Sophie Braun, the American who plays for the Argentine National Team

Sophie Braun will play for the Argentine national team. Photo: Networks.
“A dream come true. I am extremely honored and excited to represent Argentina. in the World Cup”. With these words, but written in English, Sophie Braun announced on social networks that she was part of the list of 23 players chosen by Germán Portanova for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Braun was born in Beaverton, Oregon, in the United States, and his language is English, although after two years with the Argentine national team and his first season as a professional soccer player with León de México, he learned some – little – Spanish.

Sophie is the daughter of an Argentine mother (business employee) and American father (software engineer). Unlike many of her teammates, the defender was able -from a young age- to practice the sport she liked, soccer, with girls her age.

Braun made his Major League debut in a 4-1 defeat against Brazil in the She Believes Cup – an elite friendly international tournament organized by the United States – in 2021

He went to Gonzaga University, in Spokane, Washington, where he studied Computer Science while playing in the university league, and did not hesitate to represent the albiceleste team before the call of Carlos Borrello -previous DT of the team- first for the South American Sub 20 in 2020 and then for the Major.

Maternal roots and a soccer family and a fan of River pulled so that Sophie Braun is about to participate in her first FIFA Women’s World Cup today at the age of 23.

But also the merits of the highly technical and versatile footballer, who is in defense of the Argentinian National Team scheme (on the bottom line or on the right side) but who can adapt and play as a midfielder.

The National Team is ready for the start of the World Cup. Photo: Victoria Gesualdi.
Braun made his Major League debut in a 4-1 defeat against Brazil in the She Believes Cup -elite international friendly tournament organized by the United States- in 2021.

At the 2022 Copa América in Cali, where the Argentines achieved the World Cup place after taking third place, Sophie Braun had to take Aldana Cometti’s place when the central defender tested positive for coronavirus a few hours before playing against Colombia.

Braun played so well that he earned the title for the decisive match against Paraguay, in which Argentina won 3-1 in an agonizing manner and achieved the goal of directly accessing the World Cup without going through a repechage as he should have done before France 2019.

His first goal with the senior team was in April of this year, in one of the friendlies against Venezuela

The Argentine-American, who only played the last season as a professional at León de México with her compatriots Mariana Larroquette (a new reinforcement for Orlando Pride in the American League) and Ruth Bravo, was always taken into account by the Portanova coaching staff to the calls.

His first goal with the senior team was in April of this year, in one of the friendlies against Venezuela in the FIFA window (he scored the first goal from 3 to 0). In the friendly against Peru – another 4-0 Argentine victory – in San Nicolás before traveling to the World Cup, Sophie was also a starter.

Installed in Auckland with the rest of the Argentine delegation, Braun is ready and expectant to live her first World Cup experience.

“Football unites us”, is one of the mottos of the tournament which will begin this Thursday at Eden Park with the match between New Zealand and Norway. For her, neither the language nor customs such as drinking mate or listening to cumbia are what bring her closer to her companions. Yes, a common dream for Argentine women’s soccer: to win her first match in a World Cup and remain in history.

2023-07-19 13:01:00
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