2019 Women’s World Cup rolling starting Friday (06/07/2019) night local time. A total of 24 countries will compete for the trophy in the eighth edition of the Women’s World Cup. The 2019 World Cup takes place in France on June 7-July 7 2019.
Nine cities will host the tournament, only one less than when France hosted the men’s World Cup in 1998. Here are 5 interesting facts about the tournament:
1. The Most Significant Women’s World Cup
International media, CNN, writes that the 2019 Women’s World Cup has the potential to be a turning point for women’s soccer. The tournament in France was likened to the 1999 World Cup in the United States, a competition that skyrocketed women’s soccer to the public.
Over the past year there has been a series of positive achievements regarding women’s football. Ada Hegerberg becomes the Ballon d’Or winner. The league match between Juventus and Fiorentina broke the audience record for women’s football in Italy, as well as the Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona match at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Meanwhile, in the other hemisphere, Argentina will make their women’s league professional. More than 750 thousand tickets have been sold in nine host cities with FIFA anticipating more than one million viewers will be present at the stadium. Broadcasters estimate that France 2019 will bring in far more global audiences than the 750 million people who watched the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
2. Gender equality is still the key word
FIFA has doubled the tournament prize money compared to the 2015 edition, of USD 15 million to 30 million. Despite the significant increase, the prize money is still far from the total of the 2018 Russia World Cup prize which reached 400 million US dollars. In fact, France’s 2018 World Cup champion took home a prize of 38 million US dollars, more than the total prize in the tournament.
In comparison, Liverpool spent three times more than the total prize in France 2019 when recruiting Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson from AS Roma. Also, the Jamaican national team – one of four tournament debutants – only agreed last month to a contract with the players who will be performing in France 2019. In fact, they may not be able to go to the tournament if not because of a contribution from the Bob Marley Foundation.
3. Women’s football Lionel Messi will be absent
Ada Hegerberg, the inaugural Ballon d’Or Woman winner boycotted this tournament in protest at the Norwegian football federation. Ada is the world’s best female player who just scored a hat-trick last month as Lyon beat Barcelona 4-1 in the women’s Champions League final.
Ada protested the Norwegian Football Federation which she considered was still not optimal in fighting for gender equality in the local league. Absence of Ada is equated by many media such as Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi refusing to play in the men’s World Cup.
4. Five Asian champions ready to fight
Asia send five representatives to the 2019 Women’s World Cup. These quintets are the top five teams in the 2018 Asian Cup: Japan, Australia, China, South Korea and Thailand. At the tournament, Japan beat Australia 1-0 in the final. The Land of the Rising Sun is one of the tournament champions’ favorites considering they won the 2011 edition of the tournament in Germany.
5. The United States and the champion candidates
USA are defending Women’s World Cup champions after winning in Canada 2015. If you win France 2019, Uncle Sam’s country will collect 4 titles from 8 World Cup editions, a record.
However, the French host will also react. France has the best women’s soccer competition in Europe and will play in front of its own supporters. The enthusiasm of the local audience can be seen from the opening party ticket, semifinal, and final sold out in 48 hours. If win, France will be the second host to win after the United States in 1999. France has three players, one of them defender Wendie Renard, who has won the Women’s Champions League 6 times since 2011.
The Netherlands is also worthy of being the best team in the Cup. European Women 2017. Oranje has a strong front line driven by Arsenal bomber Vivianne Miedema. The Netherlands is also strengthened by Lieke Martens, the attacker who became a star at Euro 2017. In addition to these countries, Germany, England, Japan and Brazil are also very worthy of being called champion candidates.
-RDS-
