“After this FIFA Women’s World Cup women’s football is going to explode in every single one of your countries.” – Dame Sarai Bareman, Chief Women’s Football Officer, FIFA.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup took place between 20 July to 20 August 2023 and arguably was the match which lit the fuse to the explosion of women’s football. Even before this tournament, women’s sport started enjoying record-breaking viewership, with the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro becoming the most watched Women’s Euro in history. Now, the Deloitte Football Money League analysis predicts that women’s elite sports will generate global revenues in excess of €1.1 billion in 2024, with football being the most valuable women’s sport. Whilst the explosion of women’s football is to be celebrated, failing to acknowledge the obstacles to its growth would be akin to scoring an own goal.
