So close, and not so far away…
As the curtains close on the 2023 Women’s World Cup, we take a look back on the platform it has given girls and the immense progress women’s football has made to this date.
32 Nations competed in the Women’s World Cup for the first time ever, with the competition
starting as a 12-team tournament in 1991. But does the expansion cause excitement for up and
coming teams like Morocco, Nigeria and Jamaica, or does it cause fear for those champions like Canada, USA and Germany?
This year's competition had it all, and history was most certainly made for many countries. Olympic Champions crashed out early, two time World Cup winners Germany also fell to defeat and were knocked out before the Round of 16, whilst defending champions USA had a hard against Sweden, ending with a close VAR decision during penalties leading to their earliest World Cup exit in history. This World Cup was certainly an exciting one.
But a rise in talent within 'underdog' teams saw Nigeria and Morocco reach the Round of 16 stage, and Columbia earned a rightful place in the quarter-finals.
Host nation Australia made history after they reached the semi-finals and finished the competition in fourth place, as they are the first host nation since the USA 20 years ago to advance to the semi- finals of the WWC.
This year's winners also had a story to tell of their own. Spain became the second nation after
Germany to win both the men’s and women’s World Cup. They were a team that played very well throughout despite many rumours and scandals and were deserving of their gold medal.
And of course, England, a team that should be extremely proud of themselves, and who had the
country behind them the whole way. Coming second place in an inspiring tournament was such a huge achievement and one that will never be forgotten.
However, it's not only the rise of talent in teams that has made headlines this year, but also the
development the game has made and how inspiring it will be for girls all around the world.
In 1921, The Football Association instituted a ban for Women’s football claiming that “the game of
football is quite unsuitable for females and should not be encouraged”. The ban was only recently lifted in 1970, which is why what these players have done for the women’s game is so important to the next generation of girls around the world, and for that, each and every player should feel extremely proud, no matter their outcome or result.
This year's World Cup managed to reach a huge overall audience on BBC Sport of around 21.2
million, with the final being watched by 12 million viewers on BBC One, making it the second most-watched BBC TV event of 2023, after the Coronation of King Charles III in May.
Although the outcome of this year's Women’s World Cup was not what we wanted in England, the influence the Lionesses have put out will mean so much more in years to come.
We Make Footballers obviously welcome females of all ages and abilities to attend their weekly sessions.
A female only session currently runs every week in Twickenham with one coming to the Essex area very soon run by our very own academy director and Arsenal Womens U21s coach! We are excited to help create pathways for young female players and cannot wait to get started.
For more information please email [email protected].
Article written by Katie Vine
