Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher announced on Monday that she will retire from the United States women’s national team following upcoming matches against England and the Netherlands. She will continue playing for Chicago in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Naeher is a two-time World Cup-winner with the U.S. and the only goalkeeper in women’s soccer history to earn a shutout in both a World Cup final (2019) and an Olympic final (2024).
“Having the opportunity to be a part of the USWNT for the past 15 years has been the greatest honor,” Naeher said in a statement. “When I began this journey, I never could have imagined where it would take me, and now I find myself so grateful for all the incredible teammates that I have shared the field with; teammates that have turned into lifelong friends.”
Naeher will play her final matches for the U.S. in the coming week as the Americans take to the road to face England on Saturday and the Netherlands on Dec. 3.
The 36-year-old goalkeeper has 113 caps for the U.S. – including 88 wins and 68 shutouts. She ranks behind only Hope Solo and Briana Scurry in each of those categories in U.S. history.
Naeher backed up Solo at the 2015 World Cup before assuming the No. 1 job in 2019, when she famously stopped a penalty kick in the U.S.’ semifinal victory over England. She was known for her incredible ability to stop penalties, which she showed off at major tournaments and earlier this year, when twice in about a month she saved three penalties and converted another (each against Canada).
“Every team shed in the challenging times and disappointments made every smile and celebration in the moments of success that much more joyful,” she wrote in a post on her Instagram.
Naeher recently resigned with the Chicago Red Stars (soon to become Chicago Stars FC) for the 2025 NWSL season. It will be her 10th season with the club.
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