When Horan and Morgan are on the field at the same time, Horan will wear the captain’s armband, according to the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd captained the 2019 World Cup team under former coach Jill Ellis. When more than one of them was in competition, the player who played the most international matches wore the armband.
Zorbrunn has been the sole captain since January 2021, but when a foot injury ruled him out of this summer’s tournament, Antonovski had to take the lead. He informed the players of his decision when training camp began in Los Angeles earlier last week. He made the announcement ahead of the U.S. team’s send-off match against Wales in San Jose on Sunday afternoon.
The Americans will look to become the first men’s or women’s team to win three consecutive global titles when they open their World Cup group stage against Vietnam on July 22 (July 21 EST) in Auckland, New Zealand.
Morgan, 34, has captained the team 22 times in his 13-year, 206-game career. He is entering his fourth World Cup. Horan, 29, has worn the armband nine times in 128 games. He made his World Cup debut in France four years ago.
Antonovsky has no shortage of candidates. Nine players have been members of at least two World Cup teams. In addition to Morgan and Horan, Rapinoe, 38, has been a part of the program since 2006 and has been an outspoken figure in both on-field and off-field efforts, such as the equal pay fight with the USSF.
Last week, Antonovski said of Rapinoe: “It’s been amazing for the young players, it’s been amazing for the team and it’s been amazing for the staff. … She will have the role of a leader and lead the leaders.
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