FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Alex Morgan plays down USWNT three-peat talk, Megan Rapinoe looks forward to last World Cup
The USWNT stars have arrived at their FIFA Women's World Cup training base in New Zealand, and are raring to go ahead of the 2023 tournament starting on 20 July.
Football
Will the United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) win their third FIFA Women's World Cup in a row at the 2023 tournament?
While that question has been one of the talking points put forward by American media and fans, team co-captain Alex Morgan said the idea of a "three-peat" was not being discussed among the USWNT players.
Speaking at one of the team's first training sessions since arriving at their base in New Zealand, Morgan – who was on the winning squad in both 2015 and 2019 – said the turnover in the squad meant a lot of her teammates were simply focused on winning their first title, rather than thinking about it as three in a row.
"I think a lot of fans talk about it, but this team, we have 14 first-timers for the World Cup and we see this as our own journey," Morgan said. "Each four year block is its own; we're coming to the end of this four year block after the World Cup.
"So we're looking to make history, that would be great with what you said with 'three-peat', but with this team that's not in the back of our minds. It's really just winning each game as it comes."
Morgan: "It's going to be the best" Women's World Cup
In addition to winning the trophy at the last two Women's World Cup tournaments, Morgan was also part of the 2011 side which lost in the final.
However, there is a big difference this time around.
"When we step on the field this World Cup, I think it's facing… we have 32 teams in the World Cup, like never before," Morgan pointed out.
From 16 teams at Morgan's first World Cup in 2011, the tournament has grown, first to 24 teams in 2015 and 2019 before its latest expansion to 32 teams. That means for the first time, the same number of teams will have played at the FIFA Women's World Cup as the previous men's FIFA World Cup, although it will last for only one cycle as the latter is also expanding for its next edition in 2026 to 48 teams.
"It's just going to be very competitive. It's going to be the most watched World Cup. It's going to be the best one yet."
How are spirits in camp as the U.S. tries to move on from a disappointing bronze-medal finish at the last major international tournament, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?
"The energy is high. Obviously, it's just way different personnel, a different coach.
"But I feel like as you land in the host country and you prepare for a World Cup, you got some nerves and some just anticipation and excitement."
Retiring Megan Rapinoe "still feeling like I have a lot to offer"
The USWNT squad this year features a mix of first-timers, returning players, and long-time veterans – among them Megan Rapinoe.
Rapinoe is, like Morgan, a veteran of the last three Women's World Cups, but has been part of the USWNT for longer, having made her international debut 17 years ago.
Having announced recently that she will retire at the end of this season, this is set to be the 38-year-old's last World Cup. "It's so difficult to make it to a World Cup… it's so difficult to make our team, much less make it to the World Cup," she said.
"So it always feels like something that's so hard-earned, which I think makes you appreciate it so much. Obviously from a zoomed-out perspective, I'm feeling all the feels and knowing this will be my last World Cup and my final season just in general, feeling really grateful to be here.
"I'm still feeling really good, like I have a lot to offer, and excited to hopefully have a chance to defend our title."