Soccer, the beautiful game, the most popular sport in the world, but far from the most popular sport in America with the women's World Cup just around the corner. How did the US women's soccer team manage to become the best in the world? This is clarified, worldwide soccer has 3.5 billion fans making it the most popular sport on the planet in the US. However, soccer is not top of the list. Instead, American football draws in the most viewers compared to every other sport. But when it comes to the US women's soccer team, they have won the most World Cup trophies of all time and are currently ranked the number one team in the world. So what gives, how did they end up on top in *** country that doesn't care much for soccer to start women's soccer hasn't been around all that long and has actively been repressed throughout its history. Up until the 19 seventies, women's soccer was actually outlawed in several countries including Brazil and Germany, two countries with some of the best men's teams in the world. The first women's World Cup was held in 1991. *** mere 30 odd years ago when George Hw Bush was still in office and Brian Adams topped the chance. This was 61 years after the establishment of the FIFA Men's World Cup. This year's women's World Cup will only be the ninth. Even with the establishment of an official FIFA World Cup, the women still faced major challenges. Matches were 10 minutes shorter than the men's for fear that women couldn't handle the full 90 minutes of the game. While playing internationally, the athletes were only paid $15 *** day and shared rooms and bed and breakfasts. There was also no prize money for the cup until 2007 to this day. The prize stands at $110 million compared to the men's 440 million. Despite the hardships, women's soccer still grew to become the most popular female international sport. Today, the US team has made its dominance in the arena clear. It has never come lower than the third place in World Cup. History has won the cup *** record of four times and has won four Olympic gold medals. Christie Rampone, Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers and Megan Rapino are all star players that have helped shape the US team. So why is it that the US team is as dominant as it is? Well, title nine had something to do with it in 1972. Title nine made it law to prohibit sex based discrimination in schools and education programs leading to *** boom of women's sports programs. In 1971 only 700 girls across the nation's high schools played soccer by 1991. The year of the first women's World Cup, there were 100 and 20,000. That's *** 17,000% increase in just 20 years with more scholarships up for grabs at *** higher level. Women's soccer exploded and more talent was discovered. Now, soccer is the third most played high school sport for girls with over 370,000 players nationwide. It works both ways too. The US team's success helps inspire girls and women of all ages to dream big while title I was enacted in the US. Other countries were still effectively banning women's football, making them further behind America when it came to developing and promoting talent. Since then, many other countries haven't invested in developing their talent, but sexism and gender stereotypes still hold many nations back. This year's World Cup is hosted by Australia and New Zealand and will run from July 20 through to August 20. The 2019 Cup was viewed by over 1 billion people and this year FIFA is aiming to break the 2 billion mark. This year's cup has *** record number of teams and is set to break even more records for attendance and ticket sales. The sport is going supersonic with the FIFA chief saying its growth is unlike any other sport in the world. More fans and viewers means more sponsorships and endorsements, bringing more money to the sport. With more attention on the sport, the challenges its players face can be put into the limelight like equal treatment and systemic abuse pay parity is also *** huge issue. In 22 the US women's team successfully fought to be paid the same as the men, especially given that they generate far more revenue, *** huge stride. But with more to be done, this World Cup is bound to be *** good one and we can only hope that team USA brings home yet another trophy.
How did the US Women's Soccer team become the best in the world?
With the Women’s World Cup in full swing, how is it that the U.S. National Team became the most dominant force in the cup in a country that doesn’t care for soccer?
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Updated: 2:17 PM CDT Jul 24, 2023
The U.S. women’s soccer team is without a doubt considered the best in the world. They have won four World Cup titles, four Olympic gold medals and have never come lower than third place in a World Cup. Although worldwide soccer has around 3.5 billion fans, in the U.S., American football is the sport of choice. How did the USWNT rise to power in a country that prefers another sport?Early days of women’s soccerThe FIFA Women’s World Cup is a relatively new phenomenon, with the first official tournament being held in 1991. Before its establishment, women had to fight for the right to play soccer, with the sport being banned for women in Germany and Brazil up until the 1970s. This World Cup is only the ninth ever, whilst the men have had 22 tournaments. When the cup was finally officialized, women still faced massive challenges. The matches were 10 minutes shorter than the men’s, for fear that women couldn’t keep up with the physical demands of the game. When playing internationally, the players were only paid $15 a day and often had to share transportation to the games with their competitors. Why is the U.S. team so dominant?Despite the challenges, the players' determination, prowess and talent have made soccer the most popular women’s sport in the world. The US team is massively dominant too, ranked number one in the world. One of the main reasons for the team’s success is the implementation of Title IX in 1972, the law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs. If anything demonstrates the positive impact Title IX had on women’s sports programs, it’s the change in high school girls participating in soccer. In 1971, only 700 girls across the nation played high school soccer. By 1991, that number had jumped 17,000% to 120,000. Currently, over 370,000 girls play high school soccer. This boom in women’s soccer increased the talent pool for players and encouraged more programs at a university level and beyond to invest in women. Whilst Title IX was implemented in the U.S., other countries were still actively repressing women’s soccer, banning it or discouraging women from playing. More nations worldwide have begun to invest in their female teams, but sexism and gender stereotypes still hold many of them back. 2023 World Cup This year’s world cup is hosted by Australia and New Zealand. FIFA is aiming to break records for viewership and ticket sales. The 2019 Women’s World Cup was viewed by over 1 billion people, and this year FIFA wants to break the 2 billion mark. The hope is that more viewers can bring more sponsorship and money into the sport as well as highlight challenges that women still face, like pay parity and systemic abuse. We can only hope that Team USA brings home yet another trophy.
The U.S. women’s soccer team is without a doubt considered the best in the world. They have won four World Cup titles, four Olympic gold medals and have never come lower than third place in a World Cup. Although worldwide soccer has around 3.5 billion fans, in the U.S., American football is the sport of choice. How did the USWNT rise to power in a country that prefers another sport?
Early days of women’s soccer
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is a relatively new phenomenon, with the first official tournament being held in 1991. Before its establishment, women had to fight for the right to play soccer, with the sport being banned for women in Germany and Brazil up until the 1970s. This World Cup is only the ninth ever, whilst the men have had 22 tournaments. When the cup was finally officialized, women still faced massive challenges. The matches were 10 minutes shorter than the men’s, for fear that women couldn’t keep up with the physical demands of the game. When playing internationally, the players were only paid $15 a day and often had to share transportation to the games with their competitors.
Why is the U.S. team so dominant?
Despite the challenges, the players' determination, prowess and talent have made soccer the most popular women’s sport in the world. The US team is massively dominant too, ranked number one in the world.
One of the main reasons for the team’s success is the implementation of Title IX in 1972, the law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs. If anything demonstrates the positive impact Title IX had on women’s sports programs, it’s the change in high school girls participating in soccer. In 1971, only 700 girls across the nation played high school soccer. By 1991, that number had jumped 17,000% to 120,000. Currently, over 370,000 girls play high school soccer. This boom in women’s soccer increased the talent pool for players and encouraged more programs at a university level and beyond to invest in women.
Whilst Title IX was implemented in the U.S., other countries were still actively repressing women’s soccer, banning it or discouraging women from playing. More nations worldwide have begun to invest in their female teams, but sexism and gender stereotypes still hold many of them back.
2023 World Cup
This year’s world cup is hosted by Australia and New Zealand. FIFA is aiming to break records for viewership and ticket sales. The 2019 Women’s World Cup was viewed by over 1 billion people, and this year FIFA wants to break the 2 billion mark. The hope is that more viewers can bring more sponsorship and money into the sport as well as highlight challenges that women still face, like pay parity and systemic abuse. We can only hope that Team USA brings home yet another trophy.
