By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
The Chicago Red Stars have no games scheduled at Soldier Field this season.
But one player – goalie Alyssa Maeher – could be on that historic field in September.
The four-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion United States will take on South Africa there at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 24. The two teams will be coming off participating in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand — the ninth World Cup appearance for the U.S. and the second for South Africa.
Naeher is the lone Red Star on the team. This will be the third World Cup for the Stratford, Connecticut, native who was a member of the Cup-winning 2015 and 2019 teams.
Since Naeher’s first call up to the national team in 2014, the keeper has amassed 91 appearances and recorded 54 shutouts.
This season with the Red Stars, Naeher set the NWSL record for most regular-season games played by a goalkeeper when she reached 150. The keeper also broke the record for most regular-season saves, surpassing former USWNT teammate Ashlyn Harris’ record of 518.
The U.S. has a long history at Soldier Field dating back to the pre-renovated stadium. The team’s first game there was June 28, 1998, against Germany.
The match on Sept. 24, which will be the U.S. women’s ninth all-time at Soldier Field, with their most recent appearance in October 2019 following the 2019 following the World Cup.
Prior to playing in Chicago, the U.S. and South Africa will face off Sept 21 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
The U.S. will kick off its campaign for a historic third-consecutive World Cup title at 8 p.m. July 21 in Auckland, New Zealand, against Vietnam in the group stage of the tournament.
Red Stars back in action
The Red Stars have had some time off and get back into the swing of things at 7 p.m. July 21 at Louisville in the Challenge Cup.
They return home to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview for a 7 p.m., July 29 Challenge Cup game against Kansas City.
Fire II ties NY
Trailing 2-1 on the road, the Chicago Fire II scored a goal in extra time for a wild 2-2 draw with New York on July 16 in an MLS NXT Pro Game.
Charlie Ostrem scored his team-high fifth goal in the first half and Omari Glasgow put in the dramatic tying goal. The Fire (7-6-6) gained an extra point with a 5-3 shootout triumph.
The Fire II visits Orlando at 5 p.m. July 23.
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