Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith headline new-look USWNT squad as Alex Morgan misses out on December friendlies against China

United States interim head coach Twila Kilgore omitted 10 players who went to the World Cup in summer for the last international camp of 2023 early next month. Alex Morgan is the biggest name not included for the back-to-back friendlies against China, but there is also no room for veterans Alyssa Naeher, Becky Sauerbrunn or Crystal Dunn all of whom had been in the October squad. Only three players of the 26 in the new squad have celebrated their 30th birthdays, with three uncapped and seven aged 22 or younger. Even at 23 and 21 respectively, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman are well established and represent the future now.

The United States have undergone major changes since a last 16 exit marked their worst ever World Cup during the summer. Vlatko Andonovski stepped down after the tournament, with US Soccer since hiring Emma Hayes as his permanent successor. She will will officially start work at the end of the 2023-24 WSL season with Chelsea.

Kilgore said: "As we move forward with the next steps, we need more opportunities to see players from our pool in our unique National Team environment, in both training and games, so we can evaluate if and how they might contribute moving forward to the Olympics."

After a disastrous World Cup by their usual standards, the United States will be desperate to make a mark at the 2024 Olympics in Paris this coming July and August. Hayes will start work ahead of the tournament that the Americans have won more than anyone else (four gold medals) since it was introduced in 1996, but not since 2012. They got a bronze in 2021 and didn't medal at all in 2016.