Houston Dash players report for national team duty

Nine Houston Dash players will report to their national team for the FIFA window with several players competing in major qualifying matches.

The United States Women’s National Team will host the ninth annual SheBelieves Cup. Due to the changes in the international schedule earlier this year, the tournament will have a different format and immediately go into a semifinal match. Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell returns to her native Georgia, where the USWNT will kick off the tournament by hosting Japan on April 6 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The tournament will then shift to Columbus, Ohio on April 9 where the USWNT will take on either Brazil or Canada in the championship or third-place match.

Dash forwards María Sánchez and Diana Ordóñez will join the Mexican Women’s National Team for the second annual MexTourW. The Mexican duo will kick off the tour in Orlando against Colombia on April 6 at Inter&Co. Stadium. The tour then shifts to San Antonio for a match against Australia on April 9. 

Michelle Alozie will join the Nigeria Women’s National Team for the fourth round of the CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Super Falcons will take on South Africa in the first leg of the series on Friday, April 5 at MKO Abiola Stadium in Nigeria. The series will then shift to Loftus Versfeld Stadium in South Africa on April 9 to decide who advances to the Olympic Games this summer.

Midfielder Barbara Olivieri will head to South America to join the Venezuelan Women’s National Team for a pair of friendlies against Panama on April 5 and April 8 at Estadio Nacional Brígido Iriarte in Caracas, Venezuela. Olivieri rejoins Venezuela for the first time since the September 2023 FIFA window. 

Goalkeeper Savannah Madden, who is fresh off her first cap with the Peruvian Women’s National Team, returns for a pair of friendlies against Costa Rica. The first match kicks off on April 6 at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Costa Rica. Madden will wrap up international duty on Tuesday, April 9 in the second match against Costa Rica at Sports Complex Fedefutbol-Plycem.

Defender Sarah Puntigam will head overseas to join the Austrian Women’s National Team for a pair of UEFA Women’s European Qualifying matches beginning with Germany on Friday, April 5. Austria will then head to Gdynia Stadium to face Poland on Tuesday, April 9. Puntigam, Austria’s captain, has 142 appearances for her home nation. 

Midfielder Elin Rubensson, who made her first Dash start last week against Bay FC, will join the Swedish Women’s National Team as they compete in UEFA Women’s European Qualifying matches against England on April 5 at Wembley Stadium. Sweden will host France at Old Ullevi Stadium on April 9.

Ramona Bachmann, who recently joined the team in a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, is currently on national team duty with Switzerland, who is preparing for UEFA Women’s European Qualifying matches against Turkey on Friday, April 5 at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich. Switzerland will then face Azerbaijan on Tuesday, April 9 at Dalga Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital.