Celia Jimenez Delgado Named to Spain’s World Cup Roster

The Royal Spanish Football Federation announced on Monday that Reign FC defender Celia Jimenez Delgado will represent Spain at the Women’s World Cup in France. Jimenez Delgado, 23, will play in her second World Cup for her native country.

The announcement by coach Jorge Vilda comes 10 days after Jimenez Delgado was called in to Spain’s final national team camp before the World Cup. Jimenez Delgado started and played 90 minutes in a 4-0 win over Cameroon in a friendly on May 17.

The Reign FC defender broke into the Spanish national team just before the 2015 World Cup in Canada, the country’s first ever trip to the Women’s World Cup. As a 19-year-old, Jimenez Delgado started all three of Spain’s matches at that tournament, before the squad was eliminated at the end of the group stage.

In addition to her World Cup experience, Jimenez Delgado has represented Spain at the 2017 UEFA Women’s EURO, making four appearances. Prior to her time with the senior national team, Jimenez Delgado represented the Spain U19s and U17s, including winning the 2011 UEFA U17 Championships in Switzerland.

No. 13 Spain has been drawn into Group B alongside No. 16 China, No. 49 South Africa and No. 2 Germany, the two-time World Cup champions and reigning Olympic gold medal holders.