Alex Morgan wants a three-peat.
The ESPN+ exclusive four-part series “Alex Morgan: The Equalizer” concluded with the USWNT star striker saying she’s not planning to retire anytime soon. The 30-year-old has her eyes on more medals and an unprecedented third Women’s World Cup title.
The work never ends when you’re a women’s footballer, as the 2019 USWNT victory tour makes abundantly clear.
After a 10-match pre-World Cup schedule and seven grueling games at the Women’s World Cup in France, the USWNT will be trotted out five more times in 2019. U.S. Soccer has announced all five dates on a moneymaking USWNT victory tour, including stops in Philadelphia, St. Paul, Minnesota, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Cincinatti, Ohio.
The celebration continues
As was anticipated following the success of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a special FIFA Council vote has unanimously approved the expansion of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to a 32-team field.
Throughout the 2019 Women's World Cup, starting from the first whistle of the opener against Thailand until the last whistle in the final, the USWNT was out in full force with its celebrations. Every one of the 13 goals in the first game were celebrated and every goal after that as well. This drew some scrutiny from pundits and fans around the world.
So, the question is: Was the USWNT doing too much with its celebrations and attitude throughout the World Cup?
Luis “Chapo” Montes has had a wild ride with the Mexico national team. If you’re a fan of Club León or Liga MX, you’ll know who the diminutive 5-5 midfielder is.
Montes has been a staple of Mexico’s top professional league since he made his debut in 2006 with Indios. He’s gone on to play for only three teams in his whole career and all in Mexico (he later made his breakthrough with Pachuca before transferring to León).
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is, on the whole, unfathomable. The mind boggles at an expenditure of $200 billion, while a current reported death toll of over 1,400 migrants is like combining the casualties of the Falklands War and 2011 Egyptian revolution. All this to kick that ball around.
Before, during and after the USWNT’s run to its fourth Women’s World Cup title this summer, the American players have been outspoken about their social activism.
The undeniable leader of those efforts has been Megan Rapinoe, who has drawn considerable ire (but equal parts praise) from many across the globe for speaking up.
Rapinoe appears to be inspiring the next generation of USWNT leaders, her younger U.S. teammates.
Global soccer’s governing body is trying to get tougher on racism, homophobia and all discrimination with a newly redrafted FIFA disciplinary code.
Let’s hope it actually works.
This morning, the USWNT received a letter from the 25 female members of the Senate, requesting a meeting with them to discuss issues facing women. The letter, which is addressed to head coach Jill Ellis, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, and Megan Rapinoe, congratulates the team on its victory and remarks on how it has ignited conversation regarding women’s issues.
Back in 2003, Rose Lavelle was just an eight-year-old girl with dreams to one day be like her idol, USWNT legend Mia Hamm. As a two-time World Cup champion and one of the greatest players to ever play the game, Hamm was one of the most idolized athletes. Although the USWNT fell short to Germany in the semifinals of the 2003 World Cup, a little girl from Cincinnati, Ohio remained emotionally attached to her role model — Lavelle cried after the U.S. was eliminated from final contention.