Allie Long’s journey to becoming a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ champion was one of immense perseverance and self-discovery.
After an impressive college career, the USA midfielder thought she made her international breakthrough in 2010 when she was called into Pia Sundhage’s squad for a series of friendlies against Sweden. She suffered an injury during training, however, which proved a significant setback.
Overlooked by successor Tom Sermanni, it was not until May 2014 that Long finally made her senior USA debut, leaving her little time to work her way into Jill Ellis’ FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ roster. She cried all the way back from Los Angeles to New York about being told she did not make the cut.
Shaking off the immense disappointment, Long vowed to work harder than ever and, after a breakout season for the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, Long finally established herself in the Stars and Stripes programme in 2016 when she made the Olympics squad for the Rio Games in what was her first major international tournament.
Long’s persistence and never-say-die attitude continued to pay off when she made her World Cup debut at the age of 31 at France 2019, helping USA win the coveted trophy.
Now, following an extended break from the game after having two children, Long is back in professional football aged 38 with USL Super League club Fort Lauderdale United.
She spoke to FIFA about her comeback, the role futsal played in her development and thoughts on Emma Hayes’ squad heading into Brazil 2027.
Allie Long: I had the kids in 2023 and I came back [with NWSL club Kansas City Current] and they were only six months old and my dad’s health started declining so a lot of things were happening at once. Then I had an injury… and it wasn’t enjoyable when I stepped on the field. When I left, I felt like I did not want to end my career and that I still had so much more to give.
This opportunity [at Fort Lauderdale] came at the most perfect time. My kids are a little older and I still feel like I have a lot to give to the game. My heart has never been out of it. I’m super-competitive and driven and love the game so much.
The goal initially was for me to just train and I wanted to see where I was at. Coming in, I was just training and then they asked me to sign and so I signed just until the end of the season to get back into it… to be in a training environment, get games in and see what that feels like. Of course, it’s been great and fun and enjoyable.
I said let’s how it goes until the end of the season. I definitely want to play another year or two. I’ve not had any in-depth conversations [with the club about that], it’s just one step at a time.
That was my greatest asset as a player that I could have ever asked for. I played at these ‘underground’ leagues in New York, no one every really talks about them. All these guys are playing in these gyms in Queens and Brooklyn and all over the city. The off-season [in women’s football] is so long and how do you grow if you are not playing games?
My goal was replicating [game-day scenarios] and I had [futsal] games Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday…. and it was with all men and they were playing for prize money so every game was so intense. The biggest asset to me as a footballer was being [in] those gyms and putting myself in those situations. It was awesome.
I look back on that and it was one of the hardest times and the greatest grind of my career. I was the best players in my league [Women’s Professional Soccer] at the time and I just wouldn’t get called in under [former USA coach Tom Sermanni]. I left the USA camp with an injury, then the WPS folded and I went to Paris Saint-Germain and when I came back I thought I have to be so good that they cannot say no to me. It was so hard as no one was watching. I was preparing for the moment for me to step back into camp never knowing when it was coming, which was really hard.
Most people would quit in those moments or give up in their heads about the goals that they had and I didn’t. I’m really proud. It’s a point in my career which I look back on and it helps me give good advice to kids at Fort Lauderdale or my kids even… because you see people give up too early or stop because it’s hard. I didn’t feel that way and I was preparing for the moment that when I do get called up that I was going to be ready.
It was close. We had the biggest January camp leading into 2015, it was so intense and brutal that they have never done it again. I was technically prepared and I wanted it so bad that I think mentally I let myself think too much instead of just playing and being me. I don’t think I was my best self and when Jill Ellis told me that she was going to take experience over me, I [kind of] understood it but it still sucked and I cried all the way home on the plane.
I was really sad for two or three days and then after that, from then until I was called up to the [2016] Olympics, I worked on every aspect that I could. I said I would never let another opportunity slip from me. I won’t let my mind be a reason why I didn’t make it, let it be for technical or tactical reasons.
There is no better feeling. It was the reason that drove me. Watching the 99ers win the World Cup, I knew that was what I wanted to do when I saw it. It was the best, most rewarding feeling that I could have ever hoped for. I didn’t know what to expect… it was unbelievable.
When I played for PSG, I would watch all the men’s games. I would sit there and think, ‘I would die to play on that field [at Parc des Princes]. It was pristine. I always noticed how perfect the field was and it was a dream to play on it one day. I had a little injury [leading into France 2019] so I didn’t know if I would play or get minutes. But the game I went into was on that field. It was the best feeling going on the field where I sat in the stands watching the men play on there.
I was blown away how much American support we had there. It felt like home games. It was unbelievable how many American fans were there supporting us and cheering us on. My family was there [when we won] and it was a full circle of all it took to get here and everyone who loved and supported me.
I am really enjoying watching them play now. Emma Hayes obviously has been brilliant for them. [During] our prep [leading into France 2019] we were playing all the top teams and I think as they prep and as they continue to play games, it’s about peaking at the right moment. I don’t see any downslope for them looking forward right now. It’s exciting to watch.
