Why is Megan Rapinoe's hair blue? USWNT soccer star explains reason for short hair and color at Women's World Cup

Sara Tidwell

Why is Megan Rapinoe's hair blue? USWNT soccer star explains reason for short hair and color at Women's World Cup image

Trying to find Megan Rapinoe without a funky hair color is like trying to find a needle in a haystack: It's impossible.

The 37-year-old soccer star will sport an aqua blue for her fourth and final World Cup, but her signature is a shiny, rosy pink. Her hair game is as strong as her play on the field, and she told Us Weekly in 2021 that this part of her beauty routine plays an important role when she needs to get in the right headspace.

It all comes back to the famous saying:

"I always say, 'Look good. Feel good. Play good.' In that order. You have to have that for yourself," Rapinoe told Us Weekly. "When you have that, you just go out there (to the field) with your shoulders back a little bit."

MORE: When is Megan Rapinoe retiring? Projected last match, date for soccer legend

Rapinoe over the years has used her hair to define her individuality and personal style, both on and off the pitch. As relayed to Us Weekly, she also uses the act as a way to wear down stereotypes and challenge the status quo, pushing to feel both strong and beautiful.

Here's everything you need to know about Rapinoe's latest hair color, as well as her history of hairdos and styles she has rocked over the years.

Megan Rapinoe's new hair color for Women's World Cup

Rapinoe will sport an aqua blue hair color for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. According to the New Zealand Herald, she disclosed that it was to twin with the World Cup's penguin mascot, Tazuni.

Rapinoe and Tazuni
Getty Images

FIFA did not specify why Tazuni's hair is blue in a release announcing her as the official mascot of the 2023 Women's World Cup, but did provide some context as to her name:

Streetwise and confident, Tazuni stands out from the crowd thanks to her signature blue tuft of hair. Her name is a fusion of 'Tasman Sea' – which she calls home – and 'unity,' a key value of the event.

Megan Rapinoe's hair color history

Rapinoe has sported a plethora of colors on her head throughout her careers with the NWSL and USWNT, as captured through her Instagram account. Her natural dirty blonde shade has been absent for many years.

Here is an icy purple color for the cover of Time:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by A Touch More (@atouchmore)

Here is a faded green she wore in a Victoria's Secret ad:

Here's a vivid magenta she rocked for the cover of Newsweek:

She has also mixed hair colors, as she did with this blue-and-pink look as part of Uninterrupted's "LOVE IS:" campaign around the transgender community.

For those curious about her natural hair color, here she is as a regular ol' platinum blonde.

Her signature shiny, rosy pink is the star of her life.

Sara Tidwell

Sara Tidwell Photo

Sara Tidwell is an editorial intern with The Sporting News. A native to Michigan's Thumb region, she received her Bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. Previous bylines include the Detroit News, Cincinnati Enquirer, Hartford Courant and The State News.