Legendary U.S. Women’s World Cup Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher Announces Retirement from International Football

Legendary U.S. Women’s World Cup Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher Announces Retirement from International Football

Alyssa Naeher, the renowned goalkeeper of the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) and World Cup champion, has announced her retirement from international football. The star goalkeeper, who has been a key figure for the U.S. national team for 11 years, shared the news on her social media on Monday, November 25.

Naeher, who played as the goalkeeper for the U.S. team that won the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, was also part of the gold-winning team at the 2024 Tokyo Olympics. She remains the only American goalkeeper to have kept a clean sheet in both a World Cup and Olympic final.

"Those moments will be forever etched in my memory," Naeher wrote in her retirement announcement. "Every tear shed during challenging and frustrating times made our successful moments even sweeter. Being part of this team has been something special, and I am proud of everything we achieved both on and off the field. These memories will stay with me forever."

A Glorious Career

Alyssa Naeher made her debut for the U.S. national team in 2014 and served as the backup goalkeeper to Hope Solo during the 2015 World Cup. After the 2016 Rio Olympics, she became the team's regular first-choice goalkeeper.

Throughout her illustrious career, Naeher played in 113 matches, with 110 of them as a starter. She earned 88 wins and achieved 68 clean sheets. Naeher played a crucial role in both the 2019 World Cup victory and the 2024 Olympic gold medal win, keeping multiple clean sheets, including a standout save during the Olympic final against Brazil, which remains a memorable moment for football fans.

Naeher’s retirement marks the end of an era for U.S. women’s football, as the team loses a steady and inspirational leader whose legacy will continue to inspire football fans around the world.