goals.
