Tracy Mayer Names U.S. Power Soccer National Team Roster for 2023 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup in Australia
CHICAGO (Sept. 11, 2023) – U.S. Power Soccer National Team head coach Tracy Mayer has named his final eight-player roster for the 2023 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup to take place Oct. 15-21 at the Quaycentre at Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney, Australia. Champions in 2007 and 2011, the world-second ranked U.S. side heads to Australia looking to claim its record third Powerchair Football World Cup title after finishing as runner-up to France at the 2017 edition in Kissimmee, Fla.
U.S. Power Soccer National Team members Jordan Dickey, Natalie Dickey, Zach Dickey, Alexis Heer, Riley Johnson, Nathan Mayer and Pete Winslow will meet with the U.S. Men’s National Team on Monday morning, prior to the team’s training session at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn. As the Federation continues to celebrate soccer in all of its forms, U.S. Soccer will also recognize the World Cup squad prior to kickoff of the USMNT’s friendly against Oman on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at Allianz Field. (Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, Universo and Peacock).
“I'm very excited for this group to represent the United States at the Powerchair Football World Cup,” said U.S. Power Soccer National Team head coach Tracy Mayer, who will also be Allianz Field with the players next week. “We’re fortunate to have a diverse and talented pool of athletes to choose from in the United States and the experience, versatility and depth we have on this roster gives us a great opportunity as we go for another World Cup title in Australia.”
CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE
Six players have previous tournament experience, with three contributing to the USA’s previous two World Cup wins. Natalie Dickey helped the USA claim the inaugural 2007 FIPFA World Cup in Tokyo Japan, while Jordan Dickey and Pete Winslow were on the 2011 World Cup squad that repeated as champion in Paris, France.
The Dickeys, along with Riley Johnson, Nathan Mayer and Peyton Sefick are the five returning players from the 2017 squad.
Part of the program for a number of years, Alexis Heer and Zach Dickey are the two first-time World Cup selections and are set to make their international debuts at the 2023 World Cup.
2023 WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
One of 10 teams taking part in the 2023 edition, the USA face all nine opponents in a round-robin format, beginning with hosts Australia on October 15 at 1 p.m. AEDT (October 14 at 10 p.m. ET). At the end of the round-robin stage, the top four teams will advance to the semifinals, with the winners facing off in the final. All knockout round matches will be played on October 19 and 20 in Australia.
| U.S. World Cup Schedule | ||
| Date | Opponent | Time (U.S. Eastern Time) |
| Oct. 14 | Australia | 10 p.m. |
| Oct. 15 | France | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 15 | Northern Ireland | 10 p.m. |
| Oct. 16 | Republic of Ireland | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 17 | Japan | 1 a.m. |
| Oct. 17 | England | 10 p.m. |
| Oct. 18 | Denmark | 1 a.m. |
| Oct. 18 | Uruguay | 8:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 18 | Argentina | 11:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 19 | Semifinal #1 | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 19 | Semifinal #2 | 8:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 20 | Third Place Playoff | 2:30 am |
| Oct. 20 | Final | 5 a.m. |
The USA qualified for the 2023 World Cup after winning the 2019 America’s Cup in Brazil. Jordan Dickey, Natalie Dickey, Riley Johnson and Nathan Mayer were part of that squad.
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Hometown; Previous World Cup Rosters):
GOALKEEPER (1): Nathan Mayer (Monticello, Minn.; 2017)
WINGS (3): Alexis Heer (Fishers, Ind.; First roster), Natalie Dickey (Carmel, Ind.; 2007, 2017), Peyton Sefick (Syracuse, N.Y.; 2017)
CENTERS (2): Jordan Dickey (Pendleton, Ind.; 2011, 2017), Riley Johnson (Saint Cloud, Minn.; 2017)
STRIKERS (2): Zach Dickey (Pendleton, Ind.; First roster), Pete Winslow (Woodbury, Minn.; 2011)
ROSTER NOTES:
- Six players have previous World Cup experience.
- Recently married, husband and wife duo Jordan Dickey (2011, 2017) and Natalie Dickey (2007, 2017) lead the way with their third World Cup roster selections.
- Riley Johnson (2017), Nathan Mayer (2017), Peyton Sefick (2017) and Pete Winslow (2011) are each headed to their second World Cup.
- Natalie Dickey (nee Russo) was part of the first U.S. World Cup-winning side in 2007, while Jordan Dickey and Pete Winslow helped the USA earn the 2011 title.
- Five players return from the 2017 World Cup squad that finished as runners-up: Jordan Dickey, Natalie Dickey, Riley Johnson, Nathan Mayer and Peyton Sefick
- Striker Zach Dickey, brother of Jordan Dickey, and wing Alexis Heer are the two first-time World Cup selections.
ABOUT POWERCHAIR SOCCER
The U.S. Power Soccer National Team features male and female athletes with disabilities that include quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy, among others. The game is played in a gymnasium on a regulation basketball court with four players who attack, defend, and spin-kick a 13-inch soccer ball in a skilled and challenging game similar to mainstream soccer.
Power Soccer is the first competitive team sport developed specifically for power wheelchair users and has been played internationally since 2006. Thie 2023 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup marks the first world championship event for the U.S. Power Soccer National Team under U.S. Soccer supervision. The team officially became part of the Extended National Teams program in 2022 as part of U.S. Soccer's effort to build out programming for soccer in all of its forms.
For more information on the sport or to inquire about athlete eligibility, please contact U.S. Soccer's Extended National Teams Department via email at extendednt@ussoccer.org.