Honestly, if you’d told a soccer fan three years ago that Ali Krieger and Jen Beattie would be the "it" couple of 2026, they’d probably have asked what alternate timeline you were living in. It’s not that it doesn't make sense. It’s just that their lives were on completely different trajectories, separated by an ocean and very different career arcs.
Krieger was the iron-clad defender of the USWNT, a two-time World Cup winner deeply entrenched in the high-stakes world of American soccer. Beattie was the Scottish legend, a defensive stalwart for Arsenal and a champion for breast cancer awareness in the UK. But here we are.
Soccer has a funny way of bringing people together when they least expect it.
What Really Happened With Ali Krieger and Jen Beattie
The "hard launch" happened back on Thanksgiving in 2024, which feels like ages ago now. Beattie posted a picture of the two of them, wine glasses in hand, looking genuinely happy. The caption was simple: "Thankful for you. Happy Thanksgiving my love."
Krieger’s response? "You have no idea."
It was the kind of moment that set the NWSL and WSL fanbases on fire. For Krieger, it was a massive step. She’d spent the previous year navigating a very public, very messy divorce from former teammate Ashlyn Harris. That split was everywhere. It was in People, it was on TMZ, and it was discussed in grueling detail across every soccer subreddit. Finding a "wonderful person," as she described Beattie on the She Pivots podcast, wasn't just about dating. It was about healing.
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Life in the "Retired" Lane
Both women have officially hung up their boots now. Krieger retired in 2023 after a storybook ending, captaining NJ/NY Gotham FC to an NWSL Championship. Beattie followed suit a bit later, ending her playing career in early 2025 after a stint with Bay FC.
But "retired" is a loose term in this industry.
- Ali Krieger is basically the face of women’s soccer coverage on ESPN now. You’ve likely seen her on Futbol W or providing analysis for SportsCenter. She’s got this way of breaking down a backline’s mistakes that makes you feel like you’re back in the locker room.
- Jen Beattie didn't just leave the pitch and disappear. She stayed with Bay FC as a "Content Contributor" and match day host. She’s also a regular on BBC Women’s Football Weekly.
They’ve essentially become a trans-Atlantic media powerhouse. One covers the tactical nuances of the NWSL from a studio in Bristol, Connecticut, while the other brings the Scottish wit to the WSL and the burgeoning Bay Area soccer scene.
Why This Relationship Hits Different
People love a comeback story. Krieger’s 2023 was brutal—finding out about a divorce filing while literally on the training pitch is the stuff of nightmares. Seeing her find stability with someone like Beattie, who has her own incredible story of resilience after battling breast cancer in 2020, feels like a win for the "good guys."
Beattie is an MBE, for crying out loud. She was honored by the Queen for services to football and charity. She’s not just a "soccer player"; she’s a person who played a professional match three days after a cancer diagnosis. That kind of perspective probably helps when navigating a relationship that exists under a microscope.
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They aren't just "dating." They’re building a blueprint for what life looks like after the 90 minutes are up.
Most athletes struggle when the cheering stops. They lose their identity. They lose their routine. But Krieger and Beattie seem to have leaned into the transition. They’re using their platforms to advocate for better investment in the game, better broadcasting deals, and more support for players’ mental health.
The Logistics of a High-Profile Romance
It’s not all red carpets and Instagram stories. Long-distance is a beast, even when you have the resources to fly back and forth. Beattie spent a lot of time in California with Bay FC, while Krieger is rooted on the East Coast with her two kids, Sloane and Ocean.
You’ve got to respect the hustle. Balancing a skyrocketing media career with the demands of being a present parent and maintaining a relationship across time zones is a lot. It’s messy. It’s exhausting. And they seem to be doing it with a level of grace that’s honestly a bit annoying to the rest of us just trying to get through a Monday.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a common misconception that this was some sort of "rebound" for Krieger. That’s a bit of a lazy narrative. If you listen to her interviews from late 2024 and throughout 2025, she’s very clear about the work she did on herself before letting anyone else in. She "licked her wounds," as she put it.
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And for Beattie? She had been linked to Love Island star Amber Gill previously. Moving from the world of UK reality TV fame to the more grounded (but still intense) world of American sports media was a shift.
They seem to ground each other. Beattie’s Scottish pragmatism meets Krieger’s American intensity. It works.
Actionable Insights for the Fans
If you're following the Krieger-Beattie era, here is how to keep up with the real story without the tabloid fluff:
- Watch the Analysis: Don't just look at their IG posts. If you want to see why Krieger is respected, watch her tactical segments on Futbol W. She’s teaching the next generation of fans how to actually watch the game.
- Support the Causes: Both women are heavily involved in advocacy. Beattie’s work with Cancer Research UK and Krieger’s focus on LGBTQ+ equity are central to who they are.
- Check the Podcasts: BBC Women’s Football Weekly is where you get the "real" Jen Beattie—humorous, insightful, and deeply knowledgeable about the European game.
The reality is that Ali Krieger and Jen Beattie are more than just a headline. They represent a shift in women’s sports where the players are finally taking control of their own narratives, both on and off the field. They aren't waiting for the media to tell their story; they are the media. And that's the most powerful thing about them.