Blog 6

A World Cup to Remember

This 2019 Women’s World Cup was such a success. The women’s game has improved so much in the last four years. Every group was a tough group, and there were no easy game! I obviously came into this tournament with my favorite teams, but I must admit that by the end of it, I wanted to see the best performance win.

One moment that truly moved me was Marta’s field interview after Brazil lost to France in the round of 16. She urged the younger generations to step up to the challenge and make sure the ship (women’s football) keeps moving forward. Her emotions were palpable. I think she knew it could be her last World Cup game ever and she gave the best exit speech. She encouraged young girls and women to work harder and not to take setbacks or failures as final destinations. Marta is a pioneer and her words carry weight: the future depends on us.

I was also waiting impatiently to review the TV broadcasting numbers. Millions and millions of people watched the tournament. According to BBC News, the increase in viewership will force FIFA and broadcasting companies to reassess their current structures. More than 14 million people viewed the World Cup final featuring the United States and the Netherlands, which represents a 22% increase since the men’s final last year. There is no doubt: there are so many opportunities now to invest in the women’s game, and I cannot wait to see how women’s football will grow in the next couple of years.

A lot of attention was directed toward American forward Megan Rapinoe. After a video of her saying “I am not going to the f***ing White House” got out, she also called out FIFA and other federations prior to the final. In her press conference, she stated that people now start to appreciate how massive the women’s game is becoming, but yet, refuse to give it the attention and care it deserves to bloom. The increasing viewership numbers should be reflected in the prize money and the ways women are treated by FIFA. When so much has been done for the game, there is still so much more to be done toward equality. I am not strictly talking about equal pay, but also equal treatment and equal opportunities.

To conclude, this past World Cup was a pivotal moment for the women’s game. Marta broke the record for the most goals scored with a total of 17, the United States scored the most goals in a World Cup game in a 13-0 win over Thailand, and the final game was watched by over 14 million people.

Besides the social impacts this Women’s World Cup had on women and football, I am curious to see how the next tournaments will utilize VAR. Video Assistant Referee has been heavily talked about during this tournament. My next blog will discuss what I think about Video Assistant Referee.

Stay on the look at for that next week!