The electric atmosphere in Sydney's Stadium Australia reached a crescendo as the final whistle heralded Spain's historic victory in the Women's World Cup. Amid the euphoria of the Spanish celebration, a remarkable image unfolded - one that captured the essence of sportsmanship and transformation. In the aftermath of England's defeat, Lucy Bronze, a star in English soccer, found herself overcome with emotion. However, it wasn't the revelry of her victorious opponents that caught everyone's attention. Ona Batlle, her teammate at FC Barcelona Femení
In the whirlwind of the Women's World Cup final, a moment of lightning brilliance unfolded as Carli Lloyd seized upon an errant pass, initiating a sequence that would etch her name in the annals of soccer history. The match between the US and Japan had commenced at a frenzied pace, with the US already leading 3-0 within the initial 15 minutes. Within the chaos enveloping the pitch, Carli Lloyd found herself surrounded by a cacophony of movement. Yet, within this tempest, an extraordinary
A gunman has caused terror on the streets of central Auckland just a matter of hours before the Women's World Cup is due to start. The inaugural game of the tournament between the host country New Zealand and Norway is due to take place at 7pm local time on Thursday. The incident took place around 7AM on Queen Street, which is just a stone's throw from the fan zone and a few hundred meters away from the Sofitel hotel where the US women's
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said women's football has experienced incredible growth over the last 10 years and is confident that the World Cup will win over anyone who remains sceptical about the merits of the women's game. The sport's governing body expects 2 billion people to tune in for the 64-game tournament being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, with the event set to kick off in Auckland on Thursday. "Many people who believe that women's football is still not a great game,
Global soccer governing body FIFA has agreed to requests from Australia and New Zealand to display Indigenous flags at the Women's World Cup, the co-hosts said on Friday. The Australian Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag will be on display at all 35 matches across Australia, with the Māori flag, known as 'Tino Rangatiratanga', to feature at all 29 matches in New Zealand. "Confirmation by FIFA that all official flags of Australia will be flown during the FIFA Women's World Cup
Although there continue to exist huge wage disparities between the men's and women's football, there now appears to be a greater willingness on behalf of the sport's governing bodies to address the issue. The upward trajectory of the sport will also bring with it greater economic benefits: increased popularity leads to more broadcasting interest, ticket sales and other commercial deals such as sponsorship. For that reason, it's been projected that salaries are expected to continue to grow in women's football. Having said that,
Women's World Cup co-hosts New Zealand need to lift ticket sales in coming weeks given the relatively modest "selling power" of the national Football Ferns team, FIFA executive Sarai Bareman has said. Bareman, FIFA's chief women's football officer, said she had less concerns about co-hosts Australia where a record crowd of more than 40,000 are expected for the Matildas' World Cup warmup match against France in Melbourne on July 14. "I have to say my focus is a little bit more on New
The Arsenal forward, 27, has not played since November and was a major doubt. Tottenham striker Beth England, who has not been involved since last summer, is included having scored 12 goals in her past 12 Women's Super League games. Chelsea center-back Millie Bright, who has been out with a knee injury since March, has made the 23-player squad. Lionesses captain Leah Williamson and midfielder Fran Kirby were already ruled out through injury, but Barcelona defender Lucy Bronze is in despite having knee
The global professional football players' union says it sent a letter signed by 150 women's national team players to FIFA calling for equal World Cup prize money. FIFAPro confirmed that the letter, which also asks for equal treatment and conditions for women's teams playing in football's most prestigious tournament, was sent to the sport's international governing body in October - a month before the start of the men’s World Cup in Qatar. The Women's World Cup is set for this summer in Australia