20 Years Older Than Youngest US Star at World Cup, Megan Rapinoe’s Less Involvement With USWNT Explained by Analyst

The USWNT didn’t fail to disappoint their fans and had a promising start for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Led by Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan, the Stars are aiming for the third consecutive World Cup win. However, after ending up with a disheartening (1-1) draw against the Netherlands, fans are complaining about Megan Rapinoe receiving less field time.

Megan Rapinoe is playing her fourth and final World Cup. The two times World Cup winner comes with a lot of experience and encourages youngsters to face challenges. Surprisingly, Rapinoe’s new role isn’t letting the soccer star get enough playtime in comparison to other players.

Several fans have raised concerns about Rapinoe spending most of her time on the bench. However, an analyst has described Rapinoe’s absence as part of USWNT’s strategy planning and plan to nourish the next generation.

Why hasn’t Megan Rapinoe played much in the 2023 Women’s World Cup?

Rapinoe shocked the soccer world after she announced her retirement from competitive football at the end of the current season. Since then, the soccer veteran has become the center of attention. However, the excitement soon turned to disappointment after fans spotted Rapinoe most of the time on the bench.

The legendary 38-year-old forward is retiring this year and fans are expecting to see their idol with more playtime. Furthermore, her role on this current team has been completely different than it has been in the past. The 38-year-old made just 20 minutes for the USWNT opener against Vietnam. While, against the Netherlands, Rapinoe was seen spending time with the squad on the bench.

Despite being the face of the USWNT for over a decade, fans are not happy to see their soccer idol on the bench during her retirement year. However, it’s important to realize that she has been battling some injuries lately, and it’s important to keep her fresh for later. Another reason for her lack of playtime is that the Stars are focusing to build the younger generation.

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Interestingly, the USWNT coach already highlighted this change in Rapinoe’s role way before the World Cup kicked off. Furthermore, one analyst also gave the same reason for Megan’s lack of playtime. He said, “But mostly her new role reflects the youth of the roster, which boasts 14 World Cup rookies and 11 players with fewer than 30 caps.”

“There are more players who were born after the 1999 World Cup (four) than there are players appearing in their fourth World Cup (three). The next generation of the USWNT has arrived,” he further added. Undoubtedly, Rapinoe’s change role is to nourish the next generation. Thus, the 38-year-old soccer veteran will not be seen mostly on the field throughout the tournament.

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