“Never Chase Reality.” The official slogan has been revealed by U.S. Soccer for the USMNT’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in a ninety-second film, aiming to “honor the past, challenge expectations, and invite fans to believe in what’s possible.” But 2-time World Cup champ Megan Rapinoe thinks the intended message may have fallen short.

In the latest episode of her podcast, A Touch More, Rapinoe delivered a blunt assessment of the slogan, questioning its actual meaning. “The team’s slogan going into the World Cup, this was like their drop, like the draw happened… 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 said.

Like Rapinoe, co-host Sue Bird and guest of the day Katie Nolan were similarly confused by the choice of wording. Rapinoe then proposed a simpler alternative: “I’m kinda like, ‘Why didn’t we just stick with, ‘Dream big?’ To me, it said you already think you’re not good. So, I didn’t like that.”

To Rapinoe, Bird, and Nolan, “Never Chase Reality” is not a daring proclamation of ambition but rather an acknowledgment of inferiority, suggesting that the team’s true aspirations were incompatible with their current level of performance.

And really, Nolan summed it up perfectly, if bluntly, re-framing the slogan as, “Don’t chase reality, or you’re going to find out that you stink.”

The bottom line is that for a player like Rapinoe who’s won it all and then some, including being the sole athlete to have claimed both the Ballon d’Or Féminin and the World Cup Golden Ball, showing any signs of weakness is a bad idea.

But while the former USWNT star has shared her doubts about the vibe it gives off, the federation is viewing it as undoubtedly more aspirational.

A difference in meaning with what Megan Rapinoe thinks

Megan Rapinoe’s critique aside, the federation characterizes the slogan as a phrase that “reflects the journey to 26 for the Men’s National Team,” aimed at inspiring a new generation of supporters while embodying the “relentlessness, fearlessness, and unyielding spirit” of the program.

In a similar vein, Marcello Hernandez, in the campaign’s announcement, portrayed it as a representation of the American dream. “Never chasing reality means ignoring the odds and daring to dream,” he narrated.

Catherine Newman, the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for U.S. Soccer, said that the campaign honors “the resilience of our players and the passion of our fans as we unite behind a common purpose.”

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The squad, frequently referred to as a “golden generation,” bears the burden of increased expectations, especially following their departure in the round of 16 during the 2022 tournament in Doha.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino has boldly established a high benchmark, declaring openly that the objective is to secure the World Cup, while drawing motivation from the legendary “Miracle on Ice” hockey story when a plucky Team USA beat the 6-time Olympic champions, the Soviet Union, at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The U.S. eventually went on to win the gold medal.

And players such as Tim Ream and Tyler Adams have resonated with that overarching aspiration. But history is not in favor of the USMNT: only eight nations have claimed victory in the men’s World Cup, while the USMNT has only ever reached the quarterfinals, a feat achieved in 2002.

The impact of “Never Chase Reality” on its audience—whether it fosters a sense of unity among fans or inadvertently highlights feelings of self-doubt—will likely hinge on the performances witnessed on the field next summer.