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Tag: Women’s World Cup

  • FIFA threatens not to broadcast women’s World Cup in Europe

    FIFA threatens not to broadcast women’s World Cup in Europe

    FIFA has threatened not to broadcast the 2023 women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer, to five big European countries due to disagreements on media rights.

    “The offers from broadcasters, mainly in the ‘Big 5’ European countries, are still very disappointing and simply not acceptable,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

    Infantino didn’t name the countries, but according to dpa information, Germany is among them.

    Germany’s defeat to England at the women’s Euro 2022 final was the most watched programme on German television in 2022, with 17,952 million viewers.

    He said that “should the offers continue not to be fair (towards women and women’s football), we will be forced not to broadcast the FIFA Women’s World Cup into the ‘Big 5′ European countries.”

    FIFA said the viewing figures of the women’s World Cup are 50 to 60 per cent of the men’s tournament, yet the broadcasters’ offers in the major European countries for the women’s event are 20 to 100 per cent lower.

    Infantino added that the time difference between Europe and the two host countries shouldn’t be an excuse.

    “It doesn’t make any economic sense because the viewing figures are there.

    “Maybe, because it is in Australia and New Zealand, it’s not played on prime-time in Europe, but still, it is played at 9am or 10am, so it is quite a reasonable time,” he said.

    Infantino said that FIFA “did our part” by raising the prize money to $152 million, three times the amount paid in 2019 and 10 times more than in 2015.

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup: 88 referees, 19 video match officials named

    FIFA Women’s World Cup: 88 referees, 19 video match officials named

    The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), has named 33 referees, 55 assistant referees, and 19 video match Officials (VMO) for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand 2023.

    This is contained in a statement on the website of the world football governing body on Monday.

    It said the team  were chosen in close cooperation with the six confederations, based on the officials’ quality and their performances delivered at FIFA tournaments and other international and domestic competitions.

    It added that for the first time in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, six female VMOs have also been selected.

    ”As always, the criteria we have used is ‘quality first’ and the selected on-field match officials represent the highest level of refereeing worldwide.

    ”We all remember the very successful FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France.

    ”The high standard of refereeing contributed significantly to that success.

    ”The aim for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 is to repeat that success and to convince again with excellent referees’ performances,” the statement quoted chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina as saying.

    The statement also quoted Kari Seitz, FIFA’s Head of Women Refereeing, saying that the match officials will continue to receive all necessary support from FIFA.

  • FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup: Colombia to face Nigeria’s Flamingos

    FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup: Colombia to face Nigeria’s Flamingos

    Colombia on Saturday booked a semi-finals place against Nigeria’s Flamingos at the ongoing FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in India.

    Colombia breezed past Tanzania 3-0 in the quarter-finals at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margoa.

    The result means the South Americans will now face the Flamingos in the first semi-final fixture at the same stadium on Wednesday.

    Nigeria reached the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time on Friday when the Flamingos beat the U.S. in the quarter-finals.

    The Flamingos kept their nerves to defeat the U.S. 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in a pulsating quarter-final match in Navi Mumbai.

    Colombia on their part, have already had their best run in the tournament, making it past the group stage.

    With the win against Tanzania, their dream redemption in the tournament —- following four successive group stage exits, including that of 2018 —- continues.

    They started their quarter-finals match pressing very high and got the breakthrough within the first three minutes.

    Colombia’s counter-attack was finished with a goal by captain Linda Caicedo, who beat Zulfa Makau with ease.

    In spite of Tanzania playing a 4-1-4-1 shape, it could not stop the opposition from inflicting further blows when the second goal came 13 minutes later.

    Cristina Motta’s cross from the left was headed into the goal by Yesica Munoz.

    The match got bad to worse for the Serengeti girls when Zainabu Ally’s foul on Juana Ortegon saw her being sent off, following a VAR check by referee Ivana Martincic.

    Colombia piled on misery on Tanzania with a penalty kick in the 32nd minute.

    Though Bakari Shime (Tanzania’s head coach) changed the goalkeeper —- bringing on Husna Mtunda for Makau —- Gabriela Rodriguez scored with ease to continue building on the lead.

    In the second half, Tanzania looked defensively stronger in spite of having a player less.

    In the 80th minute, Colombia came close to scoring their fourth when Orianna Quintero beat Mtunda, but Tanzania’s captain Noela Luhala made a key clearance in the final moment.

    Luhala saw her relief turning into agony minutes later, when her foul on Ana Guzman was penalised with the second red card of the match.

    The incident reduced a hapless Tanzania to just nine players.

  • Super Falcons play Canada to begin FIFA World Cup 2023 campaign

    Super Falcons play Canada to begin FIFA World Cup 2023 campaign

    Nigeria’s Women’s Senior Football team, Super Falcons, and the best to come out of Africa, and would begin their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign against Canada.

    Super Falcons have been drawn in Group B against Canada, Republic of Ireland, and one of the host countries Australia.

    The draws were made earlier today (Saturday) in Auckland, New Zealand, one of the host cities of the competition.

    Nigeria would look at increasing their chances at the competition, having the highest records of African representative (nine times) in the competition, and never missed the world cup since the competition began.

    Other African teams in the competition are South Africa in group G, Zambia in Group C, Morocco in Group H while Senegal and Cameroon still have chances if they win their playoff games.

    The historic prestigious competition would kick off with New Zealand playing against Norway on July 20, 2023, while Australia, the other host country, play Republic of Ireland the next day.

    The FIFA World Women’s Football fiesta would, in this edition, witness 32 teams all grouped into eight groups competing for honours.

    The US national women’s team with the most title would be looking at winning their fifth title and their third straight when they begin their campaign against Vietnam.

    In another related competition, Nigeria’s Women Junior national team, Flamingoes, are through to the semifinals of the ongoing FIFA World Women’s Cup in India.

    Nigeria beat powerhouse US 4-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time.

    The Flamingoes made history, becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals and have a chance to extend their heroics when they play the winner between Tanzania and Columbia.

    The semifinal match comes up on Wednesday.

  • Falconets set perfect group stage record after edging Canada 3-1

    Falconets set perfect group stage record after edging Canada 3-1

    The Nigeria team on Wednesday at the ongoing 10th FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica advanced to the quarter-finals in grand style.

    The Falconets qualified by setting a World Cup group stage perfect record for themselves after beating Canada 3-1 in Alajuela.

    The feat enabled them to finish with a perfect nine points out of nine in Group C. In spite of hard-fought victories over France and Korea Republic, the Nigerian side were favourites to win the match even though they had already secured a final eight place.

    They did concede their first goal of the competition in the match, but they never looked back after drawing level thereafter.

    Goalkeeper Omini Oyono’s poor management of a backpass from Jumoke Alani granted Kala Novak a fortuitous goal in less than two minutes after kick-off.

    “It was great for us to come back from that setback, and also conceding first in the tournament.

    “But we showed character and spirit after that, and that would be huge for us going forward in the competition,” team head coach Christopher Danjuma said after the match.

    Esther Onyenezide, whose vicious curling shot earned all three points against Korea Republic late on, to send the Falconets into the last eight Sunday, soon drew them level.

    She scored from the penalty kick spot in the 24th minute after Canadian defender Mia Pante had handled the ball from a Blessing Okpe shot in the penalty box.

    The Falconets did look composed and surefooted in the middle with the return of Deborah Abiodun, who sat out the encounter with the Koreans.

    Chiamaka Okwuchukwu also played an inspiring game after starting for the first time in the tournament.

    Her firm header from an Okpe cross in the 15th minute had missed narrowly.

    Onyenezide however went on to shoot Nigeria ahead, also from the penalty kick spot, in the 32ndminute.

    This was after Simi Awujo’s dangerous play against Mercy Idoko was penalised, when Idoko went for a header from Rofiat Imuran’s inswinger.

    In the added time of first period, Idoko came close to scoring her first goal of the tournament, but her touch from another Imuran inswinger brushed the upright.

    In the second half, the Falconets added pace and brilliant use of space to their game.

    It was no surprise then when Imuran, again with a visionary cross, set up substitute Chioma Olise for Nigeria’s third goal.

    Their imperial campaign in the group stage earns the Falconets a quarter-final date with The Netherlands in Alajuela on Sunday.

  • BREAKING: Nigeria beat Cameroon

    BREAKING: Nigeria beat Cameroon

    Nigeria’s under-20 women football team, the Falconets beat Cameroon to advance to the fifth and final round of African Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

    The Falconets beat their Cameroonian counterparts 3-0 on Saturday in the second leg clash at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, for a 3-0 aggregate victory.

     

    Details shortly…

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: African referees, assistant referees to feature [Full list]

    FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: African referees, assistant referees to feature [Full list]

    Nineteen female referees from Africa have been selected to participate in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, during a reserved period in the FIFA Women’s International Match Calendar between 10 July and 20 August 2023.

    The candidates will join the “Road to AUS/NZL” project, a programme which will determine the best to operate during the upcoming competition. They come from 15 CAF Member Associations and their names are as follows –

    Referees

    Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda),
    Lidya Tafesse Abebe (Ethiopia),
    Maria Rivet (Mauritius),
    Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco),
    Ndidi Patience Madu (Nigeria),
    Vincentia Amedome (Togo),
    Fatou Thioune (Senegal),
    Dorsaf Ganouati (Tunisia)

    Assistant referees

    Mary Njoroge (Kenya),
    Lidwine Rakotozafinoro (Madagascar),
    Bernadettar Kwimbira (Malawi),
    Queency Victoire (Mauritius),
    Diana Chikotesha (Zambia),
    Mimisen Iyorhe (Nigeria),
    Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco),
    Fanta Kone (Mali),
    Carine Atezambong Fomo (Cameroon),
    Yara Atef Said Abdelfattah (Egypt)

    The 2023 tournament will see the Women’s World Cup expanded from 24 to 32 teams.

    The United States are the defending champions going into the competition, having won the previous two tournaments in 2015 and 2019.

  • Japan pulls out of hosting bid for Women’s World Cup in 2023

    Japan pulls out of hosting bid for Women’s World Cup in 2023

    Japan on Monday withdrew its bid to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup just three days before FIFA’s decision on the venue.

    FIFA had confirmed that Japanese Football Federation had pulled out of the running due to the Tokyo 2020 Games being delayed a year to commence on 2021 and the impact of the coronavirus crisis.

    The FIFA Executive Committee would therefore, choose on Thursday between a combined Australia/New Zealand bid, widely seen as favourite, and Colombia for the newly expanded 32-nation event.

    FIFA, while previously evaluating the bids, said Australia/New Zealand offered good options in sporting and general infrastructure, and would also appear to present the most favourable commercial proposition.”

    Colombia’s bid met minimum requirements but FIFA expressed doubt as to whether the necessary support and investment from local stakeholders would be forthcoming.

    The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), President Shaikh Salman Al-Khalifa announced his region’s backing for Australia/New Zealand after Japan’s withdrawal.

    “On behalf of the AFC, and AFC family, I will be supporting the Australia/New Zealand bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

    “I’m sure that I will be supported by all the AFC’s FIFA council members.

    “Not only is this a historic first cross-Confederation bid, with our close friends and neighbours from Oceania.

    “But most importantly, this is the most technically impressive of the bids that the Council must choose from on June 25 and we must be guided by the experts,” he said.

    Brazil also withdrew a bid just before the deadline for final submissions.

    The U.S. won the 2019 edition, out of the 24 teams, held in France.

  • Macron, Infantino booed at FIFA Women’s World Cup final ceremony

    The crowd at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final match on Sunday in Lyon booed FIFA president Gianni Infantino and French president Emmanuel Macron.
    This was as the U.S. fans demanded equal pay for the players after their team claimed a fourth global title by beating The Netherlands 2-0.
    Macron and Infantino, the head of football’s world governing body, were turned upon by the supporters as they approached the ceremony podium.
    It was a sharp contrast with the hero-like reception given to player of the match Megan Rapinoe by the 57,900 crowd.
    In spite of a recent rebound, Macron’s popularity was last at 38 percent in an Ifop poll, up 15 points since a low in December at the peak of the anti-government yellow-vest crisis.
    U.S. captain Rapinoe, the leading voice for equal pay in a sport where the men are far better paid than the women, scored the opening goal with a VAR-awarded penalty kick.
    She scored in the 61st minute at the sold-out Groupama Stadium.
    Rose Lavelle rounded off the victory eight minutes later as the Americans added to their 1991, 1999 and 2015 world titles.
    After the game, Rapinoe told reporters: “I think everyone is ready for this conversation and move to the next step. I think we’re done with: ‘Are we worth it? Should we have equal pay?’.”
    Earlier this year, members of the U.S. squad were named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the national football federation alleging gender discrimination.
    It was filed in a federal court last month and it says the women are not paid the same as their male counterparts.
    On Saturday, Rapinoe launched a scathing attack on FIFA, saying the organization did not respect the women’s game.
    Rapinoe said FIFA’s decision to allow the men’s Copa America final and Gold Cup showpiece to take place on the same day as the women’s final was “unbelievable”.
    Rapinoe shook Infantino and Macron’s hands as she received her medal.
    “It’s unbelievable to know all the people who put in so much in this group,” she said.
    “We have all our families and friends here. It’s surreal. I don’t know how to feel right now. It’s ridiculous.”

  • BREAKING: FIFA pledges 32-team Women's World Cup

    BREAKING: FIFA pledges 32-team Women's World Cup

    Fifa president Gianni Infantino has pledged to increase the size of the Women’s World Cup to 32 teams and double its prize money, and launch a women’s Club World Cup.

    After calling the current tournament “the best women’s World Cup ever”, Infantino set out a five-point plan to make sure football “seizes this opportunity”.
    Bidding for the 2023 tournament – which has yet to be allocated and was set to contain 24 sides – may have to restart to accommodate the extra teams.