Alex Morgan has long been one of women’s football’s biggest stars. But now, aged 29 and approaching her third FIFA Women’s Women’s World Cup™, she is dazzling brighter than ever. 

Morgan’s stats for this year make that case eloquently enough. From 19 international appearances in 2018, she has emerged with 18 goals and three assists. And whenever the stakes soared, so too did the performance levels of USA’s big-game player.

Just think back to October’s CONCACAF Women’s Championship, when World Cup spots and a continental title were on the line. Morgan was unstoppable, scoring seven goals in five games – three of which came in the semi-finals and final - to secure the competition’s Golden Boot and inspire a near-flawless campaign from her team. 

The striker’s scintillating form has been a key factor in the world champions emerging from a slump that followed their World Cup triumph in 2015. Now, with that transitional period behind them, USA are back to their imposing best, having ended 2018 unbeaten in 20 matches and without a goal conceded in almost 15 hours of football. 

It was, therefore, an understandably upbeat Morgan who sat down with FIFA.com to reflect candidly on her and the team’s development ahead of the Women’s World Cup.

“Even now, I get emotional talking about it.”

Maren Mjelde is in conversation with FIFA.com, and talk has turned to her wonderful free-kick at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup™. The Norway captain laughs as she admits to having tried, and failed, to replicate it countless times in the three-and-a-half years since.

But the lump in Mjelde’s throat cannot be attributed to the quality of the strike, nor its significance in a 1-1 draw with Germany. Instead, she remembers the context in which it was scored, with her mother - who was battling cancer at the time, and to whom the goal was dedicated – in the stands to see it hit the net.

Now, with her mother having won that particular battle and Norway heading to the Women’s World Cup once again, those bittersweet emotions have turned to pure joy. Mjelde has every reason to smile too, after a preliminary campaign in which her Norway side beat the Netherlands on a dramatic final day to pip the European champions to automatic qualification.

Memories of that achievement were still fresh as the Chelsea midfielder looked ahead with hope and excitement to her team’s French adventure.

Juan Carlos Osorio is a busy man. Fresh from leading Mexico to the last 16 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, the Colombian has just accepted his second job as a national team coach, this time with Paraguay, who have not graced the world finals since South Africa 2010.

In giving one of his first exclusive interviews since his appointment in early September, the 57-year-old spoke to FIFA.com about his reasons for accepting what Paraguay had to offer, his coaching philosophy and what he expects from his players.

Having just vacated Mexico job, he also had a message to give the Mexico fans: “I’d like to thank them all, and the Mexican FA’s officials and players, who had faith in, believed in and respected the way we work. It was an unforgettable experience and it’s made me a better coach.”