Alex Morgan backs USMNT to make a run

USWNT legend Alex Morgan, speaking as a former World Cup winner and a full-time soccer mom, says the U.S. men’s national team should be ready for sudden shifts at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup—then start fast, especially in game one. Morgan will attend all USM

Days before a World Cup, the uncertainty doesn’t feel theoretical—it feels physical. Alex Morgan knows that feeling well.

She’s a U.S. women’s national team legend who played in three World Cups. won two of them. and also competed in three Olympics. She has lived every kind of moment on the biggest stage: a starter when it mattered. a bench option waiting for her chance. and even a player left off a roster entirely. Now fully retired. Morgan is still around the game every day—building it as an investor in women’s sports. founding the media company Togethxr. and. in her day-to-day life. as a full-time soccer mom.

As the U.S. men’s national team approaches the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. Morgan is watching closely—partly because she understands how quickly momentum can change. and partly because she will literally be there for the early chapter in Los Angeles. She will attend all of the USMNT’s World Cup games in Los Angeles.

Morgan’s message to the team is rooted in the swings she’s seen up close. “I’ve been both a bench player and a starter in World Cups. and things can change so quickly. ” she told GOAL. “You can literally be player No. 26. or you can be the first player that’s always called up. and it can change based on your opponent. based on the rhythm of the team. and who plays well together. So just be ready. Always be ready.”.

It’s a reminder that at tournament speed, readiness isn’t a mindset—it’s a requirement. Morgan points to how roster roles can shift almost instantly, not because of intention, but because opponents, team rhythm, and chemistry can decide what works on the pitch.

With Mauricio Pochettino’s side taking on the tournament, Morgan says she believes they’re capable of more than simply meeting expectations. “I feel like they’re gonna go far,” she said.

Morgan’s connection to the sport also reaches beyond the field. She has teamed up with brands connected to this summer’s tournament, including DraftKings, where she serves as an ambassador. “This summer is obviously one of the biggest events in the world,” Morgan said. “I am an ambassador of DraftKings. and it’s great to see them also investing in female athletes for such a major event like this.”.

That’s a different kind of spotlight than the one Pochettino’s team will face in 2026—but the underlying theme is the same: investment, attention, and belief have to show up at the start, not after the story is already written.

For Morgan, that “start” comes with a specific demand: urgency in the opening match. “I think the first game is the most important game for them to make their mark,” she said. “They can’t have to catch up and work their way into the tournament. They have to make a strong statement in game one.”

There’s a clear logic to it. If roles can shift and expectations can get redefined at any moment—if you can go from player No. 26 to a pivotal role. or from a regular place to something else entirely—then the safest way to control the narrative is to seize it early. Start fast. Make the statement. Then build from there.

Morgan isn’t pretending it will be easy. But from someone who has felt the pressure from every angle—starter. bench. and the painful reality of being left out—her confidence carries weight. She will be in Los Angeles for every USMNT World Cup game there. and she says what comes next is simple: be ready. and don’t wait for the tournament to tell you who you are.

Alex Morgan USMNT 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup Mauricio Pochettino Los Angeles DraftKings Togethxr women’s sports