Alex Morgan – 'What It Takes to Win a World Cup Isn't What People Expect'

Two-time U.S. Women's Team champion Alex Morgan on the focus and mental stamina needed for victory

- By Alex Morgan

My journey to the World Cup was different than a lot of soccer players nowadays. Growing up, I watched as the U.S. hosted-and won the 1999 women's World Cup.

It drew a huge number of fans and eyes on the tournament, raising soccer to an unprecedented level of recognition in the U.S. It was a pivotal moment for me; soccer could be a global event and a full time job.

But playing in a World Cup wasn't a tangible dream of mine until I was 18 years old, when I got called up to the U.S. under-20 women's national team. I realized I could make the senior national team and play in a World Cup-experience something I'd only ever watched on TV.

I have a 17-year-old teammate at San Diego Wave and she's had a dream to play in a World Cup since she was 12. But that just wasn't the case when I was 12 years old. There was no women's professional league; no real opportunity to be on the World Cup team without luck and big dreams. It felt out of reach.

My First World Cup

For the whole World Cup 2011 tournament, I was overwhelmed trying to understand the tournament, and with emotion. I was wide-eyed and eager to learn. Then, when I stepped on the field for the semifinal game against France, I just felt free.

I didn't have to feel the nerves of the fans around in the stadium or millions of people watching, or the fact that a World Cup was on the line, and that in order to make it to the final, we had to win that game.

All the hard work that you put in, all of the insecurity, all the ups and downs in your career, come down to this moment of enjoying it. So it was a breath of fresh air. I didn't have to try to prove myself-I already had.

How It Feels to Score