Switzerland picks 16-year-old midfielder Iman Beney in Women’s World Cup squad #Switzerland #picks #16yearold #midfielder #Iman #Beney #Womens #World #Cup #squad

GENEVA (AP) — Sixteen-year-old Iman Beney was picked in Switzerland’s squad Monday for the Women’s World Cup, only three days after making her debut with the national team.

Beney, a midfielder with Swiss club Young Boys, impressed Friday as a second-half substitute in a 3-3 draw against another World Cup team, Zambia.

She will turn 17 two days after Switzerland opens Group A against Philippines on July 21 in Dunedin, New Zealand. The group also includes tournament co-host New Zealand and Norway.

FILE - Matilda's Kyah Simon takes a shot at goal during their international soccer match against the United States at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Nov. 27, 2021. A 29-strong preliminary squad, announced on Monday, June 19, 2023, will go into a training camp on the Gold Cost before heading to Melbourne for the final squad announcement and a match against France on July 14. The World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, begins on July 20. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

Kyah Simon hasn’t played since October when she tore knee ligaments. Alanna Kennedy has struggled with injuries since her last international appearance in September.

FILE - South Africa's women's soccer team pose for photographers and fans during a welcome ceremony at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 26, 2022, after winning the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco last July 23. A standoff between South Africa's Women's World Cup squad and the national soccer association over pay and other issues forced officials to field a stand-in team of little-known players that included a 13-year-old girl for a game against Botswana on Sunday July 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

A standoff between South Africa’s Women’s World Cup squad and the national soccer association over pay and other issues has forced officials to field a makeshift team of little-known players that included a 13-year-old for a game against Botswana.

Barcelona's Alexia Putellas attends a training session in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Friday June 2, 2023, ahead of the Women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday June 3. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Spain will head to the Women’s World Cup with two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and three of the 15 players who had renounced the national soccer team after a spat with coach Jorge Vilda.

FILE - New Zealand's Jitka Klimkova gestures during an international friendly soccer match against South Korea at Goyang stadium in Goyang, South Korea, on Nov. 30, 2021. Women’s World Cup co-host New Zealand has announced a squad including 10 players who will be playing at the global tournament for the first time. The team was unveiled Friday, June 30, 2023, after head coach Klimkova trimmed the squad from 33 to 23 following a seven-week training camp, the longest in the New Zealand team’s history.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

Women’s World Cup co-host New Zealand has announced a squad including 10 players who will be playing at the global tournament for the first time.

“We haven’t taken her only as a prospect,” Switzerland coach Inka Grings said of Beney. “She can make an impression at the World Cup.”

Alongside Beney, five others in the 23-player squad have more than 100 national team appearances: Barcelona winger Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, Paris Saint-Germain forward Ramona Bachmann, Real Betis goalkeeper Gaëlle Thalmann and Arsenal teammates Lia Wälti and Noelle Maritz.

Switzerland is playing at its second Women’s World Cup. In 2015, the Swiss advanced from the group stage — winning 10-1 against Ecuador — before losing to host Canada in the round of 16.

Switzerland has a final preparation game at home Wednesday against Morocco, another team going to the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

___

Switzerland squad:

Goalkeepers: Seraina Friedli (Zurich), Livia Peng (Levante), Gaëlle Thalmann (Real Betis)

Defenders: Eseosa Aigbogun (Paris FC), Luana Bühler (Hoffenheim), Viola Calligaris (Levante), Laura Felber (Servette), Noelle Maritz (Arsenal), Lara Marti (Bayer Leverkusen), Nadine Riesen (Zurich), Julia Stierli (Zurich)

Midfielders: Iman Beney (Young Boys), Sandrine Mauron (Servette), Seraina Piubel (Zurich), Géraldine Reuteler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Marion Rey (Zurich), Coumba Sow (Servette), Lia Wälti (Arsenal)

Forwards: Ramona Bachmann, (Paris Saint-Germain), Ana Maria Crnogorčević (Barcelona), Fabienne Humm (Zurich), Alisha Lehmann (Aston Villa), Meriame Terchoun (Dijon)