FIFA Women's World Cup advancements between 1991 and 2023

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Jul 2023 12:25

Asako Takakura, a former FIFA player in 1991 and a coach in 2019, witnessed the evolution of FIFA Women's World Cup and tells her story.

Japan's coach Asako Takakura reacts after Japan tied with Canada during a women's soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, in Sapporo, Japan (AP)

Asako Takakura played in the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup (WWC) in 1991 and recalls with distaste how the matches lasted 80 minutes as opposed to the standard 90.

Commenting on attitudes in 1991, Takakura said "There was an atmosphere where people wondered if women could play," adding "At the time football was still thought of as a man's sport."

Sarcastically, the former athlete said, "At least they didn't make the pitch smaller."

Takakura who was part of the very first WWC underscored that only 12 teams took part of the tournament then, but that fast-forward, the ninth edition of the WWC, which will kick off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, included 32 teams and a global interest that the game has not witnessed before.

Takakura has firsthand knowledge of the development within the WWC as she continued in her career and coached the Japanese national team in the 2019 World Cup after representing Japan in the 1991 and 1995 WWC.

In 1991, the US team won against Norway 2-1 and the US star striker, Michelle Akers, said in a sarcastic tone: "Goodness gracious, the girls can't last 90 minutes."

2023 Women's World Cup opening match tickets sold out: FIFA

A senior FIFA official told AFP on June 27 that co-hosts Australia will play their opening game of next month's Women's World Cup in front of a full house.

Dave Beeche, chief executive of the Women's World Cup, confirmed that tickets for Australia's opener against Ireland on July 20 have sold out at Sydney's Stadium Australia, which can hold around 80,000 fans.

"There is currently nothing available," Beeche said.

The FIFA official also expected a capacity crowd the same day in Auckland where tournament co-hosts New Zealand launch their World Cup campaign against Norway.

"It's going to be a massive day for women's football," he said.

With less than 25 days until kick-off, the chief executive indicated that only a "few thousand" tickets are left for New Zealand's opening game at Eden Park, where capacity will be just under 40,000.

"Yes, definitely" Beeche replied when asked whether the Auckland stadium would be sold out for the opener, despite fears about the tournament's low ticket sales in New Zealand.

Football's governing body FIFA has said around 1.1 million tickets have been sold for the 64 matches in Australia and New Zealand.