Alex Morgan, Marta and other women’s footballers
15 September 2026
Alex Morgan, Marta, Crystal Dunn and more than a dozen leading current and former players signed an open letter asking FIFA to place the U20 Women’s World Cup inside the international match calendar, allowing clubs to release eligible players without scheduling conflicts.
Several professional teenagers are absent from the 2026 tournament because clubs are not required to release them outside a FIFA window. The players argue calendar alignment would strengthen national squads, improve tournament quality and give clubs greater certainty when planning seasons.