USWNT star Megan Rapinoe has not been shy about sharing her thoughts while in France for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. So when speaking to the media ahead of the United States women’s national team’s match against the Netherlands in the World Cup Final, she unloaded on FIFA for their loaded schedule on Sunday, July 7.
The Women’s World Cup Final takes place at 11:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, with the CONMEBOL Copa América Final between Brazil and Peru following at 4:00 p.m. ET. Then, in primetime, Mexico and the United States men’s national team will face off in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Rapinoe felt slighted by the scheduling and was reportedly “furious.”
“It’s ridiculous, and disappointing, to be honest,” said the USWNT co-captain, via the New York Post.
Former United States midfielder Aly Wagner, who is a FOX Sports analyst for the Women’s World Cup, echoed those sentiments while discussing the schedule.
“It’s terrible,” Wagner added. “It is so disturbing to me that the Women’s World Cup does not have its own day to stand on its own and have a final to highlight these tremendous athletes and their work and their accomplishment. They wouldn’t dream of doing it to the men. Why would they do it to the women?”
FIFA, meanwhile, simply believes that holding all three finals on the same day will bring more attention to each game. Oh, and there are these things called timezones, so logistically everything works out.
“The scheduling of the different events has gone through a comprehensive consultancy process, which has involved all key stakeholders and taken into account different aspects of the women’s and men’s international match calendars,” FIFA said in a statement. “It is a rare and exciting occurrence.”
So, the show must go on.
The USWNT and Netherlands will square off at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Décines-Charpieu, France beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET on FOX. You will be able to stream the game live on your laptop or mobile device through the FOX Sports Go app.
