The USA is entering into an important phase. The 2024 Paris Olympics. This time, USWNT will have to manage without Alex Morgan. It was at the 2008 Olympics the team last played without her. However, citing the 18-player limit for the Olympic roster as one reason for dropping her, Emma Hayes explained the challenge such a rule can cause.

“Sometimes I wonder why they didn’t just say 22 players. But I don’t make the rules. But I certainly believe in a whole squad, so I know everybody will count.” Hayes stated on Golazo Network’s Morning Footy show. Yet, why was the former captain not chosen among the 18? Hayes also pointed to the reason for that.

The soccer team roster for the 2024 Olympics has space for 18 players; previously it was 22. 11 of those are supposed to participate, whereas the remaining seven can be available as substitutes. Hence, the coach would have to leave out some talented and experienced players who deserve to be in the squad.

Hayes did not deny that those were tough decisions. “There are plenty of players those are good enough to be on the roster but factoring all of those things in and not single decisions I make. Multiple people involved with that decision-making process that are analyzing games, analyzing teams. And of course, none of it is ever completely right, but I think it’s about getting balance,” she shared on the Women’s Game podcast on July 9.

Well, the player limit for the Olympic roster is one reason for dropping Morgan. The 18-player roster also includes two goalkeepers, hence the tactical and management complexities it generates. Suggesting that keeping a player in the best condition on the pitch is paramount, Hayes also revealed that they select players based on that it takes effort from staff to manage such a workload.

The USA will play 2016 gold medalists Germany, Australia, and Zambia from group B, all of which have strong tactical bases. To tackle this, Hayes opted for a younger squad. And that could be yet another reason for leaving out Morgan.

Emma Hayes will depend on the younger players after dropping Alex Morgan

It wasn’t easy for the English coach to take an alternative approach and drop a player of Alex Morgan’s caliber. While there are no age restrictions in the women’s tournament at the Olympics, the coach has hinted at the need for the next generation of players to take the baton.

Alex Morgan is 35, and this is most likely the end of her Olympic career. Hence, Hayes feels it is time for people who did not get enough opportunities earlier to gun ahead. She also wanted players who could manage to play many games in a congested schedule.

Morgan is definitely disappointed. “Today, I’m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage … In less than a month, I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country,” she wrote on X.

Regardless, the USWNT will need to win six games to win a medal at the 2024 Paris Games. But this would be within two weeks, with just a couple of days off between the matches. Hence, with limited options, the baton has been given to players like Sophia Smith, Jaedyn Shaw, and Trinity Rodman.

What’s your take on the coach’s decision? Let us know in the comments.