U.S. triumph caps truly global Women’s World Cup

The United States returned to the pinnacle of women’s soccer with a 5-2 crushing of Japan in Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final at the end of a riveting tournament that pushed the sport into new territory. The Americans last triumphed in 1999 but women’s soccer is a vastly different sport than it was a decade-and-a-half ago with new nations forging their way into the elite amid an unprecedented level of global interest. Television ratings have long been strong in North America but, even despite late night kick-off times, countries such as France, Germany and England saw record numbers tuning in, measured no longer in thousands but in millions.

Women’s football is a global game now, we have seen that at this tournament.

England coach Mark Sampson

While few doubt that the U.S. deserve to be back on top outside the Olympic arena, where they have won the last three gold medals, the growth of the women’s game should ensure they will take on a strong and diverse field in France in 2019. In Europe, big clubs from the men’s game – Bayern Munich, Paris St Germain and Manchester City – are investing in their women’s teams and that trend is likely to spread further. And while FIFA officials were booed by fans before the trophy ceremony, the corruption-tainted global body’s women’s development staff must deserve plenty of credit for helping the game reach this stage.

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