Ex-Soccer Star Megan Rapinoe Sparks Mixed Reactions After Slamming U.S. Men's Soccer Team's New Slogan

Megan Rapinoe isn't okay with the U.S. men's soccer team's campaign for the upcoming World Cup.

The former U.S. women's soccer star showed her dissatisfaction with the campaign in a recent podcast episode that aired the previous week. She claimed that the team's slogan, "Never chase reality," wasn't what it was perceived to be, and she then offered an alternative idea.

Her comment received mixed reactions, with some netizens also having issues with the slogan. In the past, Megan Rapinoe has been vocal about other issues in women's sports, including the stigma around periods and calls for transgender exclusion.

The Ex-Soccer Star Had Issues With The Campaign Slogan

Speaking during an episode of "A Touch More," Rapinoe shared her views on the new campaign the U.S. men's soccer team launched ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The former player took particular issue with the slogan for the campaign, which was featured in a 90-second film narrated by Marcello Hernandez.

"The team's slogan going into the World Cup, this was like their drop, and their slogan is 'Never chase reality.' I was like, guys, I don't think it's saying what you think it's saying," Rapinoe told her partner, Sue Bird, and sportscaster Katie Nolan on the episode, per the New York Post.

Reflecting further on the slogan, Rapinoe said using an alternative like "Dream Big" would have worked better regardless of Hernandez's explanation that it meant "ignoring the odds and daring to dream."

She added, "I'm kinda like, why didn't we just stick with, 'Dream big?' To me, it said like you already think you're not good. So, I didn't like that."

Netizens React To Megan Rapinoe's Comment About The Men's Soccer Team Slogan

Several netizens sided with Rapinoe over her view of the soccer men's team slogan, with many choosing to do so despite not being fans of the two-time World Cup winner.

"The slogan is bad TBH," one wrote, while another commented, "No fan of her, but that IS an awful slogan."

"In this case, she's kinda right. It's not a great slogan. When a slogan needs to be explained, it might not be what you need," a third user remarked.

"I agree. NEVER CHASE REALITY? That's the slogan? It's pretty f-cking dumb," a fourth user trolled.

"I get the whole 'dreams are bigger than reality' thing, but this slogan is obtuse and ridiculous," remarked another individual.

One more user commented, "I rolled my eyes because it's Rapinoe, but then I read the article, and I actually agree with her. 'Never Chase Reality' is a terrible slogan!"

Some Fans Called Out The Former Soccer Star

On X, Rapinoe also received some pushback for her remarks, with some calling her out for simply being opinionated.

One person sarcastically wrote, "Oh, weird, Rapinoe is taking issue with something," while another said, "funny ...most peeps take issue with her."

A third person harshly commented, "Sad when that small window of fame closes, and you try so hard to keep opening it. Even if it means making a complete imbecile out of yourself."

One more individual noted, "She takes issue with everything, for f-cks sake."

Megan Rapinoe Once Slammed The Stigma Around Women's Period In Football

 

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Rapinoe has never been shy about sharing her views regarding the sport and did so mid-last year when she spoke about a significant part of women's health as part of her partnership with undergarment brand Knix.

"I've been on my period in every single major championship I've ever played in," Rapinoe told The Advocate, referencing her appearance at two women's World Cups.

She also claimed that it was "fascinating that it is so stigmatized for us," which she believes shouldn't be the case.

"Being a person who has a period, it's kind of hush-hush. We know it happens, but we don't have want to talk about it, we don't want to see it, we don't want to put money towards it in research," Rapinoe added at the time. "And that leads to a really huge stigma."

The Soccer Star Pushed Back On Efforts Restricting Transgender Inclusion In Women's Sports

Last month, the former soccer star also launched a critique of the motivations behind initiatives aimed at restricting transgender participation in women's sports.

Her remarks came in response to an op-ed calling on the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) to establish explicit gender eligibility standards using various testing methods.

"Are we really protecting women in sports, or are we doing this just thinly veiled, 'Oh my god, we're scared, and we have to protect women in sports?'" Rapinoe noted at the time on the "A Touch More" podcast, per Fox News.

"And it's like, 'We're fine. We don't even have any trans players in the NWSL.' That was really, I felt, pretty disingenuous."