Women’s football, also known as soccer, is a popular team sport exclusively played by women. It follows the same rules as men’s football and is played professionally in various countries with representation from 176 national teams. Despite facing numerous challenges in its early years, including bans in several countries, women’s football has gained significant popularity. This growth has led to its inclusion in major international events like the Olympics and the organization of dedicated tournaments under the supervision of FIFA. The Women’s World Cup, which began in China in 1991, is one of the most prominent tournaments. The final match held in Canada in 2015 was among the most-watched football games in U.S. history, and the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France attracted over a billion viewers.
History of the Game
The origins of women’s football can be traced back to ancient times. Evidence suggests that a similar game called “Cuju” was played by women during the Han Dynasty in China (25-220 AD), as depicted in murals from that era. Reports also indicate that an annual women’s football match was held in Midlothian, Scotland, as early as the 1770s. The formalization of football rules in 1863, which included regulations to reduce violence, made the game more socially acceptable for women. The first international match took place in 1881 at Hibernian Park in Edinburgh, with the first official recorded match according to the Scottish Football Association in 1892. In England, the first recorded women’s football match occurred in 1895.
The first women’s football team in Europe was established by activist Nettie Hannibal in England in 1894. Named the British Ladies’ Football Club, it was pioneers like Nettie who paved the way for women’s football. Despite these efforts, women’s matches faced resistance from British football associations, who viewed them as a threat to the masculinity of the sport. As a result, women’s football continued without official support. During World War I, the demand for women in heavy industries contributed to the growth of the sport among women. In 1917, an English team played against an Irish team in front of 20,000 spectators. In 1920, the Dick, Kerr Ladies of Preston, England, played their first international match against a team from Paris, France, and another match that year saw England defeat Scotland 22-0.
The Ban (1921–1971)
Despite the popularity of women’s football, with some matches drawing crowds of up to 53,000, the sport faced a significant setback in England in 1921. The Football Association banned women’s football from its member clubs, deeming it unsuitable for women. Despite the ban, some women’s teams continued to play and formed the English Women’s Football Association, playing in rugby stadiums.
The ban lasted for fifty years until 1971 when UEFA recommended that national associations manage women’s football. Although women resumed playing officially after the ban, the English Football Association only issued an apology for the past prohibition in 2008, 87 years later.
Historic Tournaments
Some early women’s football tournaments include:
The Munition Cup
In August 1917, a football tournament was held for women workers in munitions factories in northeastern England, known as the Munition Cup. The first winners were the Blyth Spartans Ladies, who defeated Polco Vaughan 5-0 in the final in Middlesbrough in May 1918, before an audience of 22,000. The tournament continued for a second year during the 1918-1919 season, with the Palmer’s Shipbuilding team in Newcastle winning in March 1919.
The English Women’s Football Association Challenge Cup
After the FA’s ban in 1921, the English Women’s Football Association was formed, and a silver cup was donated by the association’s first president, Lynn Bridgeet. The inaugural tournament in spring 1922 featured 24 teams, with the Stoke Ladies defeating Doncaster and Bentley Ladies 3-1 in June 1922.
British and World Championships
In 1937 and 1938, the Dick Kerr Ladies played against the Edinburgh City Girls in the British and World Championships, winning both tournaments 5-1. The 1939 competition was more organized, with Edinburgh City Girls winning 5-2 in Edinburgh.
The Women’s World Cup 1970 and 1971
In 1970, the Italian Football Federation organized the Women’s World Cup in Rome, supported by the wine producers Rossi and Martini. The tournament was not sanctioned by FIFA or other national associations. The 1971 Women’s World Cup was hosted by Mexico, with Denmark winning the final at the Azteca Stadium, the largest venue in the Americas, before 112,500 spectators. On April 17, 1971, the first FIFA-recognized international women’s match took place in Hazebrouck, France, between France and the Netherlands.
Professionalism
In the 1970s, Italy became the first country to attract professional female football players from abroad, raising the level of women’s football in the country. Notable players included Suzanne Augustin (Denmark), Rose Reilly, Edna Nellis (Scotland), Ann O’Brien (Ireland), and Concepción Sánchez Freire (Spain).
Asia and Oceania
In 1989, Japan became the first country to establish a semi-professional women’s football league, which continues today. Australia’s first women’s league was organized in 2008. China’s Women’s Super League began in 1997 and was developed in 2004, renamed the National Women’s Football League from 2011 to 2014, and finally became the Chinese Super League in 2015. India has hosted the Women’s First Division League since 1991, with the Indian Women’s League officially launched in 2016.
North America
In 1985, the United States established a women’s national team. Following the 1999 Women’s World Cup, the first professional women’s league was launched, lasting three years and led by members of the U.S. team that won the World Cup. Notable players included Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Brandi Chastain, along with international stars like Birgit Prinz (Germany) and Sun Wen (China). The second attempt at a sustainable professional league began in 2009 and ended in late 2011. The National Women’s Soccer League was launched the following year, with initial support from the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican football associations. The league, established in 2017, has seen significant attendance.
In the U.S., women’s football began in colleges through physical education programs, leading to organized teams. After sixty years of efforts for social acceptance, women’s football was introduced in universities during the 1970s. Women’s club teams began to appear on campus, gaining recognition in the 1980s. Brown University was the first to officially recognize the sport and form a women’s football team, and the Women’s Athletic Association held the first regional women’s football championship at the same university. The first national championship took place at Colorado College, and the 1990s saw increased participation, with over 700 collegiate women’s football teams currently.
21st Century
According to a 2014 FIFA report, at the beginning of the 21st century, women’s football, like men’s football, was experiencing significant growth in popularity and participation, with increasing professional tournaments worldwide and substantial support. However, as in some other sports, women’s salaries and opportunities are still generally lower compared to their male counterparts in major leagues, and media coverage is significantly less.
Current Tournaments
The Women’s World Cup
Before the establishment of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991, some unofficial global tournaments were held in the 1970s and 1980s, including a 1988 tournament in China under FIFA’s oversight. The inaugural Women’s World Cup was won by the United States, which hosted the third edition in 1999, attracting significant global media attention. The final was played before more than 90,000 spectators, with the United States winning again in a penalty shootout against China. The U.S. is the most successful country in this tournament.
The Olympics
Since 1996, women’s football has been part of the Olympic Games. Unlike the men’s Olympic football tournament, which primarily features players under 23, there are no restrictions on professional status or age for women’s Olympic teams. Additionally, England and other British countries are not eligible to compete separately as the International Olympic Committee does not recognize FIFA’s separate team status. The participation of men’s and women’s teams from the UK in the 2012 Olympics was controversial among the four national associations, with England pushing for unified participation while Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland opposed due to concerns about the impact on their independent status within FIFA.
The UEFA Women’s Euro
The UEFA Women’s Euro, launched in 1982 as the European Championship for Women’s National Teams, was officially recognized by UEFA. Previously, women’s European championships were held in Italy but were not officially recognized due to the FA ban. Germany has dominated the tournament with at least eight titles, followed distantly by Norway and the Netherlands.
The Copa Libertadores Femenina
The Copa Libertadores Femenina is an international club competition for women’s teams from CONMEBOL countries. It began in 2009 in response to growing interest in women’s football in South America and is the only women’s club competition in the continent.
Youth Championships
In 2002, FIFA launched the first Women’s U-19 World Cup, held in Canada, where the host country lost 1-0 to the United States in extra time. The second event took place in Thailand in 2004, won by Germany. The age limit was raised to 20 years for the 2006 tournament in Russia, where North Korea emerged as the winner. The tournament was renamed the U-20 Women’s World Cup, with Chile hosting the 2008 edition won by the U.S., and Japan winning the 2018 tournament in France.
Future Prospects
The future of women’s football looks promising, with increasing support and visibility. The growing participation rates, expanding professional leagues, and major international tournaments contribute to its ongoing development and acceptance. While challenges remain, the continued progress in media coverage, professional opportunities, and international support is expected to further enhance the sport’s status and popularity globally.
