Katie McCabe has been rested by the Republic of Ireland for their upcoming friendlies in the United States.
The Irish will take on Emma Hayes’ USA side in Denver on June 26th, and again three days later in Cincinnati.
Ireland captain McCabe though will miss the two friendlies after not being included in Carla Ward’s 23-player squad.
The absentee list also includes Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne, and Leanne Kiernan. Aoibheann Clancy will not travel after her mother Siobhan passed away.
Ellen Molloy and Crystal Palace defender Hayley Nolan have both been called up to the Irish side for the first time since Ward was appointed as manager back in January.
Ward said in a press conference: “The two games against USA are an opportunity for us to work together on a number of things. Both on and off the pitch – as we build towards the Uefa Nations League Play-Off against Belgium in October.
“We will be coming up against the best team in women’s football. We will have a plan for those games but it’s also important that we make the most out of this camp as a whole.”
A 23-player squad to take on the USA in two international friendlies this month ☘️
June 26th – Denver, CO | 02:00am Irish time
June 29th – Cincinnati, OH | 20:00pm Irish time pic.twitter.com/4IZKnlK6Eh— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) June 11, 2025
Why has Katie McCabe been rested by the Republic of Ireland?
Katie McCabe was left out of the Republic of Ireland squad following a gruelling domestic season with Arsenal.
The 29-year-old made 39 appearances for the Gunners in the 2024-25 season. It was a campaign that concluded with their UEFA Women’s Champions League triumph at the end of May.
After Ireland’s recent 1-0 Nations League victory over Slovenia, Carla Ward revealed that McCabe won’t travel to the United States.
She said: “Katie has played an awful lot of minutes for club and country. She’s on the verge of burnout, as are some others.
“There’s going to be conversations. It won’t just be Katie that won’t be travelling.
“You’ve seen with Millie Bright at England coming out, mental and physical fatigue is massive. I felt it as [manager of Aston] Villa. It’s the reason I needed that break.”
Republic of Ireland squad to play USA
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Unattached), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic)
Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Unattached)
Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Shamrock Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Ellen Molloy (Wexford)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Saoirse Noonan (Celtic), Erin Healy (Adelaide United), Izzy Atkinson (Unattached)
