Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly has been called up by England’s Women’s National Team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in April.
England will face Northern Macedonia on April 8 for the first of two WCQ matches. The Lionesses earned a 7-0 victory in the last meeting between both teams on Sept. 18, 2021. Daly earned the start in the backline to help England earn a clean sheet.
A few days later Daly will travel with the Lionesses to take on Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in Belfast on April 12. England and Northern Ireland faced off twice during 2021. During the most recent match in October, England beat Northern Ireland 4-0 following a second half hat trick from Beth Mead. Daly earned the start on the backline to help the Lionesses secure three points at Wembley Stadium. In February 2021, the first match for England since the COVID-19 pandemic, England beat Northern Ireland 6-0 and Daly scored the fifth goal in the 67th minute.
Daly has 46 caps for the Lionesses and has scored seven international goals. The forward made her first senior team debut on June 4, 2016 against Serbia.
This is Daly’s seventh year with the Dash and she scored the game-winning penalty kick to secure Houston’s first victory of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup over Racing Louisville FC on March 25. With the goal, Daly is the all-time leading scorer in Challenge Cup play. Houston returns to tournament play on Wednesday as they host the Kansas City Current at 7:30 p.m. CT at PNC Stadium.
