Alex Morgan, the face of women’s soccer, recently hung up her boots this year. While she has been prolific on the field, Morgan also raised her voice over concerns off the field. Now that she’s retired, the legend is thrilled that something she has wanted for years is finally happening. And no, we are not talking about the new CBA deal, which is among the many good things for the women’s game. To put it short, the first edition of the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup is set for January-February 2026, after a long need for a global tournament for women’s teams.

Speaking to Ali Krieger on ESPN’s Futbol W, the former San Diego Wave player believes this will be a huge boost for the NWSL. “I am really happy with … how the Club World Cup is picking up, I wanted to go to France because I wanted to play in the Champions League … playing in the U.S. or North America just doesn’t offer [that] because it is a European tournament,” says the 2-time World Cup winner. 

“So having the Club World Cup and being able to compete with the best club teams around the world I think truly levels the playing field,” added Morgan. The Club World Cup will indeed be a great opportunity to see how women’s teams measure up against their European counterparts. Looking from the national team perspective, the USWNT has been a dominant force for years, boasting four World Cup titles, the most of any team. So, while the scale does tip in their favor, there has yet to be any update on the eligibility format and host nation for the Women’s Club World Cup.

Alex Morgan praises the rising standards of the NWSL over the years

While there’s a long trend of American players leaving their domestic leagues to play in Europe, that trend is soon to decline, thanks to the NWSL’s new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) deal. The latest CBA sees the draft system being eliminated, higher salary caps, and revised policies that are more in line with FIFA. “The NWSL has raised its level so much, especially in the last couple of years, where not only are we retaining the talent of U.S. players, but we are bringing some of the best talent from overseas,” says Morgan.

Looking at the leaderboards, Temwa Chawinga, Barbra Banda, and Marta are just a few of the many big names that play in the league. With all these new reforms, we are sure Alex Morgan would have loved to play in the new system. During her time in the NWSL, she scored 60 goals, ranking her fourth in the league’s history. While the world awaits more updates, we can’t wait to see big clubs face off and spark a rivalry over which side of the continent plays the better soccer.