Megan Rapinoe is embracing her role for the 2023 World Cup.
No longer a major starter for the U.S. women’s national team, Rapinoe can still come on the field and make a difference – no matter the capacity. And while this year’s World Cup will look a little different for the veteran forward, she’s embracing the challenge.
“In some ways completely differently and in some ways exactly the same,” she said on the latest episode of Snacks when asked about her approach for this World Cup. “I mean, my role on the team is completely different, which I actually really love and enjoy. I mean, I still love to play and I want to play all the time.
“I think it’s position specific. Like not every position can, you know, only be playing limited minutes or having the kind of role that I do.”
Rapinoe hopes that she’s still useful in her current role. And in a lot of ways, she already has proved that she is. For example, she scored the team’s only goal in the first of two friendlies against Germany last November. At any given moment when Rapinoe subs on, there’s a chance for her to score.
But the 37-year-old also brings her personality and leadership to a squad that is balancing veteran presence with youth talent.
“I’m still fun. I’m still a fun aunt, fun grandma,” she said. “But yeah, it’s like we want to run it back. We wanna win. We wanna win everything, all the time. Win every game. World Cups are just so cool. Like this one’s going to be so much better than the last one which was so much better than the last one.
“It’s in a really cool place, so I think that’s exciting for everyone. The team is looking great. These little kids are just good. Everyone’s just good.”
