InternatiNOLES: Here is who's competing in the FIFA Women's World Cup from Florida State

The Seminoles are going international once again.

An NCAA-leading eight players from Florida State's women's soccer program are representing their respective countries at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

Four players are currently playing for FSU while four others have played for the program in the past. Here are some familiar faces to keep an eye out for this next month during the biggest soccer tournament in the world.

Current FSU soccer players in the World Cup

Maria Alagoa, Portugal

Alagoa is the lone Seminole representing Portugal. From Viseu, Portugal, last season she played 21 games, starting one, totaling 702 minutes. She scored three goals and assisted three more. Alagoa has also made history with Portugal in the past, becoming the first Portuguese player to score at the Euro WU17 tournament in 2019.

Portugal will play its first game on July 23 vs. The Netherlands, then Vietnam on July 27 and finish out pool play against the United States on August 1.

Jody Brown, Jamaica

One of two Seminoles playing for Jamaica, Brown makes her second World Cup appearance and has played an active role with the team over the years. In 2018, she was a part of the Jamaica team that became the first country in the Caribbean to qualify for the World Cup.

She scored a hat trick in Concacaf Tournament quarterfinals, netted a shootout goal in the World Cup qualifying game, and was named Concacaf Best Young Player of the Tournament in 2019.

Last season for FSU she recorded eight goals and 10 assists for 26 points. Brown was named to the ACC All-Tournament Team.

Jamaica opens up World Cup play against France on July 23 followed by Panama on July 29 and closes out pool play against Brazil on August 20.

Onyi Echegini, Nigeria

In her first international appearance, Nigeria is getting a player that left a resounding impact in her first season at FSU. Transferring from Mississippi State last fall, Echegini scored 11 goals and had six assists for 28 points on the year, earning All-ACC Second Team and ACC All-Tournament Team honors.

She also recorded the program's 20th hat trick in a 6-0 win over Boston College on September 16. Nigeria faces Canada on July 20 followed by Australia on July 27 and then Ireland on July 31.

Heather Payne, Republic of Ireland

A native of Ballinasloe, Ireland, Payne has been the face of FSU's involvement in the Republic of Ireland and can add to that resume this summer. She has been playing in Ireland's national program since she was 15 and debuted with the senior international team at 17.

Payne is making history in the World Cup with Ireland as it is the first time the women's team has ever qualified for this tournament.

She played 18 games and started 16 for FSU last season at right-back and finished with a career-high four goals and four assists for 12 points.

Payne played a leading role in a Seminoles defense that recorded 11 shutouts and held 0.87 goals against average.

Ireland will face Canada on July 26 and Nigeria on July 31.

Former FSU soccer players in the World Cup

Gabby Carle, Canada

Group B might as well be called the Garnet and Gold group as FSU players will be competing for three of the four teams in the group: Nigeria, Ireland and Canada. Carle, who is from Levis, Quebec and played for FSU from 2017 to 2021, will be competing for Team Canada.

In her senior season, she was one of the roleplayers that helped the Seminoles win the 2021 NCAA National Championship. She played and started in 23 games, playing 1,908 minutes and recording a career-best 12 points. Carle headed a Seminole defense that allowed 13 goals in 25 games and held a 0.50 goals-against average.

She's had a ton of success with Canada on the international stage, winning the gold medal in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, competed in the 2019 World Cup and won three Concacaf medals.

Post-FSU, she played for Kristianstads DFF in Sweden before signing with the Washington Spirit in June.

Canada takes on Nigeria on July 20, Ireland on July 26 and Australia on July 31.

Megan Connolly, Republic of Ireland

Connolly is the second FSU player to represent Ireland in this World Cup cycle. She played for FSU from 2016 to 2018, winning the NCAA National Championship in 2018 and earned multiple conference, league and national honors over her career.

Following her time at FSU, Connolly joined Brighton & Hove Albion women's soccer club, in Brighton, England, in the Women's Super League.

Similar to Payne, she's had a long presence within Ireland's national program. She's made 41 appearances since 2016 and is competing in her first World Cup alongside the rest of her Irish teammates.

Cheyna Matthews, Jamaica

This is Matthews' second World Cup and is the second Seminole to represent Jamaica in this year's tournament. She played for FSU from 2014 to 2015 after transferring from Vanderbilt. She made 51 appearances in the Garnet and Gold, scoring 24 goals. Post-college, she's played in the National Women's Soccer League since 2016 for three different teams.

She is now with the Chicago Red Stars and has scored one goal in three appearances this season.

Matthew's played for the United States Under 23 team in 2015, but has since become a member of the Jamaica national team as her mother was born in the country.

Gloriana Villalobos, Costa Rica

Rounding out the group, and the fourth North American representative, is Villalobos. She played for FSU for two seasons from 2017 to 2018, scoring two goals in 42 appearances, and was a part of the National Champion team in 2018.

She has competed for Coast Rica since 2014, scoring six goals in 50 appearances. This is Villalobos and Costa Rica's second World Cup appearance since 2015. That year she scored in the final game in group play to help Costa Rica advance to the knockout stage.

Post-FSU she's mostly played for Deportivo Saprissa since 2019, a women's soccer club in San José, Costa Rica, but spent three seasons with C.S. Herediano in Heredia, Costa Rica. Costa Rica plays Spain on July 21, Japan July 26 and Zambia July 31.

Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 8 FSU women's soccer players competing in FIFA Women's World Cup