The United States Women’s National Soccer Team is aiming to make history this summer as it tries to become the first team, women or men, to win a third consecutive World Cup.

With an Olympic title in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019 and four World Cup titles, the United States is the most successful nation in women’s soccer. The current squad will be looking to make their win in the tournament a historic one. Launches in Australia and New Zealand on July 20. It will continue till August 20, with 32 football teams participating.

But after victories in Canada in 2015 and France four years ago, Time magazine believes the world’s No. 1-ranked US national team is now going through a transitional period as players age up to 18. Years since the late thirties.

And in its fourth appearance at the World Cup, the U.S. national team is relying on the enthusiasm of senior leaders and younger players around several of its key stars, notably strikers Megan Robinho, 38, and Alex Morgan, 35. Defender Kelly O’Hara, 34, and midfielder Christy Moyes, 32. .age.

CBS News notes that even though the U.S. national team announced that Morgan was excluded from leading the national team during the World Cup, he was chosen as the second captain and midfielder Lindsey Horan, 29, as the first captain. Specifically toward Morgan, it appears at No. 207 on the national team.

Meanwhile, according to “Time”, the team includes 14 new players, including young attackers Sophia Smith, 22, the best player in the Women’s Soccer League, Trinity Rodman, 21, and Alyssa Thompson, 18, and player center Savannah DiMelo, 25.

According to NBC News, the current team under coach Vladko Antonovski reflects the diversity of the country it represents more than ever, with nine women on the roster, including seven black women, a welcome development. White sports in America.

“TIME” believes that mixing the enthusiasm of young women and the energy of new faces with the experience, wisdom and veteran leadership of veterans increases America’s chances at the World Cup. not carrying

Join the electorate against discriminatory laws

The history of the US women’s national team has seen a struggle against discrimination in favor of men. Before the start of the 2019 World Cup in France, female players sought equal pay with their male counterparts, and these efforts prevailed. Pre-match headlines.

While the case has fueled the movement for equal pay in the United States and abroad, according to Time, the case has added some pressure to their presence at the World Cup. Also, the team’s star Megan Rapinoe got into a Twitter spat with then US President Donald Trump.

In May 2022, the U.S. Soccer Association approved a historic move to pay members of the women’s and men’s national teams equally, after reaching a collective bargaining agreement. The result is a first at the global level and allows equality of awards for male and female players after participating in the World Cup, according to Agence France-Presse.

Time therefore sees the team facing fewer distractions heading into the World Cup, however, the players are still under intense pressure, as anything less than a third consecutive title would be a failure.

Injuries are a hindrance

Earlier this year the national team played several tournaments, beating Brazil, Canada and Japan at home in the Shebelieves Cup. But several players suffered serious injuries, including Mallory Swanson’s torn left patellar tendon and torn anterior cruciate ligament, ending hopes for promising U.S. striker Katerina Macario at the World Cup, according to the Washington Post. “.

Injuries also hit the midfield, with Ross Lavelle suffering a knee injury, and the national team will miss its impressive performance on the field in the 2019 World Cup final against the Netherlands, resulting in the goal that decided the match in favor of the Americans. , according to the newspaper.

On defense, Team USA has been plagued by a leg injury to veteran defender Becky Sauerbrunn, a two-time World Cup champion and one of the leaders in the team’s wage war, who will miss this year’s World Cup.

Betting on alternatives

Sauerbrunn’s absence, as Time explained, will be filled by 23-year-old defender Naomi Kirma, who is the only player to win the MLS Rookie of the Year award.

The Americans will have to rely on their depth to compensate for the absence of Swanson and Macario. Time reports that three young World Cup players, Sophia Smith, 22, Trinity Rodman, 21, and Alyssa Thompson, 18, and a fourth, Alyssa Thompson, 30, will join Morgan and Robineau.

“I’m excited about the energy and enthusiasm of the young players,” says U.S. National Team coach Vladko Antonovski. “That will be one of our strengths.”