The U.S. women’s national team’s preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will continue this April with a pair of home friendlies against the Republic of Ireland.

Vera Pauw’s squad will square off with the defending World Cup winners on April 8 in Austin, Texas before a second friendly takes place on April 11 in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. Soccer announced Thursday. It will be the final pair of matches for the USWNT before head coach Vlatko Andonovski selects his 23-player World Cup roster.

“Ireland is a highly motivated, hard-working team that has talented players with big hearts who I know are really excited to be representing their country in a World Cup,” said Andonovski. “The two games will be a great test at a crucial time in our team’s run to the World Cup. While there will be plenty of league games for us to watch after April, these will be the final matches for our players with the National Team before we have to pick the World Cup roster, so they will carry that importance.”

The USWNT has met the Republic of Ireland on 13 prior occasions, winning every one of those previous meetings. The most recent showdown came in August 2019 following the Americans’ triumph at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

Jill Ellis’ squad defeated the Irish 3-0 in that meeting.

The Republic of Ireland were paired with tournament co-hosts Australia, Canada, and Nigeria in Group B of the Women’s World Cup after qualifying for the first time in its history. Pauw’s squad posted a 6-2-1 record in qualifying and went through their entire 2022 schedule without a defeat.

The USWNT will meet the Netherlands, Vietnam, and Portugal in its group.