All across the world, women’s soccer and football is slowly getting the recognition it deserves. From international tournaments to professional league clubs, we’re seeing more and more people supporting women in soccer. In this article, we’ll document the rise in women’s soccer, what this means for the sport and more.
Looking Back at Women’s Football
Women have been playing football for almost as long as football has existed, with records showing women playing the sport all the way back in 1773. For most of soccer’s modern existence however, women have been denied the same opportunities as men.
During the Second World War, British women formed soccer teams and competed against one another. Their games were so popular, crowds of over 50,000 people would attend. However, the FA would shortly ban women’s soccer as they felt gatherings of such sizes were inappropriate and dangerous.
Fast forward thirty years to 1970 and Italy held an unofficial world cup that wasn’t sanctioned by FIFA. Despite the unofficial status it still saw crowds of up to 100,000 fans cheer for their countries. Despite this success, it wasn’t until 1991 that the Women’s World Cup was established by FIFA.
Popularity Increases
However, in recent years, football fans the world over have begun to see a welcome change in the popularity of women’s football. There are several key factors in this rise in women’s football.
The Thrill of Placing a Wager
One of those factors is the ability to place bets. Gambling is a pastime enjoyed around the world, with games taking various forms. However, sports betting is a near universal experience. With so many people engaging in sports betting around the world, women’s football provides an additional chance to win.
But sports betting isn’t anything new, and was enjoyed by the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Though, it’s fair to say their sports looked a little different to ours. The ways of betting were different too, today we have access to online sites, specialist sports betting apps and more. Face to face betting still exists but operates on a much larger scale but for many, dedicated apps are the most convenient way to place bets.
This might be because it allows them to bet on the go, whether they’re watching the game at a friend’s house or in the stadium. It could also be that having all the information in one convenient app makes things easier.
Other Key Factors Contributing to Popularity
As well as the ability to place bets on women’s soccer matches, there are other key factors that have contributed to the rise and success of female soccer in recent years:
- Visibility: With the increase of social media, online streaming and on-demand entertainment, it’s never been easier to access livestreams from around the world. While men’s soccer dominates mainstream channels, alternative sources mean it’s now possible for fans of women’s soccer to follow their favorite teams and players.
- Major Tournaments: Similarly, the rise in major tournaments and the national success of teams has put soccer on a global scale unlike previous years. While we’ve previously seen international tournaments, relatively recent backing from sporting bodies has done wonders for the popularity of the game for women.
- Greater Competition: Every fanbase needs a rival team to rally against. Traditionally, these will be nearby teams, or the two biggest cities in the state or country. But having this rivalry draws in the crowds, especially when the stakes are high!
- Economic Opportunities: As viewership increases, and more people attend women’s soccer games, companies can make more money. While the focus is what’s happening on the pitch, having financial backing from sponsors and investors means that it’s easier to put female players in the spotlight.
- More Women in Soccer: Another important player in the increase of women’s soccer is the number of women visibly involved with the sport. It’s often understated how seeing someone who looks like you can open your eyes to your possibilities.
- Increase in Role Models: As we mentioned above, seeing women take on roles as managers, commentating on the sport and sharing their love for all things football has shown that soccer isn’t just for men. By championing women as football players, fans, commentators and more we can see more young women and girls developing an interest in the sport.
- Youth Work and Support for Grassroots: While young women were sidelined as they got older, youth clubs and grassroots teams are receiving increased support. This additional help means that teams are able to foster local talent and young players who show promise are able to develop their skills.
- Improvement in Player Skill Levels: As with men’s soccer, once investments and official backing are established, players are able to train and play full time. This has resulted in professional players who are not only top of their game but are also great fun to watch!
After a rocky start, it’s great to see women’s soccer get the recognition it deserves. From edge of your seat action to last minute goals, follow your local women’s soccer team for feats of skill and endurance you won’t get anywhere else.