The defender was included in Andries Jonker’s squad alongside new City team-mate Jill Roord, as the Dutch set their sights on glory in Australia and New Zealand.
Casparij and co.’s tournament begins on Sunday 23 July against Portugal, with further Group E fixtures against the United States and Vietnam to follow.
Our full-back enjoyed a successful first season at the Academy Stadium following a summer move from FC Twente, making 25 appearances in all competitions and providing five assists.
She’s already a key figure for her national team despite being just 22, but representing her country on the world stage for the first time remains a huge source of personal pride.
“I don’t think I can explain with one or two words what it would mean [to play],” Casparij said.
“It’s so special to play for your country. I’m so proud to be Dutch and to represent them at the World Cup, that is just something else.
“For me it’ll be the first time, so I’m very excited and see where it takes me.
“It’s something special, something not all players get to experience and I’m lucky enough to be in a squad that’s good enough to qualify. To play there would mean so much to me.”
The full-back made her senior international debut in 2021 and, less than 12 months later, was part of the Holland squad that reached the quarter-finals of last summer’s European Championships.
The 2019 World Cup finalists went into the tournament as defending European champions, but their hopes of retaining the crown were dashed following a 1-0 extra time defeat to France.
Casparij featured in all but one of their fixtures during the tournament and believes the lessons they’ve learned from that setback will stand her and her team-mates in good stead this summer.
She said: “It will help so much. The last year for me has been great experience wise.
“I’ve got to pay so many big games, games with big crowds too when the pressure is there. I’ve acclimatised to that which is important to me.
“I think I’ll go into the World Cup quite relaxed because of it.”
