Wambach scored her first international goal in the seventh minute of a friendly against Finland on April 27, 2002, in her second game for the national team.[5] She scored her first international hat trick during a friendly against Scotland leading the national team to an 8–2 win in her fourth appearance for the team.[6] Her first international goal scored during a competitive match occurred on November 2, 2002, during the national team's 9–0 win over Panama in the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup.[7] During her first FIFA Women's World Cup tournament, she scored three goals in six games.[8] Wambach completed her international career having scored a total of 14 goals in her 25 World Cup match appearances, placing second on the all-time World Cup scoring list behind Marta.[9]
Known for scoring goals with diving headers,[10][11][12][13] one of her more notable goals occurred in the 122nd minute of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinal match against Brazil from a last-minute cross from midfielder Megan Rapinoe.[14] Wambach scored the equalizer in stoppage time and the Americans defeated Brazil in a penalty shootout. The team eventually progressed to the World Cup final against Japan.[15] Wambach's last-minute goal set a new record for the latest goal ever scored in a World Cup match[16] and was awarded ESPN's 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year.[17] Following her performance at the 2011 World Cup, Wambach was awarded the tournament's Bronze Boot and Silver Ball.[18] In 2011, she became the first ever soccer player of any gender to be named Associated Press Athlete of the Year.[19]