The 2023 Women’s World Cup will be played in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, and it is considered an exceptional edition.. Why?
USA women won the 2019 World Cup (Getty Images)
When you hear that ticket sales for an international football tournament exceeded one million tickets before its start, it may seem normal, as followers are accustomed to seeing records in each new version of tournaments, such as the World Cup or the Euro for men. However, when you know that the Women’s World Cup, which starts tomorrow, Thursday, has exceeded one million and 32 thousand and 884 ticket sales, this is something that must be considered.
According to the International Federation of Football Associations, the number of tickets for the 2023 World Cup for women sold has exceeded the total tickets for the 2019 World Cup in France, which means that the tournament, which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand, is going to be the most attended women’s sporting event in history.
Therefore, we are facing a major sporting event that enjoys global interest, and the number of tickets that were sold reflects the development of women’s football, year after year, which was evident in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final at Eindhoon Stadium in the Netherlands, between Barcelona and Wolfsburg, So that all the tickets that were offered were sold, and they were estimated at more than 34,100, knowing that the capacity of the stadium is 35 thousand spectators.
What is the story of the Women’s World Cup? How did it evolve?
The Italian national team that participated in the 1981 Mini World Cup (web)
61 years after the first men’s World Cup, the Women’s World Cup kicked off, specifically in 1991, although opinions differ, according to reports and historians, regarding the first women’s football match in history. Some say that the first time dates back to 1790, and the first match, which was officially recorded, was in 1892 in Glasgow, Scotland, and was supervised by the Scottish Football Association.
In the beginning, the European Union for Independent Women’s Football was the one who managed the affairs of women’s tournaments in the world of the round before it entered the auspices of FIFA, and it succeeded in organizing the first unofficial Women’s World Cup in Italy in 1970, in which 7 teams participated. The matter was repeated the following year, and a new World Cup was organized in Mexico, in which 6 teams participated. In 1972, the independent federation was dissolved. Tournaments continued in the early to mid-1980s, via the “Mundialitos”, which stands for the Mini World Cup.
The tipping point was in 1986, when the Norwegian delegate, Ellen Wille, spoke at the 45th FIFA Congress in Mexico, the first woman to do so, as FIFA did not allow women to speak at conferences.
At the FIFA Congress, Willy called for better promotion of women’s football and more attention to it. And because FIFA is keen on the brand of the World Cup, and fears that the Women’s World Cup will be considered a failure and harm the brand of the World Cup, so the International Federation organized an experimental tournament consisting of 12 teams in 1988 in China, and the Scandinavian country succeeded in winning the title.
This tournament was the key to the World Cup for women, as FIFA considered this tournament a success, and it was a victory for all parties. Therefore, he decided to hold the first official World Cup in 1991 in China as well.
China 1991, the breakthrough that exceeded expectations
Claudia Vasconcelos was the first woman to referee a FIFA tournament in the 1991 World Cup (FIFA).
Obsession and suspicion remained among the members of the International Federation before the start of the Women’s World Cup, for fear of them over the brand of the World Cup, despite the success of the trial session 3 years ago. Therefore, FIFA decided not to award the “World Cup” branding to the tournament, and officially named it after the first FIFA Women’s World Championship in the M&M Cup, the official sponsor.
The tournament was held in China from 16 to 30 November 1991, and succeeded in removing all doubts about its success, as more than half a million fans attended. The United States national team won the title in the final against Norway, in the presence of about 65,000 spectators in the stands.
The success achieved by the first women’s World Cup called on the then president of FIFA, Brazilian Joao Havelange, to say: “Now, women’s football is good, it has really taken root.”
After 1991, 7 versions of the World Cup were played, as its system is one, like the Men’s World Cup, and the tournament is held once every 4 years.
In 1995, the tournament was held in Sweden, with the participation of 12 teams as well. Norway won the title. According to statistics, he was one of only four Norwegians watching the tournament. After winning the title, the team’s mission to the Norwegian capital, Oslo, was accompanied by two F-16 warplanes to celebrate the world title.
The number of participants in the 1999 edition, which was held in the United States of America, was expanded to 16 teams, then the number increased to 24 in the Canadian edition in 2015, and 32 teams in the 2023 edition.
Register of champions and hosts
Japan’s women won the 2013 World Cup (Getty Images)
The United States of America is the most crowned women’s World Cup team, with 4 titles, in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019. The German national team comes second with two titles, in 2003 and 2007, while Norway and Japan each won one title.
China hosted the first tournament in 1991, and then it was held in Sweden, before the United States of America hosted it in two consecutive editions in 1999 and 2003. In 2007, she returned to China, then moved to Germany in 2011, 2015 in Canada, 2019 in France, and the current edition in Australia and New Zealand.
The 32 teams participating in the 2023 World Cup
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Haiti, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, South Korea, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Vietnam, Zambia.
Women’s World Cup stadiums
Melbourne Stadium / Narm in Australia (Getty Images)
Brisbane Stadium – Brisbane/Mianghan, Australia.
Dunedin Stadium – Dunedin/Tibuti, New Zealand.
– Eden Park – Auckland / Tamaki Makaro, New Zealand.
Hindmarsh Stadium – Adelaide/ Tarantania, Australia.
Melbourne Stadium – Melbourne / Narm, Australia.
Perth Stadium – Perth/Borloo, Australia.
Stadium Australia – Adelaide/ Tarantania, Australia.
Sydney Stadium – Sydney/Gadegal, Australia.
Waikato Stadium – Hamilton / Kerikiroa, New Zealand.
Wellington Stadium – Wellington/T Wanganui-a-Tara, New Zealand.
2023-07-19 16:27:24
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