Ali Krieger Says the World Cup Is "Exactly What We Need Right Now"
Our take
The quiet confidence radiating from Ali Krieger's recent statements about the World Cup – and her ongoing, far from “retired” life – speaks volumes about the evolving landscape of athlete influence and the broader cultural moment. Krieger’s assertion that the tournament is "exactly what we need right now" resonates beyond the realm of sport, tapping into a collective yearning for unity and inspiration. It's a perspective informed by her own journey as a champion, a wife, and a mother, and one that feels particularly poignant given the current global climate. The timing of her comments, coinciding with the launch of her new garage gym, further underscores a narrative of continued dedication and self-investment, mirroring the spirit of resilience that the World Cup itself embodies. We’ve seen similar shifts in understanding the role of athletic presence, as explored in What's Next in Activewear? We Asked the Founder of LSKD, demonstrating how athletes are increasingly becoming tastemakers and driving trends beyond the field.
Krieger’s perspective isn’t merely about celebrating athletic prowess; it’s about the power of sport to foster connection and inspire hope. The World Cup, with its global reach and passionate fanbase, provides a rare opportunity for nations to come together, transcending political and social divisions. Her words echo the sentiment of shared experience and collective joy, a welcome contrast to the often-fragmented nature of online discourse. This echoes the inherent power of tradition and community, beautifully captured in The Sweetest Moment of the World Cup Is This Pregame Tradition, highlighting the rituals that bind fans and players alike. The focus on the “need” for the World Cup speaks to a deeper understanding of the human condition—the desire for spectacle, for belonging, and for moments of shared excitement.
Beyond the immediate impact of the tournament, Krieger's sustained engagement and continued evolution as a public figure represent a significant shift in how athletes approach their post-competition careers. We're moving away from the outdated notion of retirement as an endpoint and towards a model where athletic achievement serves as a foundation for broader creative and entrepreneurial pursuits. The emphasis is less on singular athletic accomplishments and more on the ongoing cultivation of personal brand and influence. This is evident in the growing interplay between athletes and fashion, as showcased in These New Fashion Collaborations Are Already Winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where athletic visibility translates into partnerships and endorsements that extend far beyond traditional sporting endorsements. Krieger's building a garage gym while maintaining a visible presence demonstrates a proactive, intentional approach to shaping her own narrative.
Ultimately, Ali Krieger’s comments and actions highlight a broader cultural trend – the rise of the post-athlete influencer, a figure who embodies strength, resilience, and a commitment to personal growth. It’s a shift that favors authenticity and relatability over manufactured glamour, resonating with audiences seeking genuine connection and inspiration. The question becomes: as athletes continue to leverage their platforms in increasingly diverse ways, how will this redefine our understanding of celebrity, influence, and the very concept of “retirement”?
Ali Krieger is "retired" in the lightest sense of the word. When we hop on a Zoom call just a week before the men's FIFA World Cup, she just put the finishing touches on her new garage gym and is gearing up for a 3v3 tournament during the games.
It's the athlete in her. At 41, the two time women's FIFA world cup champ wouldn't dream of stepping away from the sport entirely. "I still play pickup. I was just playing in Soccer Aid this past weekend," she tell Popsugar, while detailing her latest partnership with Fairlife Core Power. While no longer a member of an NWSL or women's national team, soccer and exercise is still very much top of mind for Krieger.
She's still in the gym two days a week, prioritizing strength training, taking regular Pilates classes, and running weekly — although she's cut back significantly from her pro days on the pitch. "I run like once a week and no more than like 15 minutes. You can't pay me out to run anymore," Krieger jokes. As for the strength training, that's motivated by her two kids, ages 3 and 5, who she's often chasing around. "I still want to be fit enough to do that and to have the energy to do that," Krieger adds.
On the other days of the week, she's focused on recovery (the Core Power vanilla protein shake is a go-to) and Pilates. The latter, Krieger swears could have extended her career if she started it sooner: "I wish I would have started [Pilates] way before I retired, because I think I would have lasted a little bit longer."
Still, she finds life as a spectator (and professional broadcaster) wildly rewarding, especially in these next two years with the women's World Cup set for 2027 and the men's tournament just days away.
"It's the biggest and best tournament in the world, coming to our backyard," she says. Her biggest hope for the games? A chance for unity. Krieger believes we could use something big to bring us together with "everything that we're going through politically in the world right now, and then more specifically within our own country."
"Having a team to cheer for and root for, but also feel like we're really a part of a family" — that's what Krieger's looking forward to the most. "I love that football can do that for people. I love that this beautiful game that I really enjoy and I'm so passionate about can bring people from all over the world together in one place to just have a moment of excitement and joy, because that's exactly what we need right now."
"Out of all the championships . . . fighting for equal pay, I would say, is the most rewarding and proud moment."
For Krieger, soccer has always been more than just a game; it's been a vehicle for change. She was one of the original 22 US Women's National Team players allocated to the NWSL for its inaugural season in 2013 and played professionally until retiring in 2023. She's witnessed the gender resource discrepancy first hand — from the stadiums they'd practice in to the checks they'd receive. Krieger was also a member of the USWNT during its landmark equal pay complaint filed against the US Soccer Federation, which ultimately led to a $24 million dollar settlement and the collective bargaining agreement in place today guaranteeing equal pay for the women's and men's US soccer teams through December 2028. "Out of all the championships and all the games we would win and the tournaments that we would play in — fighting for equal pay, I would say, that that is the most rewarding and proud moment," she says.
"I don't think [the younger players] would ever understand what we went and believe those stories that we have," Krieger adds, "but all of that has been so rewarding and worth it now and that's the way it's supposed to be."
Today, people are investing in women's sports like never before. "Globally, around $4 billion in equity assets under management (AUM) is now allocated to women‑focused investment mandates, 2.4 times the level in 2019," according to 2026 BofA Global Research. And the investment is paying off: women's sports revenues in the US were estimated to grow 250 percent (to $2.5 billion) between 2024 and 2030 (and that's on the conservative end), per McKinsey analysis mentioned in the BofA report.
As we head into World Cup season, Krieger is highly optimistic about the potential growth that could take place within the world of women's soccer. "If you're not invested now, you're going to be missing out on the future."
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Alexis Jones is the section lead of the health and fitness verticals at Popsugar, overseeing coverage across the website, social media, and newsletters. In her seven-plus years of editorial experience, Alexis has developed passions for and expertise in mental health, women's health and fitness, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining PS, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women's Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.Read on the original site
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