On Sunday, August 20th, the 2023 Women’s World Cup comes to a close, marking the end of one of the most monumental World Cups ever to be seen. So many historic firsts have been achieved, opening women’s soccer wider than it has ever been before. Let’s recap ten firsts that have broken records and changed lives:
- Adding to the Pool
8 teams make their World Cup debut:
- Haiti: Rank 53
- Morocco: Rank 72
- Panama: Rank 52
- Philippines: Rank 46
- Portugal: Rank 21
- Republic of Ireland: 22
- Vietnam: Rank 32
- Zambia: Rank 77
Many of these teams made historic strides for their country.
- The Philippines, New Zealand, Zambia, and Portugal secured their first world cup win and goal
- Morocco secured a spot in the knockout stage with two group stage wins and two goals
2. Stretching the Span
Casey Phair, representing South Korea, is the youngest player to ever appear in a World Cup at the age of 16.
She was joined by three other 16-year-olds who were named to their countries rosters—Giula Dragoni from Italy, Sheika Scott from Costa Rica, and Isabella Pasion from the Philippines.
Many other teenagers/younger players have performed remarkably. 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo from Spain became the first teenager to get on the score sheet for the winning side in a World Cup semifinal since 1958 when Pelé did so in fashionable style.
21 year Lauren James made English history by becoming the first English player to have direct involvement in 5+ goals in a single World Cup game.
3. Hosting a New Way
Australia and New Zealand became the first co-hosts of a World Cup as well as the first nations to host in the southern hemisphere. The games were played across nine locations, five in Australia and four in New Zealand.
- Adelaide, Australia – Hindmarsh Stadium
- Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Stadium
- Melbourne, Australia – Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
- Perth, Australia – Perth Rectangular Stadium
- Sydney, Australia – Stadium Australia and Sydney Football Stadium
- Auckland, New Zealand – Eden Park
- Dunedin, New Zealand – Dunedin Stadium
- Hamilton, New Zealand – Waikato Stadium
- Wellington, New Zealand – Wellington Regional Stadium
This change came along with the introduction of 32 nations after playing with 24 in past women’s tournaments. It has also sparked a new, possibly long-term trend. The 2026 Men’s World Cup will be co-hosted by three nations: Canada, Mexico, and the US and will feature 48 teams from the standard 32 in men’s tournaments. The 2027 Women’s World Cup does not have a decided location but two out of four bids feature group hosting: Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands as well as Mexico and the US.
4. Hosting Heartbreak
New Zealand’s narrow elimination after playing Switzerland in their last group stage match led to a sad first: the first host/co-host to go out in the group stage.
5. A Change in US Dominance
Many think this might be the end of an era for one of women’s soccer’s biggest giants: The US. After 2 straight World Cup wins as well as a final in 2011, the US crashed out in the group stage for the first time ever. Since 1991, when the tournament started, they have not gotten lower than a third place finish ever. In the group stage, the US failed to win 2+ games and top their group for the first time as well.
6. A Closing Gap
It’s hard to believe that both of our world cup finalists this year, Spain and England, have never been in this position before. It speaks to how quickly and significantly the competition in women’s soccer is changing. Let’s look at the multiple record breaking achievements:
- Jamaica reaches the knockout stage for the first time becoming the first Caribbean nation to ever do so
2. Colombia reached their first quarterfinal after an amazing group stage campaign
3. Morocco fought their way back to a round of 16 spot for the first time ever
4. Australia made its first ever semifinal inspiring a nation in the process
5. Spain continued to break records reaching their first quarterfinal, then semifinal, and then final
6. England reached their first final
7. Equality in Women’s Soccer
Two main changes have come in the allocation of Fifa prize money that will make impactful changes in the lives of players. Fifa recently announced that they would more than triple the performance based prize money from $30 million to $110 million. In addition, checks on the corruption of individual federations ensure payouts get in the right hands. This time, money has been designated to individual players such that each is guaranteed $30,000.
These changes come amidst significant fight and struggle in women’s soccer. For example, the Jamaican national team fought its way to their first ever knockout round after barely being able to afford to travel to the World Cup, using fundraisers to help fund the team.
As the Guardian finds, “A Fifa report in 2022 found that the average salary of paid women’s players globally is $14,000. A more recent report from world player governing body Fifpro said that 35% of players surveyed during World Cup qualifying considered themselves amateurs.”
As the women’s games expands nationally and on a club level, women’s soccer is moving towards becoming a more viable career. These advances in payouts, as well as more advertising and investment, are a step towards making that more possible, especially for many smaller, poorer nations that have the fight but need the support.
8. Steps Towards Inclusion
Morrocan defender Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a hijab in a World Cup. Even though Fifa lifted its ban in 2014, many federations still have bans on what their players wear.
Significantly, this wouldn’t have been possible at the 2019 World Cup in France as there are bans on “clothing clearly showing political, philosophical, religious or union affiliation.” CBS adds that “Just three weeks before the 2023 World Cup began, France’s top administrative court upheld the French Football Federation’s (FFF) ban on players wearing hijabs in matches. The FFF called the rule “suitable and appropriate.””
In light of this historic moment, EA Sports updated its game before France took on Morroco in the Round of 16, changing Benzina’s avatar, which previously did not have a hijab.
9. Penalty Shootouts
Penalty shootouts have been heavily featured in the knockout stage so we were bound to see some records relating to it.
Even though the US was knocked out in the round of 16, US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher became the first ever keeper to convert a penalty in a World Cup match.
The quarterfinal France vs Australia also featured the longest ever World Cup penalty shootout which was 20 penalties long and one of the most intense games yet. The eruption of cheering was unbelievably loud in Brisbane when Cortnee Vine stepped up 10th and converted her kick to put Australia in the semifinal.
10. More Eyes than Ever
More eyes are on women’s soccer than ever before with record viewership and ticket sales. Specifically in Australia, their team (the Matildas), sparked Matilda Mania everywhere with packed Australia games, even in Stadium Australia which can fit over 75,000 fans.
Australia’s quarter-final win against France became not only the most watched TV event this year but also the country’s most watched sporting event in 18 years.
Before their semifinal loss, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was even backing calls to name a public holiday if the Matildas won the tournament.
Even beyond Australia, there is record viewership in countries like Germany, Colombia, and the US with Fox reporting 6.43 million viewers for the US vs the Netherlands game, a record viewership for a Women’s World Cup group stage English-language telecast. Furthermore, Fox finds that “The group stage matches averaged 4.35 million viewers, a record in the U.S.”
Packed stadiums also mean record ticket sales. AP news finds just a few days ago Fifa found that “1.77 million tickets have been sold for the tournament” a record level from France 2019 where about 1.1-1.2 million were sold and exceeding the 1.5 million target for this World Cup.
