2023 Women’s World Cup players – Amidst the excitement and fervor of the largest stage in women’s soccer, there are players who have unwillingly found themselves sidelined, watching the tournament through a small screen for a regrettable reason: injuries.
One of the teams hit hardest by this injury storm is the reigning European champions, the England national team. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Lionesses are facing a genuine crisis ahead of this year’s tournament, as they’ve lost three key players due to injuries: Beth Mead, Leah Williamson, and Fran Kirby.
10 Players Missing Out on 2023 Women’s World Cup
Let’s take a look at the ten names who will miss this year’s World Cup due to injuries below.
1. Beth Mead (England)
The Arsenal forward is one of the finest names in the world of women’s football, and her absence will be a significant loss for the Lionesses. During the previous Euro, Mead scored 6 goals and provided 4 assists, leading England to victory and claiming the Golden Boot as the top scorer. This alone demonstrated Beth Mead’s importance to the English team. Unfortunately, the 28-year-old superstar will miss this World Cup due to an ACL injury she suffered at the end of 2022.
See also: Top 5 Most Expensive Women’s Soccer Transfers in History
2. Becky Sauerbrunn (USA)
The captain of the US national team announced, in an emotional post on social media, that she won’t be part of this year’s World Cup due to foot injuries. The 38-year-old player is known for being a role model within the star-studded squad, and her absence will pose a challenging question for the team, not only tactically but also mentally.
3. Leah Williamson (England)
Williamson will be another player missing from the England squad. The 26-year-old captain of the Lionesses will be sidelined due to an ACL injury she suffered in April. Her absence will be a significant blow to the English team, as they will lose a versatile defender who can also play in the midfield. Leah played a crucial role in their Euro campaign.
4. Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)
Another teammate of Mead, Miedema, will also miss the opportunity to travel to New Zealand this year. The Dutch international scored 14 goals and provided 8 assists in the Women’s Super League 2021/22. Vivianne’s absence will be a headache for the Netherlands, as she has been a pillar of the national team for years. She tore her ACL last year and couldn’t recover in time.
5. Catarina Macario (USA)
Macario, who became a US citizen in 2020, will be the next name to miss the football festival this year. Before tearing her ACL in her left knee in June last year, the 23-year-old had 17 caps and scored 8 goals for the national team. She also confirmed on social media that she won’t be able to return in time for this World Cup.
6. Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France)
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that luck has not been on Katoto’s side. The 24-year-old player was left out of the 2019 World Cup squad despite being one of the top scorers in Division 1 Féminine. Katoto made it to the Euro 2022 squad but suffered an ACL injury during the group stage, forcing her to miss both the Euros and this World Cup.
7. Janine Beckie (Canada)
Another star from North America, Janine Beckie of Canada, will also miss this edition of the World Cup due to an ACL injury she sustained while playing for Portland Thorns in March.
8. Fran Kirby (England)
Another star of the England national team, Fran Kirby, won’t make it to New Zealand this year either. The striker, who holds the record for the most goals in Chelsea’s history, recently underwent knee surgery for a recurring injury, forcing her to cheer on her teammates from afar. The 30-year-old player was instrumental in England’s victory at the Euro 2022.
9. Delphine Cascarino (France)
Lyon’s winger, Delphine Cascarino, will also miss the French roster for this World Cup due to an ACL injury. The 26-year-old is known as one of the top wingers in women’s football, having won 5 Champions League titles and 5 French league titles. Her absence will be a significant headache for the French team.
10. Linda Dallmann (Germany)
The 28-year-old player won’t be able to participate in the World Cup this year due to a torn ACL sustained during a cup match for Bayern Munich Frauen. Dallmann’s absence will leave a considerable gap in the German lineup.
That concludes the list of 2023 Women’s World Cup players that will be absent. It’s truly unfortunate to see these talented players miss out on the biggest stage of women’s football due to injuries. Let’s hope for their swift recovery and return to the beautiful game.
Follow Women’s League Soccer for the latest updates on women’s football.
