Lucy Bronze Is Eyeing the Biggest Prize of All (Exclusive)

It’s early July, the day before the men’s World Cup final and it is absolutely pouring in NYC. It feels like everyone is wondering what the conditions will be like for the championship match the next day. Well, almost everyone; British soccer star Lucy Bronze actually has something else on her mind: the countdown to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. It makes sense why she’s a little distracted. The men’s match is simply a reminder of where she was a few years ago, and where she wants to be again.At the last Women’s World Cup in 2023, Lucy and her team, the Lionesses, England’s national squad, were the runner ups, losing to Spain. She’s actively in the middle of the Women’s Super League season right now with the storied Chelsea F.C. team, but she’s been working hard to get the Lionesses back to the global stage.“I've played in three World Cups and I'm so grateful because some people don't even get to play in one,” says Lucy. “My next goal is to get to Brazil to play in the World Cup and win the World Cup,” she says with assurance.The international women’s soccer tournament officially kicks off on June 24, 2027 in eight cities across Brazil, making it the first time the tournament is hosted South America. The games being held here makes winning even more alluring to Lucy. “As an English person, there's playing in England at home,” she says, “and then Brazil will be the next choice because it's so iconic for men and women's football.”For a player from England, where soccer can feel more like a religion—as evident in Ted Lasso and Welcome to Wrexham—there’s a chance to make a bigger impact on the next generation, which she’s doing alongside personal care brand Rexona (called Degree in the States). As part of her work with them, the soccer star hopes to encourage younger soccer players on their journeys with the sport as they build their confidence and love of the game.With five Champions League titles, four Women’s Super League titles, and as a two-time European Women's Football Championship winner, there’s no doubt that Lucy is one of the best in the game. But even after so many years on top, and being an inspiration to countless girls and women, there are still some things that she’s not done chasing.The countdown to the 2027 Women’s World Cup has officially begun! What’s your mindset now that it’s less than a year away?The fact that the Women’s World Cup's in Brazil is iconic. Obviously, the majority of people know the likes of Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Neymar, but Marta [TK LAST NAME]—they've got the greatest player ever on the women's side come out of their country as well. The fact that it's in Brazil, the home of Marta, is amazing.Women’s soccer has been exploding in America. What’s it been like navigating that growth of the game? It's a bit surreal. As the game’s got bigger, you end up talking to different people and being in different places, and then more and more people hear your story and they find something that they can connect with. It might not always be about sports, but it puts you in different places for different people to be like, Oh yeah, I could be like that in a different way.So much of the game has really changed throughout your entire career, too. It’s really become a big phenomenon. I feel like I've just got this crazy relationship and connection with the sport in new ways because of that. I always say, I've been the luckiest player in the world because I’ve seen both ends of it. When I started my career, it was very much like you paid to play and nobody watched. My first games were in a random field, and I think probably five people were there. So I appreciate and understand it more. I am very proud of it. I have teammates now who don't understand we used to play in front of someone's dog. I used to wear a kit that didn't fit. I paid to get the bus to games.Madeleine PenfoldMadeleine PenfoldHow do you think having those experiences early in your career shaped how you as a player?I learned not to take things for granted. Most of my setbacks came in the early years of my career. When I play with the younger players, they're like, "Yeah, but you're Lucy Bronze,” and I think, I didn't just have a red carpet rolled out for me. I wasn't picked [for a squad]. I was injured. I was left out. I wasn't given anything. I had to work. I had a full-time job at Domino's, as well as going to university, as well as playing in the league because I had nothing. I had the support of my family, but I didn't have anything else. At the same time, my siblings are the ones who are like, "Well, you're not that good.”Siblings always keep you humble. You’ve gotten the chance to meet younger players not just in your career playing alongside them, but also in your work with Rexona. What’s that been like?For a lot of my career, I was very unaware that people were inspired by me. One day, my mum who said to me, You should speak more because people listen when you speak. Although you're just my Lucy, you are Lucy Bronze now. From that moment, I realized I had an opportunity to help other people because football in England is not just about sport. Your whole livelihood is football, and you have the chance to have an effect on society. I want to help people, especially women.Madeleine PenfoldWho was your main inspiration growing up?Well, my mom was really desperate for me to be a tennis player...Oh, really?!Venus and Serena were the two icons of the time. Serena was the one that I was more drawn to because I saw myself more in her as a strong, powerful athlete. I've been this size since I was like 14. As a young girl, I was bigger than all the boys in my small town. Venus and Serena give me the confidence of, No, it's good to be strong. It's good to be powerful.They also came across shy but people used to paint them as arrogant and I felt like that's what people used to think of me, too, when I was younger. It wasn't because I was arrogant—I was focused and determined.Madeleine PenfoldMadeleine PenfoldHow do you describe yourself now?In general, just a happy, funny, content person. And as a footballer, competitive.How do you balance both sides of that?When I was younger, they were a little bit more separate because I didn't really know how to mix them together. As I've gotten older, I've realized I can be the same person on and off field, in slightly different tones.The competitiveness, that used to be my whole persona. I've had to mellow out a little bit. But, in the opposite way, I was such a fierce competitor on the field and that brought me so much joy. You could probably see me laughing and joking with other players in the changing rooms, even during the game. I'm also there to have fun. I play the game because I love it.