Skip to main content
Saturday, November 7, 2026Nov 7

This story is free to read.

After White House celebration, Abby Wambach retires

President Barack Obama poses for photos with a jersey he received from head coach Jill Ellis as he welcomed the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, in the East Room of the White House in Washington during a ceremony to honor the team and their victory in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Standing with Obama, from left are, Christie Rampone, Morgan Brian, Abby Wambach, Julie Johnston, Obama, Sydney Leroux, and Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe.  (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama poses for photos with a jersey he received from head coach Jill Ellis as he welcomed the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, in the East Room of the White House in Washington during a ceremony to honor the team and their victory in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Standing with Obama, from left are, Christie Rampone, Morgan Brian, Abby Wambach, Julie Johnston, Obama, Sydney Leroux, and Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President Barack Obama poses for photos with a jersey he received from head coach Jill Ellis as he welcomed the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, in the East Room of the White House in Washington during a ceremony to honor the team and their victory in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Standing with Obama, from left are, Christie Rampone, Morgan Brian, Abby Wambach, Julie Johnston, Obama, Sydney Leroux, and Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Abby Wambach, the leading career scorer – male or female – in international soccer, announced her retirement from soccer on Tuesday shortly after the U.S. national team celebrated its Women’s World Cup victory at the White House.

Wambach, 35, said before the World Cup this past summer in Canada that she wanted to cap her 15-year career with the game’s most prestigious championship. She got her wish.

Wambach, who grew up in Rochester, New York, has appeared in 252 international matches with 184 goals.

She will play the final four matches of the national team’s 10-game victory tour before stepping away from the team. Her final match will be Dec. 16 against China in New Orleans.