Never has a FIFA Women’s World Cup "been so much in the spotlight," according to Anna Kessel of the London GUARDIAN. The tournament, which opens in Edmonton on Saturday, "has reached a level of profile that few could have predicted."
With 24 teams involved, eight in the competition for the first time, "it is the biggest platform for the women’s game the world has seen." More broadcasters than ever "have signed up to show the matches while the level of professionalism has exceeded expectation with team chefs and business class flights the norm in Canada." One nation "has even organised a private jet for its players." It is also, however, a World Cup that "will be played against the most controversial of backdrops" -- from the arrests and allegations of corruption that U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry this week warned could form a "dark cloud" over the competition as players "have to confront questions that have nothing to do with them," to the high level of scrutiny that will accompany the world’s first senior global tournament played on artificial grass.
Many have questioned, loudly, why women’s football "should be the guinea pig" for a FIFA experiment in playing surfaces. FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke: "It could well be that sooner rather than later the men’s World Cup will also be played on artificial pitches." Meanwhile public campaigns for women’s football to be included in mainstream football culture "are having an effect:" this week EA Sports announced that FIFA 16 would feature female footballers for the first time. Even within FIFA itself "reform is taking place," spearheaded by the former Australia footballer turned FIFA ExCo member Moya Dodd, with discussions for a women’s Club World Cup taking place and a renewed emphasis on equality on and off the field (GUARDIAN, 5/30).
