EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – OCTOBER 26: United States head coach Emma Hayes and Jaedyn Shaw #8 of the United States react to a non-call during the first half against Portugal during an international friendly vs Portugal at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on October 26, 2025 in East Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Howard Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
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For the second successive year, there will be no player from the United States selected in the FIFPro Women’s World XI after the shortlist was announced today.
The team, uniquely selected by the votes of female professional players around the world, was first established as an award in 2015. On the back of winning the Women’s World Cup that year, four United States players – Hope Solo, Meghan Klingenberg, Julie Johnstone (now Ertz) and Carli Lloyd – were elected to the first-ever Women’s World XI.
Since then, at least one United States’ player has featured in every World XI until last year. Alex Morgan alone was selected in six of the subsequent seven teams. Only two players in history have ever featured more than her in the award’s history.
Last year, on the back of a Women’s World Cup in which the United States failed to make the semi-finals for the first time, none of their players made the World XI. Nonetheless, two were selected among the 26 finalists – Naomi Girma and Lindsey Horan (now Heaps).
This time, there is not even that consolation for the Olympic Gold Medalists and number two ranked nation in the world. Indeed, of the 26 chosen, none are from the CONCACAF regregion, not even Khadija Shaw of Jamaica who was prolific for Manchester City last season, finishing as joint-top goalscorer in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
A remarkable 18 of the 26 players chosen were internationals for either European champions England or world champions Spain, the two teams that contested the UEFA Women’s Euro final in July. That Anglo-Spanish contingent surprisingly did not include Mariona Caldentey of Arsenal who was second in the recent voting for the women’s Ballon D’Or and had an excellent season for club and country.
Over 6000 female players affiliated to the world union FIFPro voted for their team based on their performances between 11 August 2024 to 3 August 2025. This period began the day after the United States won the Gold Medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Players must have appeared in at least 20 official matches during that period to be eligible for the World XI.
The number of voting players is down on the reported 7000 who voted on the award last which seems incongruous with a sport that is growing around the world. The fact that only five players from outside Europe – three from Africa and two from South America – highlights the lack of coverage of the women’s game outside its established markets of Europe and North America.
Last night, after the United States avenged their recent home defeat to Portugal by winning the second game between the two sides, their coach Emma Hayes explained why her players must get more game time to compete with the leading European teams.
“If youre Spanish, you’re German, you’re English, you’re playing in the U17 world, the U20 World Cup. And this for me is prime importance – for our players to be playing in youth national team tournaments if we are to stand any chance of competing.”
“I think what everyone else needs to understand that in the rest of the world, over a full (four-year) cycle, the number of games European players are playing is equal to one season more than players in the United States. So I have to close the gap.”
Elsewhere, Lucy Bronze was once more shortlisted for the Women’s World XI. If selected for the team, it will be a record eighth time she has been chosen by her fellow professionals. This will mean she breaks the record she currently shares with her former Lyon team-mate Wendie Renard who was chosen for the first seven World XIs.
The eleven players who received the most votes in their position are selected for the World XI. The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards who have received the most votes will be selected with the final spot assigned to the remaining outfield player with the next highest number of votes.
FIFPRO will announce the World XI on November 3 from 18:00 EST on its digital platforms.