'We have a different standard for women' - Megan Rapinoe warns USWNT will be 'torn apart' if they don't achieve 'perfection' as she weighs in on Olympics gold medal bid under Emma Hayes

The legendary two-time World Cup winner stepped out of the international spotlight on the back of a failed bid for another global crown in 2023. Rapinoe is, at 39 years of age, now retired completely and focused on matters away from the field.

She is, however, keeping a close eye on how the United States’ class of 2024 are getting on – with former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes now calling the shots there. A star-studded squad is readying itself for a gold medal bid at the Olympic Games in Paris.

The U.S. will be one of the favourites heading into that competition, despite slipping to fifth in the world rankings, and Rapinoe – who won 203 caps for her country – has told Forbes of the pressure that Hayes’ side will be under: “I think any woman who’s elite in her profession will get torn apart by critics. We have a different standard for women. The expectation is perfection.”

Rapinoe went on to say of facing those challenges head on, with success of the past setting a high bar for the USWNT: “You don’t always succeed, but that’s what we love about sports. And looking forward to the Olympics, everyone is excited, there’s a new team and there is an opportunity of this new group of players to make their mark.”

The USWNT will kick off their quest for Olympic glory when facing Zambia on July 25, with further outings against Germany and Australia to come in Group B. They last claimed gold at the London Games in 2012.