Megan Rapinoe: Retirement Announcement will Allow USWNT to Focus at Women's World Cup

Megan Rapinoe wanted to get ahead of any retirement talk to help herself and Team USA maintain focus on trying to win a third straight World Cup.

After announcing last week she would retire at the end of the 2023 NWSL season, Rapinoe explained Wednesday why it was important for her to let the world know her plans early:

"Obviously I'm 38 years old, I'm not going to be playing forever and it just always feels weird for me to have something settled and feel at peace and to not answer a question honestly. I kind of wanted to have that for myself.

"I think it allows me to focus a lot more, allows the team to focus a lot more. We don't have to get questions every time, every single game. It's just kind of out there and I can just really enjoy it and focus on trying to win the tournament."

There had been speculation about Rapinoe's future dating back to last year when she told ESPN's Jeff Kassouf that retirement had been on her mind.

When Rapinoe was included on the United States' roster for the 2023 World Cup, it seemed like a safe bet this would be her final time competing in the event. She's the oldest player on the team by more than three years. (Alyssa Naeher is the second-oldest at 35 years old.)

There was some concern Rapinoe might not be available for Team USA after suffering a calf injury in the OL Reign's victory over the Kansas City Current on June 10.

This is going to be something of a transitional World Cup for the U.S. women's national team. Veterans like Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz and Kelley O'Hara are joined by a group of first-time World Cup selections, including Trinity Rodman and Alyssa Thompson.

There are a total of seven players on the roster aged 25 or under.

Team USA has not shown any signs of slowing down going into the World Cup. They have won each of their eight matches so far this year, including a 2-0 win over Wales on Sunday that served as their final tune-up before traveling to New Zealand.

Rapinoe is competing in her fourth consecutive World Cup. She has nine goals and seven assists in 17 career World Cup matches.

The United States squad can become the first team to win three consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup titles. They will open play against Vietnam on July 21 at 9 p.m. ET.