Here is our review of who was involved and how they fared during the first stoppage of the domestic season in 2026, in the new extended time away with their countries.
Nicola Docherty, Mia McAulay, Leah Eddie and Jodi McLeary – Scotland
Luxembourg 0-5 Scotland – FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier
Scotland 7-0 Luxembourg – FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier
Four Rangers players were involved as Melissa Andreatta’s Scotland side got off to the perfect start in World Cup qualifying with back-to-back wins over Luxembourg.
Aiming to reach their second-ever finals, to be held in Brazil next summer, they scored 13 goals without reply to achieve maximum points in their first two group outings.
Gers captain Nicola Docherty featured for the entirety of both outings, with winger Mia McAulay making a late sub appearance in the away match and defender Leah Eddie introduced from the bench at Hampden on Saturday evening, providing an assist for the fifth goal.
There was also a special moment for Light Blues academy graduate Jodi McLeary, who was rewarded for her fine form this campaign with a first-ever call-up to the senior squad, having originally planned to go away with the Under-23s. Gaining A squad experience that will stand her in good stead for the rest of the season.
Laura Rafferty – Northern Ireland
Switzerland 2-0 Northern Ireland – FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier
Northern Ireland 0-1 Turkey – FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier
Laura was back with the Northern Ireland squad for the first time in several months, having made a full recovery from a long-term injury at the back end of the year.
The defender, who has captained her nation on several occasions, was in the starting lineup as her team fell to a 2-0 away defeat to Switzerland last Tuesday evening.
They hosted Turkey at Mourneview Park on Saturday night, with the centre-back repping the armband for 68 minutes, but again were on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline as they suffered successive losses at the beginning of their respective qualifying campaign.
Calliste Brookshire – Greece
Greece 3-0 Georgia – FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier
Greece 2-0 Faroe Islands – FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier
It was a productive international break for Cal and Greece as she added to her four previous caps by helping the team to successive wins to make a positive start to their World Cup qualifiers.
The winger was in the team from the off in Tuesday’s win over Georgia, finding the back of the net in the 3-0 success, which was the second time she has found the target for her nation.
Another start followed on Saturday with a 2-0 home win over the Faroe Islands, as they seek another successful break next month in their attempt to reach next summer’s finals.
Quinty Sabajo – Suriname
Suriname 0-2 Haiti – CONCACAF Championship Qualifier
Quinty joined up with the Suriname national team once again as they continued their respective quest to reach the finals in South America.
The midfielder started in the number 10 role as they fell to a 2-0 away defeat to Haiti eight days ago.
Having represented her country of birth, the Netherlands, at youth level, the Gers player switched her national allegiance at the back end of the year and will hope to receive a call-up for their next matches, taking on Belize next.
Shin Ji Kim – South Korea
South Korea 3-0 Iran – AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group Stage
Philippines 0-3 South Korea – AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group Stage
Australia 3-3 South Korea – AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group Stage
Shin Ji currently remains on international duty as she continues to represent South Korea, who are competing in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup over in Australia.
It has been a productive competition for her team so far, who were runners-up back in 2022, with a 3-0 win over Iran to start their group stage and midfielder coming off the bench.
The midfielder then started their second outing, winning 3-0 against the Philippines, before converting from the penalty spot off the bench in their final game against the hosts as they topped their group. They will next take on Uzbekistan this Saturday morning for a place in the semi-finals.
Li Mengwen – China
China 2-0 Bangladesh – AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group Stage
Uzbekistan 0-3 China – AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group Stage
North Korea 1-2 China – AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group Stage
Likewise, Li currently remains on international as she competes in the same tournament with her respective nation, China.
She was in the lineup as her nation got off to the perfect start with a 2-0 win over Bangladesh, before she played the full 90 minutes in their three-goal success over Uzbekistan.
The right-back was an unused substitute in their final match as they topped their group, with the defending champions taking on Chinese Taipei this weekend for a place in the last four.
May Cruft – England Under-20s
England Under-20s 1-3 Spain Under-20s – International Friendly
England Under-20s 1-0 Netherlands Under-20s – International Friendly
England Under-20s 4-1 Mexico Under-20s – International Friendly
May continued her positive progress this season as she was part of the England Under-20s squad that contested three friendly matches out in Alicante, Spain.
She appeared in the 3-1 defeat to the hosts in the opening game, before lining up at left-back in their 1-0 win over the Dutch.
Another start followed for the 16-year-old in defence as they rounded off the break with victory, as they continued building towards the final round of qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Under-19 European Championships, as well as the FIFA Under-20s Women’s World Cup taking place in Poland in September.
Laura Berry, Sophie Black, Lily Boyce, Mia McArthur and Sophie Townsley – Scotland Under-19s
Belgium Under-19s 1-1 Scotland Under-19s – International Friendly
Belgium Under-19s 1-2 Scotland Under-19s – International Friendly
Several Rangers youth stars were out in Belgium with Scotland Under-19s as they contested a pair of friendly matches.
Laura Berry, who has been in fine form at club level this season, captained the side, with Sophie Black and Mia McArthur also in the side. Lily Boyce appeared from the bench, and on loan Motherwell forward Sophie Townsley was amongst the substitutes.
The two teams faced off again last Tuesday, with Berry finding the back of the net as the young Scots warmed up for the crucial U19’s Euro final qualifiers taking place next month.
Soffia Kelly – Wales Under-19s
Portugal Under-19s 3-1 Wales Under-19s – International Friendly
Wales Under-19s 0-3 USA Under-19s – International Friendly
Czech Republic Under-19s 0-2 Wales Under-19s – International Friendly
Soffia was out in Portugal over the most recent international break as her nation at youth level played out three friendly tournament matches in São João da Madeira.
She started between the posts in a 3-1 defeat to the hosts, before a further start followed in a three-goal defeat to the USA.
Her country rounded off the break with a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic, with the shot stopper now returning to her club hoping to make her debut having joined on loan from Aston Villa back in January.
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