Is Alex Morgan retiring? USWNT legend faces uncertain future after 2023 World Cup elimination

Alex Morgan’s fourth career FIFA Women’s World Cup ended in heartbreak.

The USWNT legend was substituted off in extra time during a Round of 16 clash against Sweden and she had to watch from the sidelines as her team ultimately lost in a dramatic penalty shootout. Megan Rapinoe, who took her place, missed a crucial spot kick to help seal the Americans’ fate.

The loss sent the USA crashing out of the tournament with 2023 marking the worst World Cup finish in team history. The USA reached the semifinals of all eight previous editions of the World Cup. This time around, they didn’t even make it to the quarterfinals. 

At 34 years old, Morgan faces an uncertain national team future. Was the Round of 16 elimination against Sweden the last time we’ll see her suit up for the Stars and Stripes? 

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Is Alex Morgan retiring?

In an interview following the loss to Sweden, Morgan dodged a question about her future with the USWNT. 

“I don’t know,” she told FOX Sports’ Jenny Taft. “I was so focused on the World Cup that… I don’t know. I’m just ready to get back to San Diego and get back to work and go from there.”

The @USWNT co-captain Alex Morgan joins @JennyTaft after the USA-SWE Round of 16 matchup 🎙 pic.twitter.com/7GiLFYrxVo

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 6, 2023

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Morgan will resume her club season with San Diego Wave FC later this month. The team currently sits sixth place in the NWSL table with seven matches remaining in the regular season. The top six teams move on to the playoffs in October.

The Americans are expected to lose a number of experienced veterans to retirement after this year’s World Cup.

Rapinoe has previously announced that the 2023 tournament was her last at the international level, while star midfielder Julie Ertz hinted at retirement in her post-match interview. Defender Kelley O’Hara and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, both 35, are also among the older players on the roster. 

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Alex Morgan USWNT career, stats, achievements

Morgan began her USWNT career when she received her first senior call-up in 2010. She made her first appearance during a match against Mexico that year, and she was named to the roster for the 2011 Women’s World Cup as a 22-year-old. 

Since then, she has become one of the most successful players in American women’s soccer history.

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She is currently the nation’s fifth all-time leading scorer with 121 goals in 211 appearances. She won back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019, a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

She was a finalist for The Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2019 and 2022 and a finalist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2012.

In total, she has nine career goals at the World Cup. However, she didn’t get on the scoresheet in 2023 despite starting in all four of the USA’s matches. She did register one assist this year in the opening game against Vietnam.