A United States women’s national team member takes a shot during a FIFA Women’s World Cup send-off soccer match in San Jose, Calif., on July 9, 2023. Sponsorship and marketing deals with women athletes are often performative and exploitative.
(AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
While positive change has been seen, especially surrounding this year’s Women’s World Cup, there is still much work to be done by organizations governing women’s professional sports.
The end of the glory years for the U.S. Women’s National Team?
AP Photo/Claude Paris
The US national team is the favorite going into the tournament in New Zealand and Australia. But growth in the global game has seen others catch up.
France’s Estelle Cascarino, right, kicks the ball past Australia’s Mary Fowler during their friendly soccer match in Melbourne, on July 14, 2023, ahead of the Women’s World Cup.
(AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
While the 2023 Women’s World Cup might be the best yet for women in terms of investments and viewership, there is still room for improvement for the 2027 World Cup.
The successful Australia-New Zealand bid for the Women’s World Cup made much of the tournament’s potential to build the game for girls and young women. History suggests this is easier said than done.
Karim Benzema – taking the money and running into the box.
AP Photo/Hussein Malla
Anti-racist programs and fines have failed to end racism in European soccer. Part of the problem is that Black players have little representation higher up the sport’s hierarchy.
Donnell Wallam of the Diamonds scores the match-winning point during the netball match between the Australian Diamonds and the England Roses.
Darren Pateman/AAP
Ellen van Neerven cleverly invites us to question what it means to play sport on a ‘Country that is rich in story’, on a playing field that’s almost always uneven for Blackfullas.
Patrick ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe in action for the Toronto Blizzard.
Tony Bock/Toronto Star via Getty Images
One psychological explanation for Kane’s successes can be found in the concept of challenge and threat states, which explains why some athletes perform better than others under pressure.
Argentina fans celebrating their team’s World Cup victory walk past a mural of Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires. While shared nationality is a factor, most fans typically think about players in terms of their club team.
(AP Photo/Mario De Fina)
Studying how shared identities like nationality and club affiliation impact fan support for soccer players can tell us how our group memberships affect our behaviour.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (l) and Chelsea’s Kalidou Koulibaly challenge for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match in London, January 5 2023.
AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Participating in fantasy sports should be a fun hobby, and for the most part, it is. But when your virtual soccer team takes over your life, it might be time to reassess.
Pelé inspired millions with his exploits on the soccer pitch, but also had to confront power to extract himself from the sport’s social constraints.
Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images
The Brazilian soccer great died on Dec. 29, 2022, at the age of 82. His record as a goal-scorer – and the delight he gave millions – means he will go down as one of the greatest.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi is honored with a cloak prior to receiving the World Cup trophy at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 18, 2022.
AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis
A scholar of Middle Eastern cultural traditions explains the history and significance of the bisht.
Argentina’s football players celebrate with the World Cup trophy after winning the final match with France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar.
(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, many highlighted the controversial and politicized climate of the tournament, but sport and politics are rarely, if ever, separable.
But who will go down as the greatest?
Md Rafayat Haque Khan/ Eyepix Group/Future Publishing via Getty Images
The World Cup is drawing to an end. Will the tournament be remembered for a Messi moment to rival that of Maradona’s? Or as a breakthrough yeah for African nations?