The celebrations are just getting started for the world’s best female soccer team.
The United States women’s national soccer team stepped off their charter plane as conquering heroes after landing in America on Monday.
A day after capturing the Women’s World Cup in France on Sunday, the squad’s plane touched down at Newark Airport, and they made sure to savor each moment of their triumphant return.
The team members disembarked from their plane in a joyous mood.
As Queen’s We Are The Champions was playing in the background, the soccer players sang along while preening and hamming it up on the tarmac at Newark.
The United States women’s national soccer team lands at Newark Airport on Monday afternoon after their arrival from France
Julie Ertz (far left) holds up the championship trophy while teammates Megan Rapinoe (center) and Alex Morgan (right) acknowledge the team’s supporters at Newark Airport on Monday
The team returned as conquering heroes on Monday as the nation prepares to fete them beginning on Wednesday, with a ticker tape parade in New York City
Homeland Security and customs and border officials were there to greet the players as they stepped off the aicraft
A few of them were holding cups of champagne while dancing and strutting their stuff.
On the charter flight home, a number of the players showed off their trophies while posing for the cameras in what was a festive, party-like atmosphere.
The two-time defending World Cup champions will be honored with a ticker tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes in New York City on Wednesday.
What remains unclear is whether or not the team will visit the White House. President Donald Trump previously invited the players ‘win or lose,’ but since Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Netherlands he has neglected to extend a formal invitation.
In fact, Trump appears to be walking back his initial invite.
Ertz holds the trophy, Megan Rapinoe (second from front right) gestures and Alex Morgan (back left) also gestures
The American team defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in Sunday’s World Cup final at Stade de Lyon in France
The team members pose for the cameras after their arrival on the tarmac at Newark Airport on Monday
Rapinoe (left) shakes hands with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy after the team landed at Newark on Monday
A few of the team members hold up four fingers to symbolize the national squad’s fourth World Cup championship
Rapinoe, one of the team’s four co-captains, holds up the championship trophy while wearing a shirt that says ‘World Champions 2019’
The team members pose for photographs on the tarmac at Newark Airport in Newark, New Jersey on Monday
Rapinoe generated a number of headlines throughout the tournament both for her play and for comments she made about President Trump
As she was throughout the tournament, Rapinoe showed no hint of camera shyness while soaking in the attention on Monday
It remains a question as to whether the president will invite the team to the White House after a number of players reportedly expressed reservations
Defender Abby Dahlkemper takes pictures during the flight with her cell phone as the women’s team made their way across the Atlantic on Monday
Midfielder Allie Long (left) and Julie Ertz (right) enjoy themselves in the back of the plane during the flight on Monday
From left: Rapinoe, Ali Krieger, and Ashlyn Harris smile for the camera during their flight from France on Monday
Kelley O’Hara (left) and Becky Sauerbrunn (right) can’t hide their joy after their team nabbed its fourth World Cup title
When asked about a potential meeting on Sunday, Trump replied: ‘We haven’t really thought about it. We’ll look at that.’
Previously team members Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger both refused to visit the White House outright, while Forward Alex Morgan said it would be a team decision.
Prior to takeoff on Monday, Morgan was recorded caressing the World Cup trophy – the team’s fourth overall.
‘@alexmorgan13 is making sure the most recent member of the fam makes it home safe too,’ read a tweet from the U.S. women’s team Twitter account.
On Sunday, following America’s 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the World Cup final, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the parade on Twitter.
‘To our 2019 World Cup Champion @USWNT: you have inspired the entire country – and New York City knows how to celebrate champions.
‘We’ll see you Wednesday at 9:30 AM for the Ticker Tape Parade down the Canyon of Heroes. #OneNationOneTeam.’
The team also was honored with a parade in lower Manhattan in 2015 – the most recent sports team to be celebrated in New York.
The U.S. women’s soccer team has boarded a return flight to New York, where the now two-time defending World Cup champions will be honored with a ticker-tape parade on Wednesday. Prior to boarding, U.S. forward Alex Morgan was recorded caressing the World Cup trophy
The United States women’s soccer team is on its way home after winning its fourth World Cup on Sunday in Lyon, France
Mayor Bill de Blasio, Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe, Chirlane McCray and U.S. Coach Jill Ellis aboard a float in the New York City Ticker Tape Parade for World Cup Champions U.S. Women’s Soccer National Team on July 10, 2015 in New York
A general view of the atmosphere during the New York City Ticker Tape Parade for World Cup Champions
New York has a long tradition of honoring athletes, war heroes, astronauts, and even Nelson Mandela along the stretch of Broadway known as the ‘Canyon of Heroes.’
The exact parade route has yet to be announced.
On Sunday, following America’s 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the World Cup final, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the parade on Twitter immediately
Earlier on Monday, captain Megan Rapinoe was seen smiling as she left the hotel in Lyon less than 24 hours after she scored the opening goal in the final and was named the player of the tournament.
Wearing pink sunglasses, Rapinoe and her teammates including Rose Lavelle and Alyssa Naeher wore T-shirts saying ‘World Champions 2019’ as they prepared to return home.
The T-shirts were decorated with four stars, marking the American team’s fourth World Cup triumph after 1991, 1999 and 2015.
Rapinoe, who was also seen boarding the team bus outside the hotel, has made both friends and enemies after vowing not to visit the White House if the team was invited by President Trump.
She also declined to sing the national anthem when the team lined up for the final against the Netherlands yesterday.
However, her achievements on the pitch were beyond dispute. At 34, Rapinoe was quite possibly playing in her last World Cup. And she not only captained her side to victory but won both the Golden Ball award for best player and the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer.
She also broke the deadlock against the Dutch in yesterday’s final, scoring calmly from the penalty spot after a VAR decision had given the U.S. team a penalty kick.
Trump had earlier reacted angrily to Rapinoe’s criticism, saying she ‘should never disrespect our country’ and demanding that ‘she should win first before she talks’.
Yesterday Trump took a more measured tone, congratulating the team for winning the World Cup and saying: ‘America is proud of you all’.
After winning their third World Cup, the U.S. women’s soccer team players enjoyed a ticker tape parade in New York
(Left) An unidentified New York City policeman leads the way up lower Broadway at the start of the ticker tape parade for astronaut John H. Glenn, who was joined by his wife and President Lyndon Johnson. (Right) A ticker tape parade in New York City for Richard Byrd, first man to fly over the North Pole
Then-heavyweight champion Evander ‘The Real Deal’ Holyfield joins Desert Storm veterans for a Ticker Tape parade
Mayor Ed Koch and Mary Lou Retton in a ticker tape parade for LA Olympic Games on Broadway on August 15, 1984
His predecessor Barack Obama also praised the U.S. team’s efforts, calling them ‘an incredible team that’s always pushing themselves’.
Previously the U.S. women’s national team visited Obama’s White House after winning the 2015 World Cup.
Also pictured outside the hotel was 24-year-old Rose Lavelle, who scored America’s second goal in yesterday’s final and was one of the up-and-coming stars of the tournament.
Whether any of the team will visit the White House remains to be seen, but New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has invited them to a ticker-tape parade in Manhattan.
The Americans never trailed at the tournament and set records with 26 goals and a 12-game World Cup winning streak dating to 2015.
Jill Ellis became the first coach to lead a team to two Women’s World Cup titles, and the U.S. also joined Germany in 2003 and 2007 as the only repeat champions.
Teammates: Rapinoe, left, and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher leave the hotel wearing ‘World Champions’ T-shirts, decorated with four stars to celebrate the American team’s fourth World Cup triumph after 1991, 1999 and 2015
Leading the way: U.S. women’s soccer captain Megan Rapinoe leaves the team hotel in Lyon this morning as the triumphant players return home after winning the World Cup for the fourth time
Goalscorer: Rose Lavelle, the 24-year-old who scored the U.S. women’s second goal in the final and was regarded as one of the rising stars of the tournament, leaves the hotel with her teammates today
Center of attention: Becky Sauerbrunn of the American team speaks to reporters in France wearing one of the matching ‘World Champions’ T-shirts with four stars
After yesterday’s game the players were seen jumping around the dressing room and spraying each other with bottles of champagne.
Videos taken by players and support staff show captain Megan Rapinoe being greeted with cheers and applause by her teammates.
Later, the medal-clad team emerged from the stadium to an ecstatic crowd singing Queen’s hit ‘We Are The Champions,’ each carrying a bottle of champagne and roaring sparkler.
As Rapinoe climbed on top of a table to spray fans and teammates with champagne, Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris could be heard yelling ‘You know we came to mother-f***ing party.’
Fans, many dressed in red, white and blue, chanted ‘Equal Pay!’ at the final whistle , a reminder players sued the U.S. Soccer Federation in March claiming gender discrimination. The sides have agreed to mediate the lawsuit.
Kelley O’hara of the USA celebrates with her teammates in the dressing room following their team’s victory on Sunday in Lyon
Alyssa Naeher of the U.S. talks to reporters before leaving the hotel to return to the United States after winning the World Cup yesterday
The Americans opened the tournament with a record 13-0 rout of lowly Thailand, triggering debate over whether the celebrations after each goal were excessive.
U.S. forward Alex Morgan responded in the next match by following a goal with a polite golf clap. Then she stirred it up again when she scored against England, celebrating with a tea sip.
There was also controversy before the match, as Lionesses coach Phil Neville discovered U.S. women’s team staffers scoping his team’s hotel.
A pair of US staffers visited the Fourvière Hotel, which is close to the old town, while England was out at a practice.
The England-born US coach Jill Ellis insisted it was a sign of good preparation rather than arrogance, because the Americans were considering using that hotel if they advanced to the final.
But Neville claimed it was bad etiquette to scout the hotel before winning the semi-final.
Abby Dahlkemper of the U.S. before leaving the hotel to return to the United States after winning the World Cup yesterday