Megan Rapinoe backs U.S. Soccer president, drops F-bomb as part of victory parade speech
Megan Rapinoe continues to stun as she and the World Cup champions celebrate while pushing forward a cause.
The United States national women’s soccer team co-captain spoke last at the team’s parade ceremony in New York City on Wednesday and covered the big ticket items fans have come to expect from her.
The 34-year-old endorsed the U.S. Soccer Federation president, referenced ideas she may become the president of the United States and left the millions watching in person or on TV with an inspiring message and one moment live TV couldn’t bleep out quickly enough.
Rapinoe endorses US Soccer president
U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro was met with an “equal pay” chant while speaking to the crowd early in the ceremony. Rapinoe added him to her list of thank you’s — making mention that “everybody gets booed” in powerful positions — and told the world she believes in him.
“I’m going to stick my neck out there a little bit. I’m going to endorse Carlos. I think he’s with us. I think he’s on the right side of things. I think he’s going to make things right. He’s proven every day since he’s been in office for us that he’s with us.”
Rapinoe said he was with the team every day of the World Cup, cheering and celebrating them but didn’t let him fully off the hook in front of thousands.
“We look forward to holding those feet to the fire,” she said.
Cordeiro was elected the federation’s 32nd president in 2017 and has served various roles beginning in 2007. His four-year term expires ahead of the next Women’s World Cup in 2023.
The national team sued the federation months before the World Cup, with U.S. Soccer disagreeing with many of the team’s allegations. They will head to mediation over the matter. Rapinoe also called out FIFA the day before the final for its lack of commitment to women’s soccer.
Pinoe for Prez 2020?
Pinoe may have endorsed Cordeiro, but a plethora of people have endorsed her for the biggest presidential seat in the country. After her two goals to beat France on the heels of a tweet storm by Trump, social media blew up with Rapinoe 2020 mentions.
Due to “popular demand,” Public Policy Polling (PPP) tested Rapinoe vs. Trump and found the soccer star’s approval rating is 42 percent while Trump’s is 41.
This all clearly got back to Rapinoe, who made note of it early at the parade ceremony.
"There's no place I'd rather be ... even in the presidential race. I'm busy, I'm sorry,” she said.
Even after Rapinoe said she’d rather not be in the race, CNN closed its parade coverage by asking if we would see her on a debate stage. An opinion piece by The Hill analyzed her against Trump with viewership, leadership and marketing lenses.
Inspiring, apolitical message from Rapinoe
Rapinoe echoed sentiments she expressed with Anderson Cooper during a TV interview on Tuesday night to close her speech on an uplifting message. She gave a call to the crowd that should be seen in its entirety above.
“I think I’ll just end with this. This is my charge to everyone. We have to be better. We have to love more; hate less. We gotta listen more and talk less. We gotta know that this is everybody’s responsibility. Every single person here. Every single person who’s not here. Every single person who doesn’t want to be here. Every single person who agrees and doesn’t agree. It’s our responsibility to make this world a better place.”
Rapinoe said the USWNT understands its position and platform, and they are more than just female soccer players. She challenged people to be more than a fan and find ways they can improve their community daily.
“There’s been so much contention in these last years. I’ve been a victim of that. I’ve been a perpetrator of that ... but it’s time to come together. This conversation is at the next step. We have to collaborate. It takes everybody. This is my charge to everybody: do what you can.”
The World Cup golden treble winner’s remarks at the parade were a continuation of the poise she’s shown through tweets from the president and TV appearances regarding a lawsuit and visiting the White House.
Well, maybe up until she dropped a closing line that had every live TV broadcast cringing:
“New York City. You’re the motherf—king best.”
Mic drop.
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