Off the ball: Issues to watch out for at the Women’s World Cup

Written by: Izzy Duddy Senior Consultant, Public Affairs

Good afternoon, and welcome to the first in the series of Lexington’s FIFA Women’s World Cup newsletter. Over the course of the next four weeks, we’ll look at all aspects of women’s football: its growth, sponsorship, and how it can use its political influence beyond the game itself.?

For our first edition, we’ll be looking at what we anticipate from the summer of sport, and identify some of the key political issues we expect to dominate the tournament.??

Off the ball: issues to watch out for at the Women’s World Cup??

It feels like only yesterday that a record 365 million households tuned in to watch the Lionesses lift the EUROs trophy, and since then women’s football in the UK has skyrocketed. The likes of Beth Mead and Alessia Russo have become household names. Attendances at games seem perpetually record-breaking, with many clubs offering women’s games in their main stadiums. There is a sense that the trajectory of women’s football has been altered significantly, and this has been extensively documented by commentators on the game.?

Indeed, many commentators have been quick to label this year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand the ‘biggest ever’, and rightly so. But as the women’s game attracts greater attention, so do the issues surrounding it. So, what can we expect to see dominating the headlines throughout the tournament??

The return of the ‘One Love’ armband ban?

In line with its policy at Qatar, FIFA has upheld its ban on the ‘One Love’ armband for the tournament, and has instead released eight approved armband designs for teams to choose from. FIFA has included an armband for ‘inclusion’ which will feature a rainbow design, however this is a significantly watered-down version of the Pride armbands that have been commonly worn by captains in recent years – including England’s own Leah Williamson.?

While many players have been clear that they won’t risk their World Cup careers to wear the ‘One Love’ armband, we can expect this issue to dominate the discourse around the tournament. Women’s football has established itself as separate to its male counterpart largely through its inclusivity and outspokenness on social issues, and particularly when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights.??

It is estimated that there 87 publicly gay players participating in this year’s tournament, and these athletes and their teammates have not been afraid to go on record with their thoughts on the controversy. Star USA striker Alex Morgan was quick to question the potential sponsorship of the World Cup by Visit Saudi, which was eventually dropped due to the country’s stance on women and homosexuality, and many women’s football players have continued to express similar views in the run up to the tournament.??

Don’t expect these players to stay quiet on the ban and the importance of the LGBTQ+ community in women’s football once the World Cup kicks off.?

Domestic issues projected on the global stage??

While the progress that has been made in women’s football across the UK and the rest of the world in the last few years has been significant, problems persist at country level that will take centre stage at the Women’s World Cup. This is the first year that the tournament has opened up to 32 teams, meaning many countries have never qualified before. The group stages will undoubtedly display this gulf in resources between countries: in Group G, we will watch the world’s 3rd ranked team Sweden take on Argentina – a country whose first division only turned professional in 2019, and whose players are still required to take on second jobs to earn a living.?

However, it is not just the disparity in resources that will attract attention in Australia and New Zealand. Domestic disputes have had a damaging effect on national teams, and we will see the impact of this ripple throughout the tournament. Three Spanish players, including Barcelona star defender Mapi Leon, have refused their call-ups for the World Cup, following an ongoing dispute between the women’s team and the Spanish Federation. Leon has said that “[she] will not be at the World Cup and it saddens me. I have earned to be there… It's not a decision taken lightly, but Mapi Leon has a way of life and values. I can't return if I don't see changes, and what has been there is insufficient."?

In other cases, national disputes may not lead to the loss of a few players, but a whole team. Nigeria is planning strike action for their World Cup opening game, after accusations that the Nigerian Football Federation had failed to properly compensate players. Nigeria’s women’s team has previously boycotted training and matches as a result of not receiving bonuses. With just two days to go until the opening game of the tournament, there is a high chance that tensions between governing bodies and national teams will continue to play out off the pitch.?

The injury cursing the women’s game?

This year’s World Cup will be missing many of its major stars, and all to the same injury. ACL injuries have become increasingly prevalent in the women’s game in the last few years – a symptom of the growing popularity of the sport. England lost their EUROs captain Leah Williamson to an ACL in April, and star Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema will also miss out due to the same injury. With around 25 players missing the World Cup due to ACL injury alone, we can expect questions to be asked throughout the tournament about the support being offered to women’s footballers to deal with, and prevent, these injuries.?

Most international players in the women’s game haven’t had a summer break since 2020 thanks to successive Olympics and EUROs, meaning schedules have been overloaded, and therefore putting players at greater risk of injury. Additionally, other factors such as hormone levels, body shape, and even ill-fitting football boots have been linked to the injury epidemic sweeping the women’s game. This problem is perfectly illustrated in last year’s Ballon D’Or nominees. Of the 20 women nominated for the prize, five players had torn their ACLs that year. Of the 30 men nominated, the equivalent stat was zero.??

This gaping lack of research and solutions on ACLs in women’s football is indicative of how far we still have to go to achieve parity in football. Players, coaches, and commentors will undoubtedly use the World Cup as an opportunity to question what is happening in women’s football, and how we can support its sustainable growth moving forward.?

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