ATLANTA (May 28, 2026) – The U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team will make a rare trip to Bulgaria, traveling to Eastern Europe from June 1-10 to participate in the Bulgarian Nations Cup - 2026. The USA will play two older teams, taking on the U-20 WNT of Benin, which is the first-ever meeting with the Central African country for a U.S. Women’s National Team, while also facing the Ukraine U-19 WNT.
Benin recently qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, making it the first women's team from Benin to qualify for any FIFA World Cup tournament at any level.
The matches will take place on June 6 vs. Ukraine and June 9 vs. Benin in southwest Bulgaria. The winner of the round-robin competition will be determined on total points, with three for a win and zero for a loss. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation, the teams will go directly to a penalty kick shootout. The winner of the shootout will be officially recorded as the winner of the match for tournament purposes and will receive three points.Should teams be tied on points after the two matches, the tiebreakers are as follows: 1) head-to-head result, 2) superior goal difference, 3) most goals scored, 4) best Fair Play ranking during the tournament, and 5) the higher FIFA ranking.
There is one professional player on the roster in forward Audrey McKeen, who signed her first pro contract in early January of 2026 with Racing Louisville. Last October, she traveled to Portugal with a combined U.S. U-18/U-19 WNT and scored the game winner in the 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland. Three days later, she scored twice in a 3-3 draw with Portugal. This March, she scored twice in a 8-0 win over Sweden and then scored again in a 6-0 win over Hungary. McKeen has seen action in nine NWSL matches this season.
Four of the nine college players on the roster attend the University of North Carolina and two are from Notre Dame. The roster also includes defender Claire Kessenger, who lives and plays youth soccer in Spain.
All 20 players on this roster were born in 2008. Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2006, are age-eligible for the 2026 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup in Poland, but that roster will likely include mostly 2006 and 2007-born players.
Goalkeepers (2): Hannah Folliard (Georgia; Plainfield, Ill.), Peyton Trayer (UNC; Aliso Viejo, Calif.)
Defenders (6): Brynna Burrus (Tophat SC; Acworth, Ga.), Ryana Dill (Bethesda SC; Waldorf, Md.), Lauren Hemann (Bethesda SC; Potomac, Md.), Claire Kessenger (CE Europa Femenino, ESP; Barcelona, Spain), Gracie Milam (Notre Dame; Saint Charles, Mo.), Cali O'Neill (UNC; Durham, N.C.)
Midfielders (6): Scottie Antonucci (UNC; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Brooke Bunton (SMU; Green Cove Springs, Fla.), Reese Canada (Notre Dame; Fenton, Mich.), Riley Kennedy (UNC; Holly Springs, N.C.), Ella Kral (Lamorinda SC; Berkeley, Calif.), Chloe Sadler (La Roca FC; Hyde Park, Utah)
Forwards (6): Mikayla Cunningham (Classics Elite SA; San Antonio, Texas), Mailee Hilburn (Seattle United; Anacortes, Wash.), Kate Kemmerley (Penn Fusion SA; Berwyn, Pa.), Audrey McKeen (Racing Louisville FC; Vienna, Va.), Emmy O'Donnell (FC Stars; Concord, Mass.), Alyssa Parsons (USC; Apopka, Fla.)