Arsenal star will not join national team’s trip to USA | OneFootball

Katie McCabe opts for rest after long season with club and country

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Katie McCabe has confirmed she will not travel to the United States with the Republic of Ireland squad for their two international friendlies this month, choosing instead to take a break following a gruelling campaign with both Arsenal and her national team.

The 29-year-old ended the club season as a Champions League winner but says the physical and mental demands of the last two years have taken a significant toll. Ireland’s disappointing exit in the Euro 2025 play-offs last December, followed by managerial upheaval and a lack of clear leadership at the FAI, only exacerbated the strain.

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“It hurt coming into the next camp,” said McCabe ahead of Ireland’s Nations League match against Slovenia in Cork. “There was so much change, so much noise around the FAI and us as a team. And ultimately it affected me because we didn’t get to a tournament.

“I know we’re footballers, but we’re also human and when you’re striving towards something that you crave so much as a team but then don’t achieve, it takes its toll on you,” she said.

McCabe added that the players have reviewed the failed campaign amongst themselves. Several senior figures have retired and Ireland’s performances in the current Nations League B campaign have been inconsistent. Despite this, McCabe insists the squad must look forward.

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“There comes a time when you have to move past it. Just go, OK, that happened. Let’s just see how we can improve now going forward.”

Ireland’s absence from the European Championship, which begins next month in Switzerland, remains a raw subject. “It’s going to be difficult with the Euros on this July. I’ll probably turn my telly off. I won’t be watching it. It’s going to hurt. But we have to feel that. Keep striving to get better. And, obviously, World Cup 2027 is a big driving force for us.”

McCabe has played almost without pause since the 2023 World Cup, logging more minutes this season than all but three other Arsenal players. Last summer included a trip to Australia with Arsenal before she resumed international duties almost immediately. The new club campaign also began with early Champions League qualifiers which, of course, ran the full course.

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“It’s the timing of the fixtures as well, like what we had to do last year all through the summer where you’re finishing a season and you’ve to kind of rest but kind of keep fit for the next block of games,” she explained. “It’s hard mentally and physically from a periodisation point of view to do that. So, the timing of the fixtures needs to be looked at as well in my opinion.”

She warned that the long-term consequences of such scheduling are already visible. “What it will create over time and we’ve already seen it in recent years is burnout in players and major injuries. You’ve got world-class players that will be sitting out of tournaments through injuries and we don’t want to see that.”