Florida State University Athletics
Eight Seminoles Set to Represent their Home Countries at FIFA Women's World Cup
7/19/2023 10:58:00 AM | Women's Soccer
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Eight current and former Florida State women's soccer athletes will represent their country on the biggest stage as the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup begins on Thursday morning in Australia and New Zealand. The Noles' eight athletes to play in the World Cup leads the NCAA, and the Seminoles are the only team in the country to have multiple current collegiate athletes on a World Cup roster. The four current athletes include Maria Alagoa (Portugal), Jody Brown (Jamaica), Onyi Echegini (Nigeria) and Heather Payne (Ireland). Former Seminoles Gabby Carle (Canada), Megan Connolly (Ireland), Cheyna Matthews (Jamaica) and Gloriana Villalobos (Costa Rica) will also make an appearance on the world stage.
Brown is the lone current Seminole to have already appeared in a World Cup. At the age of 17, Brown was a part of Jamaica's first-ever World Cup team in 2019 and made her debut against Brazil. Alagoa, Echegini and Payne will all be making their World Cup debuts. These four were an integral part of getting the Seminoles back to the College Cup for the third-straight season in 2022. Echegini and Brown led the team with 11 goals and eight goals, respectively. Payne added four goals and four assists while Alagoa added three goals and three assists. The four combined for 59 starts last season, and Brown, Echegini and Payne were all named to the All-ACC team following the 2022 season.
Carle (2017-21) and Matthews (2014-15) return for their second World Cup as both were on their respective national team rosters in 2019. Matthews made two starts for Jamaica while Carle made one start for Canada in the 2019 World Cup. Both Jamaica and Canada were knocked out in the Group Stage. Connolly (2015-19) and Villalobos (2017-18) will each be making their World Cup debut.
For updates and exclusive content, follow the Noles on Twitter (FSU_Soccer), Instagram (nolesoccer) and Facebook (Florida State Seminoles Soccer).
NCAA Programs With the Most Players Represented on World Cup Rosters
1. Florida State (8)
2. Stanford (7)
3. North Carolina (6)
T4. California (5)
T4. Florida (5)
T4. Georgetown (5)
T4. Penn State (5)
T8. USF (4)
T8. USC (4)
T8. Tennessee (4)
2023 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Schedule
July 20
Ireland (Heather Payne and Megan Connolly) vs. Australia at 6 a.m. on FOX
Nigeria (Onyi Echegini) vs. Canada (Gabby Carle) at 10:30 p.m. on FOX
July 21
Spain vs. Costa Rica (Glorian Villalobos) at 3:30 a.m. on FS1
July 23
Netherlands vs. Portugal (Maria Alagoa) at 3:30 a.m. on FS1
France vs. Jamaica (Jody Brown and Cheyna Matthews) at 6 a.m. on FOX
July 26
Japan vs. Costa Rica (Gloriana Villalobos) at 1 a.m. on FS1
Canada (Gabby Carle) vs. Ireland (Heather Payne and Megan Connolly) at 8 a.m. on FOX
July 27
Portugal (Maria Alagoa) vs. Vietnam at 3:30 a.m. on FS1
Nigeria (Onyi Echegini) vs. Australia at 6 a.m. on FS1
July 29
Panama vs. Jamaica (Jody Brown and Cheyna Matthews) at 8:30 a.m. on FOX
July 31
Costa Rica (Gloriana Villalobos) vs. Zambia at 1 a.m. on FS1
Ireland (Heather Payne and Megan Connolly) vs Nigeria (Onyi Echegini) at 6 a.m. on FS1
Canada (Gabby Carle) vs. Australia at 6 a.m. on FOX
August 2
Jamaica (Jody Brown and Cheyna Matthews) vs. Brazil at 6 a.m. on FS1
Brown is the lone current Seminole to have already appeared in a World Cup. At the age of 17, Brown was a part of Jamaica's first-ever World Cup team in 2019 and made her debut against Brazil. Alagoa, Echegini and Payne will all be making their World Cup debuts. These four were an integral part of getting the Seminoles back to the College Cup for the third-straight season in 2022. Echegini and Brown led the team with 11 goals and eight goals, respectively. Payne added four goals and four assists while Alagoa added three goals and three assists. The four combined for 59 starts last season, and Brown, Echegini and Payne were all named to the All-ACC team following the 2022 season.
Carle (2017-21) and Matthews (2014-15) return for their second World Cup as both were on their respective national team rosters in 2019. Matthews made two starts for Jamaica while Carle made one start for Canada in the 2019 World Cup. Both Jamaica and Canada were knocked out in the Group Stage. Connolly (2015-19) and Villalobos (2017-18) will each be making their World Cup debut.
The World Cup begins on Thursday with four Seminoles taking the stage on day one. Payne and Connolly will play at 6 a.m. as Ireland prepares to take on host Australia. Echegini and Carle will face off at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday night as Nigeria will face off with Canada. Both matches can be seen live on FOX. Group Stage matches will take place until Aug. 3. The Round of 16 will begin on Aug. 5. All matches can be seen live on either FOX or FS1.Going Worldwide??
— FSU Soccer (@FSUSoccer) July 19, 2023
The Seminoles lead the NCAA with 8? total athletes set to participate in the 2023 FIFA World Cup??
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For updates and exclusive content, follow the Noles on Twitter (FSU_Soccer), Instagram (nolesoccer) and Facebook (Florida State Seminoles Soccer).
NCAA Programs With the Most Players Represented on World Cup Rosters
1. Florida State (8)
2. Stanford (7)
3. North Carolina (6)
T4. California (5)
T4. Florida (5)
T4. Georgetown (5)
T4. Penn State (5)
T8. USF (4)
T8. USC (4)
T8. Tennessee (4)
2023 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Schedule
July 20
Ireland (Heather Payne and Megan Connolly) vs. Australia at 6 a.m. on FOX
Nigeria (Onyi Echegini) vs. Canada (Gabby Carle) at 10:30 p.m. on FOX
July 21
Spain vs. Costa Rica (Glorian Villalobos) at 3:30 a.m. on FS1
July 23
Netherlands vs. Portugal (Maria Alagoa) at 3:30 a.m. on FS1
France vs. Jamaica (Jody Brown and Cheyna Matthews) at 6 a.m. on FOX
July 26
Japan vs. Costa Rica (Gloriana Villalobos) at 1 a.m. on FS1
Canada (Gabby Carle) vs. Ireland (Heather Payne and Megan Connolly) at 8 a.m. on FOX
July 27
Portugal (Maria Alagoa) vs. Vietnam at 3:30 a.m. on FS1
Nigeria (Onyi Echegini) vs. Australia at 6 a.m. on FS1
July 29
Panama vs. Jamaica (Jody Brown and Cheyna Matthews) at 8:30 a.m. on FOX
July 31
Costa Rica (Gloriana Villalobos) vs. Zambia at 1 a.m. on FS1
Ireland (Heather Payne and Megan Connolly) vs Nigeria (Onyi Echegini) at 6 a.m. on FS1
Canada (Gabby Carle) vs. Australia at 6 a.m. on FOX
August 2
Jamaica (Jody Brown and Cheyna Matthews) vs. Brazil at 6 a.m. on FS1
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
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Forward
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Midfielder
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Midfielder/Defender
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