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With Becky Sauerbrunn out, USA women’s national soccer team coach Vlatko Andonovski announced on Friday that Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan will be in charge of this summer’s World Cup squad in Australia and New Zealand.
“We have many leaders on this team, among the young players and the veteran players, and among them Lindsey and Alex have great experience in big games and they know what it takes to win at the highest level,” Andonovski said in a statement . “They are absolute professionals and understand all the factors that make up a united and motivated team. I know they will represent us well on and off the field at the World Championships.”
If Horan and Morgan are on the field at the same time, Horan will wear the captain’s armband, the US Football Association said.
Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd captained the 2019 World Cup squad under former coach Jill Ellis. If more than one of them was in the game, the player with the most international appearances wore the armband.
Sauerbrunn had been the sole captain since January 2021, but when a foot injury ruled her out of this summer’s tournament, Andonovski had to change sides. He informed players of his decision early last week when the Los Angeles area training camp opened. He made it public ahead of the US team’s farewell game against Wales in San Jose on Sunday afternoon.
Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Crystal Dunn were in the 2023 USWNT roster. The USA women’s soccer team is attempting to win the World Cup for the third consecutive year. (Video: Joshua Carroll/The Washington Post)
The Americans, who will open the World Cup group stage game on July 22 (July 21 Eastern Time) against Vietnam in Auckland, New Zealand, aim to become the first men’s or women’s team to win three consecutive global titles.
Morgan, 34, captained the team 22 times in her 13-year, 206-game career. She is participating in her fourth world championship. Horan, 29, has worn the armband nine times in 128 games. She made her World Cup debut four years ago in France.
Andonovski was not short of candidates. Nine players were members of at least two World Cup squads. Alongside Morgan and Horan, Rapinoe, 38, has been part of the program since 2006 and has been an outspoken personality in both on-field and off-field efforts, such as fighting for equal pay with the USSF.
Last week, Andonovski told Rapinoe, “It’s been great for the young players, great for the team and also great for the staff.” … She will also have the role of a leader and leader of the executives.”
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