Alex Morgan embracing first World Cup as a mom: 'I'm playing two roles'

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Alex Morgan was sitting at the podium, surrounded by about a dozen reporters ready to pepper her with questions when her phone buzzed.

On the other end was the U.S. women's World Cup star's daughter, Charlie, age 3. It was just after 8 p.m. back in Morgan's native California, and Charlie wanted to FaceTime with her mom and say goodnight.

Morgan apologized and excused herself. Moments later she returned. The call dropped. That can happen when you're 6,500 miles and 19 time zones apart.

Morgan and the rest of the USWNT have already been in camp for a month. Her husband, former MLS midfielder Servando Carrasco, and parents are already in New Zealand — the site of all three group-stage games for the Americans at the 2023 Women's World Cup. In a few days, Charlie and her nanny will join them Down Under.

"Charlie's the last piece of the puzzle, and I'm very excited," Morgan said.

This is Morgan's first World Cup as a mother. She's in good company. Two other members of Vlatko Andonovski's 23-player roster, Crystal Dunn and Julie Ertz, are in the same boat. All three veterans of the USA's 2019 World Cup triumph started the U.S. team's first game at the 2022 Women's World Cup — the first time three moms have appeared in a match for the U.S. at soccer's biggest event at the same time.

[Meet the ‘badass’ soccer moms who blazed a trail for USWNT]

There's a lot to navigate for all of them. For world-class athletes competing at the absolute highest level of their sport, finding that work-life balance is sometimes difficult, if not impossible.

"It's hard, because every day I miss her so much," Morgan said of her daughter. "But when she's here, I know that I'm playing two roles, as mom and soccer player."

W