BERKELEY – France, here they come! Golden Bears Daisy Cleverley and Betsy Hassett have been named to New Zealand's 23-player roster for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, Football Ferns head coach Tom Sermanni announced this week.

This will be the second trip to the World Cup for Cleverley, a rising junior on the Cal women's soccer team, and the third for Hassett, who competed for the Bears from 2009-12.

"We are thrilled for both Daisy and Betsy in making the World Cup roster for New Zealand," said Cal head coach Neil McGuire. "They are both very dedicated to their craft and are very deserving of this opportunity."

One of the first current collegiate players named to a roster for 2019 Women's World Cup, Cleverley made her senior national team debut in 2014 and has two goals in eight caps. Cleverley was a member of the Football Ferns squad that competed at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, though she did not see game action, and also served as an alternate at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. A strong presence in the midfield, Cleverley has successfully returned to the international stage after suffering a season-ending knee injury late in her freshman campaign at Cal. Cleverley returned to the pitch this season, making 12 starts for the Golden Bears and earning Second Team Academic All-District and Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention recognition. An Environmental Economics and Policy major, Cleverley has been a consistent presence in camp for the Football Ferns as of late and saw time in the Cup of Nations earlier this year in Australia.

"Making this World Cup squad has felt much more meaningful than any other selection due to the long road back from injury," Cleverley said. "I'm just so happy all the time and energy have paid off, and I'm so grateful for everyone who supported me along the way. The World Cup is the most prestigious event in women's football, so to be heading to France this summer is a huge honor. I have a lot to learn from Tom and the rest of my teammates, and I'm so excited and ready for the challenge!"

Cleverley is joined in the midfield by Hassett, a fellow Golden Bear and one of the most-capped players in New Zealand Women's National Team history. Hassett has appeared in 111 matches for the Football Ferns and scored 13 international goals. She will be making her third trip to the World Cup, having played in every group stage match in both 2011 and 2015. Hassett is also a two-time Olympian, competing at the summer games in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016. An All-Pac-12 and All-Academic honoree during her time in Berkeley, Hassett currently plays for Icelandic club KR Reykajvik, having previously spent time with Manchester City, SV Werder Bremen, and Ajax.

Ranked No. 19 in the latest FIFA Women's World Rankings, New Zealand will be making its fifth appearance all-time at the Women's World Cup and fourth in a row. The Football Ferns will be looking to advance past the group stage for the first time and have been drawn into Group E, where they will take on the Netherlands, Canada, and Cameroon.

Prior to opening their World Cup campaign on June 11 against the Netherlands, the Football Ferns will play a series of friendlies, highlighted by a May 16 matchup with the United States in St. Louis. New Zealand will also play Mexico (May 22), England (June 1), and Wales (June 4), before beginning group stage play in France.

For more information and updates throughout the year, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWSoc), Instagram (@CalWSoc), and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWSoc).

Football Ferns Upcoming International Matches

Friendlies
May 16	U.S. vs New Zealand	St. Louis, Mo.
May 22	Mexico vs New Zealand	Harrison, N.J.
June 1	England vs New Zealand	Brighton, England
June 4	Wales vs New Zealand	Cardiff, Wales
2019 FIFA Women's World Cup – Group E
June 11	New Zealand vs Netherland	Le Havre, France
June 15	New Zealand vs Canada	Grenoble, France
June 20	New Zealand vs Cameroon	Montpellier, France