Exclusive: Julie Foudy is ‘proud’ to have been part of an inspiring football team: ‘It was about what we stood for’

Microsoft
By Microsoft 5 Min Read
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when Julie Fodywho played for the US women’s national soccer team from 1988 to 2004, looks back on her career, she is so happy with what she has achieved.

After the women’s soccer team won the 1999 World Cup, women broke barriers. “She shattered a lot of perceptions about women’s sport and that’s always been important to us,” the 51-year-old, who partnered with Frito-Lay act in FIFA World Cup commercial called “Football or Soccer?” with Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastaintells exclusively Morning honey. “It’s interesting that the longevity of that team has survived in terms of people being aware of Brandi, Mia and myself, but it’s really a testament to what the team stood for, and it’s the thing I’m truly most proud of. It’s about what we we fought and what we fought for and what we stood for.”

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“All of these things were so important to us,” she adds. “It was about inspire girls to play and enable girls to play and provide play opportunities for girls. Continue today with this current team and all they have done for equal pay and the struggles they have fought. It warms my heart because it’s important to get on the podium. Obviously you want to win, but it’s important to represent yourself as a great human being who does good things and that’s what this team is all about.”

When women won in ’99, the retired midfielder thought women would be taken more seriously in the sport after that iconic moment, but that wasn’t the case. “We were like, ‘They’re going to see the potential, they’re going to see what’s possible. It’s going to change everything.’ But then it didn’t change overnight. It took too long and there are still so many steps to take, but you can feel that things are happening.”

Looking back at what she’s accomplished: Foudy is a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medal — she gushes about how far she’s come. “It’s something you never take for granted,” she says. “When a kid comes up to me today, I’m like, ‘I appreciate you,'” she observes. “I was staying at a hotel when two tickets were slipped under my door, and it was three kids who wanted to meet me. These kids weren’t alive when I was playing, but the legacy continues. It’s really moving.”

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Going forward, the brunette wants to continue to rise women across various platforms. “I’d like to do more, not just in the football space, but whether it’s getting women leading companies or making sure women are seated around the table in an ownership-sharing role,” she explains. “We have taken these steps forward, but now let’s take it to the next level and make sure we have professional leagues, not only for women’s football but for other sports as well. I want to share my knowledge, which brings me joy.”

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In the meantime, it’s been a real treat for the California native Frito-Lay and FIFA for their World Cup commercial, especially since he got to work alongside his friends Chastain and Hamm. “It was so damn fun to do! It’s always fun to hang out with Brandi and then have some of iconic athletes like David BeckhamMy and Petyon Manning even in the clip… I felt honored to be a part of it. Sure, it’s a fun debate that’s been teased for years in the soccer/football world,” he says, referring to the video’s title. “When Frito-Lay came up to me, I was like, ‘I’m eating 17 of your brands! ‘ I love Fritos, Tostitos Scoops and more. It was an easy sell because I eat so much of their stuff.”

“I love the commercial. It’s so beautiful,” she concludes.

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