View source for Women's association football

{{Short description|Association football played by women}} 
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox sport
| name           = Women's association football
| image          = FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 Final - Alex Morgan and Stefanie van der Gragt.jpg
| caption        = [[Alex Morgan]] and [[Stefanie van der Gragt]] battle for the ball during the [[2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final]] in [[Lyon]], France
| image_size     = 240px
| union          = [[FIFA]]
| first          = 1880s, Great Britain<ref name="Pink2018"/><ref name="Donmouth1881"/>
| nicknames      = The Women's Game,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Keogh |first1=Emily |title=The Ballon d'Or should be a celebration, for the women's game it's a disgrace |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/42068622/why-ballon-dor-continues-undermine-womens-game-every-year |website=ESPN |access-date=3 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250224100927/https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/42068622/why-ballon-dor-continues-undermine-womens-game-every-year |archive-date=24 February 2025 |language=en |date=29 October 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> WoSo{{efn|From '''Wo'''men's '''So'''ccer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2018/12/31/xi-moments-of-2018-courage-cap-best-woso-season-ever/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215025901/https://equalizersoccer.com/2018/12/31/xi-moments-of-2018-courage-cap-best-woso-season-ever/|url-status=live|archive-date=15 February 2025|title=XI Moments of 2018: Courage cap best WoSo season ever|last=Halloran|first=John D.|date=2018-12-31|website=The Equalizer|access-date=2025-01-02}}</ref>}}
| registered     =
| equipment      = [[Ball (association football)|Football]] (or soccer ball), [[football boot]]s, [[shin guard]]s, [[Kit (association football)|kits]], and gloves (for goalkeepers)
| contact        = Yes
| team           = 11 per side (including goalkeeper)
| venue          = [[Football pitch]] (football field, football ground, soccer field, soccer ground or "pitch")
| category       = [[Team sport]], [[ball game]]
| mgender        = No, separate competitions
| glossary       = [[Glossary of association football terms|Glossary of association football]]
| region         = Worldwide
| olympic        = Since [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996]]
| paralympic     = No
}}
'''Women's association football''', more commonly known as '''women's football''' or '''women's soccer''',{{efn|For further information, see [[names for association football]].}} is the [[team sport]] of [[association football]] played by [[women]]. It is played at the professional level in [[Geography of women's association football|multiple countries]], and about 200 national teams participate [[International competitions in women's association football|internationally]].<ref name=fifa_wr>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/women/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008164448/http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/women/index.html|url-status=live|archive-date=8 October 2011|title=The FIFA Women's World Ranking|publisher=FIFA}}</ref> The same rules, known as the [[Laws of the Game (association football)|Laws of the Game]], are used for both women's and men's football.<ref name="LotG">{{cite web |title=Laws of the Game 2015/16 |url=https://www.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2015-16?l=en |website=Documents {{!}} IFAB |access-date=1 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114214310/https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2015-16?l=en |archive-date=14 January 2023 |pages=3, 22 |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref>

After the "first golden age" of women's football occurred in the United Kingdom in the 1920s, with one match attracting over 50,000 spectators,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/4603149.stm |title=Trail-blazers who pioneered women's football |work=[[BBC News]] |date=3 June 2005 |access-date=2010-02-19 |archive-date=14 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814225402/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/4603149.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> [[the Football Association]] instituted a ban from 1921 to 1970 in England that disallowed women's football on the grounds used by its member clubs.<ref name="BBCFAC21">{{cite news |title=Women's FA Cup final: The evolution of women's football |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59475956 |work=BBC Sport |date=4 December 2021 |access-date=6 July 2022 |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706060831/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59475956 |url-status=live}}</ref> In many other nations, female footballers faced similarly hostile treatment and [[Bans of women's association football|bans]] by male-dominated organisations.<ref name="Drum19">{{cite web |title=The Offside Museum highlights when women were banned from playing soccer |url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2019/05/30/the-offside-museum-highlights-when-women-were-banned-playing-soccer |website=The Drum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609032144/https://www.thedrum.com/news/2019/05/30/the-offside-museum-highlights-when-women-were-banned-playing-soccer |archive-date=9 June 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 1970s, international women's football tournaments were extremely popular,<ref name="Wilson71">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46149887|title=Mexico 1971: When women's football hit the big time|date=7 December 2018|access-date=8 June 2022|author=Bill Wilson|publisher=BBC News|archive-date=8 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108011540/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46149887|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="JJHeritage70">{{cite web |title=Martini and Rosso's sponsorship of the Women's World Cups in 1970 and 1971 Celebrating 50 years since an innovative sports partnership began |url=https://jjheritage.com/martini-and-rossos-sponsorship-of-the-womens-world-cups-in-1970-and-1971-celebrating-50-years-since-an-innovative-sports-partnership-began/ |website=JJ Heritage |date=6 June 2020 |access-date=6 July 2022 |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706060832/https://jjheritage.com/martini-and-rossos-sponsorship-of-the-womens-world-cups-in-1970-and-1971-celebrating-50-years-since-an-innovative-sports-partnership-began/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and the oldest surviving continental championship was founded, the [[AFC Women's Asian Cup]]. However, a woman did not speak at the [[FIFA Congress]] until 1986 ([[Ellen Wille]]).<ref name="FR24-Gorman">{{cite news |last1=Gorman |first1=Sophie |title=Ellen Wille, the mother of women's football |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190626-ellen-wille-mother-women-football-norway-fifa-world-cup-france |work=France 24 |date=26 June 2019 |access-date=6 July 2022 |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706055331/https://www.france24.com/en/20190626-ellen-wille-mother-women-football-norway-fifa-world-cup-france |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[FIFA Women's World Cup]] was first held in China in [[1991 FIFA Women's World Cup|1991]] and has since become a major television event in many countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/07/womens-world-cup-final-was-most-watched-soccer-game-in-us-history.html|title=Women's World Cup final was most-watched soccer game in US history|last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=2015-07-07|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=2020-01-16|archive-date=18 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018215417/https://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/07/womens-world-cup-final-was-most-watched-soccer-game-in-us-history.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/fifa-women-s-world-cup-2019tm-watched-by-more-than-1-billion|title=FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 - News - FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 watched by more than 1 billion |last=FIFA.com|website=www.fifa.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-16|archive-date=18 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618235756/https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/fifa-women-s-world-cup-2019tm-watched-by-more-than-1-billion|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
Women may have been playing football for as long as the game has existed. Evidence shows that a similar game (''[[cuju]]'', also known as ''tsu chu'') was played by women during the [[Han dynasty]] (25–220 CE), as female figures are depicted in frescoes of the period playing ''tsu chu''.<ref name="globalgame">{{cite web | title=Genesis of the Global Game | work=The Global Game | url=http://www.theglobalgame.com/aboutus.html | access-date=22 May 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521234151/http://www.theglobalgame.com/aboutus.html | archive-date=21 May 2006 | df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="footballnetwork">{{cite web | title=The Chinese and Tsu Chu | work=The Football Network | url=http://www.footballnetwork.org/dev/historyoffootball/history1.asp | access-date=1 May 2006 | archive-date=6 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106061612/http://www.footballnetwork.org/dev/historyoffootball/history1.asp | url-status=dead}}</ref> Annual matches being played in [[Midlothian]], Scotland, are reported as early as the 1790s.<ref name="SFA">{{cite web|title=A Brief History of Women's Football|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?curpageid=409|publisher=Scottish Football Association|access-date=18 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308172042/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?curpageid=409|archive-date=8 March 2005}}</ref><ref name="emagazine.credit-suisse.com">[http://emagazine.credit-suisse.com/article/index2.cfm?fuseaction=OpenArticlePrint&aoid=37289&lang=en "Football history: Winning ways of wedded women"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185300/http://emagazine.credit-suisse.com/article/index2.cfm?fuseaction=OpenArticlePrint&aoid=37289&lang=en |date=27 September 2007}}</ref>

In 1863, football governing bodies introduced standardised rules to prohibit violence on the pitch, so the sport was considered safe for women to play.<ref name="FA">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/Womens/EnglandSenior/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2006/05/England_Brief_history.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205170312/http://www.thefa.com/Womens/EnglandSenior/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2006/05/England_Brief_history.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-12-05|title=TheFA.com - Brief History|date=5 December 2008}}</ref><ref name="Nettie Honeyball">{{cite web |last=Ladda |first=Shawn |title=Women's involvement with soccer was part of the emancipation process. |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/oped/1999/jul20.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116204454/http://www.soccertimes.com/oped/1999/jul20.htm |archive-date=16 November 2006 |access-date=4 May 2006 |work=SoccerTimes}}</ref> The first match of an international character took place in 1881 at [[Hibernian Park]] in [[Edinburgh]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Plaque to the First Women Football Internationalists 1881 |url=http://womenofscotland.org.uk/memorials/plaque-first-women-football-internationalists-1881 |website=Women of Scotland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927081323/http://womenofscotland.org.uk/memorials/plaque-first-women-football-internationalists-1881 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> part of a tour by Scotland and England teams.<ref name="Pink2018">{{cite web |last1=Gibbs |first1=Stuart |title=The strange birth of women's football |url=https://footballpink.net/2018-10-24-the-strange-birth-of-womens-football/ |website=The Football Pink |date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225202058/https://footballpink.net/2018-10-24-the-strange-birth-of-womens-football/ |archive-date=25 February 2020 |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="Donmouth1881">{{cite web |author1=Patrick Brennan |title=England v Scotland - 1881 |url=http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/1881.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306005235/http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/1881.html |archive-date=6 March 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Scottish Football Association]] recorded a women's match in 1892.<ref name="SFA"/>

[[File:British Ladies Football Club.jpg|thumb|North team of the British Ladies' Football Club, 1895]]
The [[British Ladies' Football Club]] was founded by activist [[Nettie Honeyball]] in England in 1894. They played the first women's match officially recorded in England in March 1895.<ref name="FA" /> Honeyball is quoted as saying, "I founded the association late last year [1894], with the fixed resolve of proving to the world that women are not the 'ornamental and useless' creatures men have pictured. I must confess, my convictions on all matters where the sexes are so widely divided are all on the side of [[Feminism|emancipation]], and I look forward to the time when ladies may sit in [[Parliament]] and have a voice in the direction of affairs, especially those which concern them most".<ref name="Nettie Honeyball" /> Honeyball and those like her paved the way for women's football.<ref name=honeyb>{{Cite news|date=2013-09-25|title=The Honeyballers: Women who fought to play football|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-24176354|access-date=2021-12-05|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204130733/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-24176354|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the women's game was frowned upon by the British football associations, and continued without their support. It has been suggested that this was motivated by a perceived threat to the "masculinity" of the game.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Mårtensson|first=Stefan|title=Branding women's football in a field of hegemonic masculinity|journal=Entertainment and Sports Law Journal|date=June 2010|volume=8|pages=5|doi=10.16997/eslj.44|doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== The Munitionettes' Cup ===
[[File:丸亀高校４.jpg|thumb|Japanese high-school girls playing football in their traditional hakama with one team wearing sashes (c. 1920)]]
In August 1917, a tournament was launched for [[Munitionettes|female munition workers']] teams in north-east England. Officially titled the "Tyne Wear & Tees Alfred Wood Munition Girls Cup", it was also known as "The Munitionettes' Cup".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Storey|first1=Neil R.|title=Women in the First World War|date=2010|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-0747807520|page=61|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TyXm0ydedlMC&q=Munitionettes%27+Cup&pg=PA61}}</ref> The first winners of the trophy were [[Blyth Spartans]], who defeated [[Bolckow Vaughan]] 5–0 in a replayed final tie at [[Middlesbrough]] on 18 May 1918 in front of a crowd of 22,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qch08|title=Croft Park, Newcastle: Blyth Spartans Ladies FC, World War One At Home|website=BBC|date=22 January 2014 |language=en-GB|access-date=2018-06-15|archive-date=9 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209183659/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qch08|url-status=live}}</ref> The tournament ran for a second year in season 1918–19, the winners being the ladies of Palmer's shipyard in [[Jarrow]], who defeated Christopher Brown's of [[Hartlepool]] 1–0 at [[St James' Park]] in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] on 22 March 1919.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Adie|first1=Kate|title=Fighting on the Home Front: The Legacy of Women in World War One|date=2013|publisher=Hodder & Stoughton|isbn=978-1444759709|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_e05AgAAQBAJ&q=Munitionettes%27+Cup&pg=PT190|access-date=6 August 2014|archive-date=12 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812055510/https://books.google.com/books?id=_e05AgAAQBAJ&q=Munitionettes%27+Cup&pg=PT190|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the time of the [[World War I|First World War]], female employment in heavy industry spurred the growth of the game, much as it had done for men fifty years earlier. A team from England played a team from Ireland on [[Boxing Day]] 1917 in front of a crowd of 20,000 spectators.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5nsXCQcNm7wggTxvS0y1BnF/the-forgotten-first-international-women-s-football-match?intc_type=singletheme&intc_location=radio4&intc_campaign=hearher&intc_linkname=article_firstinternational_contentcard2|title=Home Front – The Forgotten First International Women's Football Match – BBC Radio 4|website=BBC|access-date=2018-06-15|archive-date=25 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225230518/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5nsXCQcNm7wggTxvS0y1BnF/the-forgotten-first-international-women-s-football-match?intc_campaign=hearher&intc_linkname=article_firstinternational_contentcard2&intc_location=radio4&intc_type=singletheme|url-status=live}}</ref> The Irish side of this match was dramatised in the play ''Rough Girls'' in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Roy |first1=David |title=Tara Lynne O'Neill on new football play Rough Girls and the return of Derry Girls |url=https://www.irishnews.com/arts/stage/2021/09/04/news/tara-lynne-o-neill-on-new-football-play-rough-girls-and-the-return-of-derry-girls-2435037/ |work=The Irish News |date=4 September 2021 |access-date=23 September 2021 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923184403/https://www.irishnews.com/arts/stage/2021/09/04/news/tara-lynne-o-neill-on-new-football-play-rough-girls-and-the-return-of-derry-girls-2435037/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C.]] of [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston, England]] played in one of the first women's international matches against a French XI team in 1920,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Dick, Kerr Ladies' FC |url=http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/dick_kerr.html |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=www.donmouth.co.uk |archive-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521192224/http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/dick_kerr.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and also made up most of the England team against a [[Women's football in Scotland|Scottish Ladies]] XI in the same year, winning 22–0.<ref name="SFA"/>

=== FA ban (1921–1970) ===
Despite being more popular than some men's football events (one match saw a 53,000 strong crowd),<ref name="Leighton08">{{cite news|last1=Leighton|first1=Tony|title=FA apologies for 1921 ban|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/feb/11/newsstory.womensfootball|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=6 August 2014|date=10 February 2008|archive-date=10 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810174231/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/feb/11/newsstory.womensfootball|url-status=live}}</ref> women's football in England was halted in December 1921 when [[the Football Association]] outlawed the playing of the game on association members' pitches, the FA stating that "the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/womens-girls-football/history|title=The History of Women's Football in England|website=The FA|access-date=16 January 2020|archive-date=24 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224043854/http://www.thefa.com/womens-girls-football/history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Wrack2022"/>

[[File:Women's football match Menai Bridge against Penrhos (24622680915).jpg|thumbnail|left|A Welsh women's football team pose for a photograph in 1959]]
Players and football writers have argued that this ban was due to envy of the large crowds that women's matches attracted,<ref name="BBC3jun05">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/4603149.stm|title=Trail-blazers who pioneered women's football|date=3 June 2005|via=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=24 March 2019|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202114818/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/women/4603149.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and because the FA had no control over the money made from the women's game.<ref name="Wrack2022">{{cite web |last1=Wrack |first1=Suzanne |title=How the FA banned women's football in 1921 and tried to justify it |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jun/13/how-the-fa-banned-womens-football-in-1921-and-tried-to-justify-it |website=the Guardian |access-date=15 June 2022 |language=en |date=13 June 2022 |archive-date=14 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214145355/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jun/13/how-the-fa-banned-womens-football-in-1921-and-tried-to-justify-it |url-status=live}}</ref> Dick, Kerr Ladies player Alice Barlow said, "we could only put it down to jealousy. We were more popular than the men and our bigger gates were for charity".<ref name="BBC3jun05"/>

Despite the ban, some women's teams continued to play. The [[Rugby Football League|Northern Rugby Union]] did not follow the FA ban,<ref>{{Cite web |title=English Ladies' Football Association |url=http://donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/elfa.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225230640/http://donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/elfa.html |archive-date=2023-02-25 |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=donmouth.co.uk}}</ref> so the short-lived [[English Ladies Football Association]] (1921–1922) played some of its matches at [[rugby football|rugby]] grounds.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Newsham|first1=Gail|title=In a League of Their Own. The Dick, Kerr Ladies 1917–1965|date=2014|publisher=Paragon Publishing}}</ref>

In other countries, women's football was further debilitated by nationwide bans which often resembled the English FA's measures.<ref name="Drum19"/> The [[German Football Association]] banned women's football from 1955 until 1970.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wünsch|first1=Silke|title=The elusive popularity of women's football|url=http://www.dw.com/en/the-elusive-popularity-of-womens-football/a-15172167|website=DW.com|publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]]|date=2011-06-20|access-date=24 July 2022|archive-date=24 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724105057/https://www.dw.com/en/the-elusive-popularity-of-womens-football/a-15172167|url-status=live}}</ref> Women's football was also banned in France from 1941 to 1970.<ref>{{Cite web |title=5 dates clefs sur l'histoire du football féminin |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.fr/histoire-du-football-feminin,2057854.asp |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Cosmopolitan.fr |language=fr |archive-date=26 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926162514/https://www.cosmopolitan.fr/histoire-du-football-feminin,2057854.asp |url-status=live}}</ref> In Brazil, the [[Vargas Era|Vargas regime]] and the [[Military dictatorship in Brazil|military dictatorship]] legally prohibited women and girls from playing football from 1941 to 1979.<ref name="CostaBRZ">{{cite web |last1=Costa |first1=Ana |title=The history of women's football in Brazil |url=https://www.sportanddev.org/en/article/news/history-womens-football-brazil |website=Sport and Development |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626024450/https://www.sportanddev.org/en/article/news/history-womens-football-brazil |archive-date=26 June 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Tournaments ===

; The English Ladies' Football Association Challenge Cup
{{See also|English Ladies Football Association}}
Following the FA ban on women's teams on 5 December 1921, the [[English Ladies' Football Association]] was formed, with 58 affiliated clubs.<ref name="DonmouthELFA">{{Cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Patrick |url=http://donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/elfa.html |title=The English Ladies' Football Association |work=Donmouth |access-date=2018-07-26 |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521184531/http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/elfa.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Taylor|first1=Matthew|title=The Association Game: A History of British Football|date=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1317870081|page=135|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YZ6MAQAAQBAJ&q=%22English+Ladies%27+Football+Association%22&pg=PA135|access-date=6 August 2014|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429160653/https://books.google.com/books?id=YZ6MAQAAQBAJ&q=%22English+Ladies%27+Football+Association%22&pg=PA135|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Williams|first1=Jean|title=A Contemporary History of Women's Sport, Part One: Sporting Women, 1850–1960|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1317746652|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YBdxAwAAQBAJ&q=%22len+bridgett%22&pg=PT140|access-date=6 August 2014|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429160647/https://books.google.com/books?id=YBdxAwAAQBAJ&q=%22len+bridgett%22&pg=PT140|url-status=live}}</ref> A silver cup was donated by the first president of the association, Len Bridgett. A total of 23 teams entered the first competition in the spring of 1922. The winners were Stoke Ladies who beat Doncaster and Bentley Ladies 3–1 on 24 June 1922.<ref name="DonmouthStoke">{{cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Patrick |title=Stoke Ladies FC |url=http://donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/stoke_ladies.html |work=Donmouth |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704153351/http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/stoke_ladies.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

; The Championship of Great Britain and the World
In 1937, the [[Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C.]], who had lost to Scotland's [[Rutherglen Ladies F.C.|Rutherglen Ladies]] in 1923 but continued to be proclaimed as "world champions",<ref name=lll>{{Cite web|title=Women's Football in Interwar Scotland:Sadie Smith and the Legendary Rutherglen Ladies FC {{!}} Part 2|website=Playing Pasts|url=https://www.playingpasts.co.uk/articles/football/womens-football-in-interwar-scotlandsadie-smith-and-the-legendary-rutherglen-ladies-fcpart-2/|access-date=2021-12-04|date=2021-02-18|author1=Fiona Skillen|author2=Steve Bolton|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204173210/https://www.playingpasts.co.uk/articles/football/womens-football-in-interwar-scotlandsadie-smith-and-the-legendary-rutherglen-ladies-fcpart-2/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="tribute">[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/new-exhibition-pay-tribute-rutherglens-25602020.amp New exhibition to pay tribute to Rutherglen's trailblazing female footballers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205165149/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/new-exhibition-pay-tribute-rutherglens-25602020.amp |date=5 December 2021}}, Jonathan Geddes, Daily Record, 5 December 2021</ref> played the Edinburgh City Girls in the "Championship of Great Britain and the World". Dick, Kerr won the competition with a 5–1 scoreline. The 1939 competition was a more organised affair and the Edinburgh City Girls beat Dick, Kerr 5–2 in [[Edinburgh]], following this up with a 7–1 demolition of Glasgow Ladies in [[Falkirk]] to take the title.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Murray|first1=Scott|title=Football For Dummies, UK Edition|date=2010|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0470664407|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IGy_QNv-J4oC&q=1937+championship+of+great+britain+dick+kerr&pg=PT252|access-date=4 November 2020|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429160654/https://books.google.com/books?id=IGy_QNv-J4oC&q=1937+championship+of+great+britain+dick+kerr&pg=PT252|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== The "revival" of the women's game ===
The English ''Women's FA'' was formed in 1969 as a result of the increased interest generated by the [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966 World Cup]].<ref name="Leicester07">{{Cite web|url=http://www.le.ac.uk/footballresearch/resources/factsheets/fs5.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118153929/http://www.le.ac.uk/footballresearch/resources/factsheets/fs5.html|url-status=dead|title=University of Leicester fact sheet on women's football|archive-date=18 November 2007}}</ref>

The ban in England was maintained by the FA for nearly fifty years, until January 1970.<ref name="BBCFAC21"/> The next year, UEFA recommended that the national associations in each country should manage the women's game.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30329606|title=The female football mania that led to it being banned|work=BBC News |date=2014-12-12|access-date=2020-01-16|language=en-GB|archive-date=27 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927101759/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30329606|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/women/4607171.stm|title=How women's football battled for survival|date=3 June 2005|via=BBC News|access-date=24 March 2019|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202110455/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/women/4607171.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Leicester07"/> In 2002, [[Lily Parr]] of Dick Kerr's Ladies was the first woman to be inducted into the [[National Football Museum]] Hall of Fame. She was later honoured with a statue in front of the museum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lily-parr-pioneering-english-footballer-be-honored-bronze-monument-180972160/|title=Lily Parr, a Pioneering English Footballer, Scores Bronze Monument|last=Katz|first=Brigit|website=Smithsonian Magazine|access-date=2020-01-16|archive-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518162811/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lily-parr-pioneering-english-footballer-be-honored-bronze-monument-180972160/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was not until 2008 (87 years later), that the FA issued an apology for banning women from the game of football.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rfi.fr/en/middle-east/20190627-banned-blooming-evolution-womens-football|title=From banned to blooming: the evolution of women's football|date=2019-06-29|website=RFI|language=en|access-date=2020-01-16|archive-date=4 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204100937/http://www.rfi.fr/en/middle-east/20190627-banned-blooming-evolution-womens-football|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Leighton08"/>

=== Women's World Championships, 1970 and 1971 ===
In 1970, the Torino-based ''[[FIEFF|Federation of Independent European Female Football]]'' (FIEFF) ran the [[1970 Women's World Cup]] in Italy, supported by the [[Martini & Rossi]] strong wine manufacturers,<ref name="JJHeritage70"/> and entirely without the involvement of [[FIFA]].<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vu9TBAAAQBAJ&q=Martini,+Ladies+World+Cup+1971&pg=PA26|title=Women, Soccer and Transnational Migration|editor1-last=Agergaard|editor1-first=Sine|editor2-last=Tiesler|editor2-first=Nina Clara|last=Williams|first=Jean|chapter=2: 'Soccer matters very much, every day'|page=26|publisher=Routledge|date=2014|isbn=978-1135939380|access-date=4 November 2020|archive-date=31 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331022927/https://books.google.com/books?id=vu9TBAAAQBAJ&q=Martini%2C+Ladies+World+Cup+1971&pg=PA26|url-status=live}}</ref> This event was at least partly played by clubs and won by Denmark.<ref>Denmark was represented by a club, that also won the tournament. Stated in Danish [[DR2]]'s TV-documentary about the 1971 event of the same kind [https://www.dr.dk/tv/se/da-danmark-blev-verdensmestre-i-fodbold/-/temaloerdag-da-danmark-blev-verdensmestre-i-fodbold] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818011140/https://www.dr.dk/tv/se/da-danmark-blev-verdensmestre-i-fodbold/-/temaloerdag-da-danmark-blev-verdensmestre-i-fodbold|date=18 August 2017}}</ref> A second edition, the [[1971 Women's World Cup]], was hosted by Mexico the following year. The final, also won by Denmark, was played at [[Estadio Azteca]], the largest stadium in North America at the time, in front of crowds estimated at 110,000 or 112,500 attendees.<ref name="Wilson71"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dr.dk/tv/se/da-danmark-blev-verdensmestre-i-fodbold/-/temaloerdag-da-danmark-blev-verdensmestre-i-fodbold|title=Da Danmark blev verdensmestre i fodbold – DRTV|via=www.dr.dk|access-date=26 June 2017|archive-date=18 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818011140/https://www.dr.dk/tv/se/da-danmark-blev-verdensmestre-i-fodbold/-/temaloerdag-da-danmark-blev-verdensmestre-i-fodbold|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Professionalism ===
{{see also|Professionalism in women's association football|List of women's association football clubs}}
[[File:2019 04 18 Bosi cs Finale Coppa Italia Femminile-3 (46912099804) - Girelli, Guarino (cropped).jpg|alt=Two sitting women in a press conference with a ball and a trophy |thumb|Striker [[Cristiana Girelli]] and coach [[Rita Guarino]] of Juventus in 2019. Juventus is one of the most storied and successful football clubs in Italy.]]

During the 1970s, Italy became the first country to have professional women's football players on a part-time basis. Italy was also the first country to import foreign footballers from other European countries, which raised the profile of the league. Players during that era included [[Susanne Augustesen]] (Denmark), [[Rose Reilly]] and [[Edna Neillis]] (Scotland), [[Anne O'Brien (footballer)|Anne O'Brien]] (Ireland) and [[Conchi Sánchez|Concepcion Sánchez Freire]] (Spain).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jeanes|first1=Ruth|title=Ruff Guide to Women & Girls Football|url=http://www.sportdevelopment.info/index.php/component/content/article/635-ruff-guide-to-women-a-girls-football|access-date=7 August 2014|date=10 September 2009|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306084457/http://sportdevelopment.info/index.php/component/content/article/635-ruff-guide-to-women-a-girls-football|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sweden was the first to introduce a professional women's domestic league in 1988, the [[Damallsvenskan]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/world-cup-2015-guide/womens-professional-leagues-in-notable-countries/damallsvenskan-swedish-womens-soccer-league/ | title=Damallsvenskan – Swedish Women's Soccer League | date=13 April 2015 | access-date=14 July 2022 | archive-date=14 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714074736/https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/world-cup-2015-guide/womens-professional-leagues-in-notable-countries/damallsvenskan-swedish-womens-soccer-league/ | url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Asia and Oceania ===
In 1989, Japan became the first country to have a semi-professional women's football league, the L. League – still in existence today as Division 1 of the [[Nadeshiko League]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=McIntyre|first1=Scott|title=Japan's second-class citizens the world's best|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/blog/2012/07/17/japans-second-class-citizens-worlds-best|publisher=SBS|access-date=7 August 2014|date=17 July 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074332/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/blog/2012/07/17/japans-second-class-citizens-worlds-best|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Edwards11">{{cite web|last1=Edwards|first1=Elise|title=NOT A CINDERELLA STORY: THE LONG ROAD TO A JAPANESE WORLD CUP VICTORY|url=http://stanfordpress.typepad.com/blog/2011/08/not-a-cinderella-story-the-long-road-to-a-japanese-world-cup-victory-.html|publisher=Stanford University Press|access-date=7 August 2014|date=4 August 2011|archive-date=1 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101223414/http://stanfordpress.typepad.com/blog/2011/08/not-a-cinderella-story-the-long-road-to-a-japanese-world-cup-victory-.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, Japan established the first-ever women's professional league in Asia, the [[WE League]], which started on fall 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://weleague.jp/en/news/238/ | title=The first women's professional football league in Japan will begin in fall 2021 | access-date=2 October 2022 | archive-date=2 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002171753/https://weleague.jp/en/news/238/ | url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Komabastadium1.JPG|left|thumb|The [[Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies]]]]

In Indonesia, the first recorded "national" women's football event, known as the "Kartini Cup", took place in 1981.<ref name="indonesia-comp">{{cite web|title=Indonesia - List of Women Champions|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/indo-womchamp.html|website=rsssf.org|access-date=15 February 2023|archive-date=15 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215054959/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/indo-womchamp.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The competition was held on an amateur level. Later competitions were also held in an amateur and semi-professional level, including the 1982 appearance of the first women's league, Galanita.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kartini dan Galanita dalam Perjalanan Bola Indonesia|url=https://www.indosport.com/sepakbola/20170421/kartini-dan-galanita-akar-prestasi-srikandi-bola-indonesia|publisher=Indosport|date=21 April 2017|access-date=15 February 2023|language=id|archive-date=15 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215055001/https://www.indosport.com/sepakbola/20170421/kartini-dan-galanita-akar-prestasi-srikandi-bola-indonesia|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Pertiwi Cup]], which drew contestants from throughout all of Indonesia, was first played in 2006. The first professional league was held in 2019 under the name [[Liga 1 Putri]].<ref name="indonesia-comp"/>

In Australia, the W-League, now known as [[A-League Women]], was formed in 2008.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ot2uDAAAQBAJ&q=W-LEague+founded+2008&pg=PA319|title=Pop Culture in Asia and Oceania|last1=Murray|first1=Jeremy A.|last2=Nadeau|first2=Kathleen M.|date=2016-08-15|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-4408-3991-7|language=en|access-date=4 November 2020|archive-date=12 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812055514/https://books.google.com/books?id=ot2uDAAAQBAJ&q=W-LEague+founded+2008&pg=PA319|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, the [[Chinese Women's Super League]] (CWSL) was launched with an affiliated second division, CWFL.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2015-04/08/content_20031541.htm|title=Chinese Women's Super League launched to promote women's soccer[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn|access-date=2020-01-16|archive-date=23 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123233650/https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2015-04/08/content_20031541.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Previously, The Chinese Women's Premier Football League was initiated in 1997 and evolved to the Women's Super League in 2004. From 2011 to 2014, the league was named the Women's National Football League.

The [[Indian Women's League]] was launched in 2016. The country has held the top-tier tournament, [[Rajmata Jijabai Trophy|Indian Women's Football Championship]], since 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india-womchamp.html|title=India – List of Women Champions|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2020-01-16|archive-date=22 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122170625/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india-womchamp.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== North America ===
[[File:Portland Thorns traveling supporters.jpg|thumb|[[Portland Thorns]] traveling supporters at Seattle's Memorial Stadium]]
In 1985, the [[1985 United States women's national soccer team|United States women's national soccer team]] was formed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Ryan, The First Coach of the U.S. WNT Passes Away at 77|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/14/04/mike-ryan-passes-away-at-77|publisher=United States Soccer Federation|access-date=7 August 2014|date=24 November 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063502/http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/14/04/mike-ryan-passes-away-at-77|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the [[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup]], the first professional women's soccer league in the United States, the [[Women's United Soccer Association|WUSA]], was launched and lasted three years. The league was spearheaded by members of the World Cup-winning American team and featured players like [[Mia Hamm]], [[Julie Foudy]] and [[Brandi Chastain]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/magazine/archives/news/story?page=magazine-20030929-article38|title=2003 WOMEN'S WORLD|date=2012-07-10|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-16|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124224406/https://www.espn.com/espn/magazine/archives/news/story?page=magazine-20030929-article38|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as top-tier international players like Germany's [[Birgit Prinz]] and China's [[Sun Wen (footballer)|Sun Wen]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/08/sports/soccer/wusa-returns-with-a-full-lineup.html|title=W.U.S.A. Returns With a Full Lineup|last=Bell|first=Jack|date=2002-04-08|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-01-16|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=12 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812055514/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/08/sports/soccer/wusa-returns-with-a-full-lineup.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A second attempt towards a sustainable professional league, the [[Women's Professional Soccer]] (WPS), was launched in 2009 and folded in late 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/wps-attempt-professional-women-soccer-league-u-s-officially-folds-seasons-article-1.1080697|title=WPS, second attempt at a professional women's soccer league in the U.S., officially folds after three seasons|last=MANDELL|first=NINA|website=nydailynews.com|date=18 May 2012 |access-date=2020-01-16|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915211244/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/wps-attempt-professional-women-soccer-league-u-s-officially-folds-seasons-article-1.1080697|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, the [[National Women's Soccer League]] (NWSL) was launched with initial support from the soccer federations of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/national-womens-soccer-league-aims-to-succeed-where-previous-us-womens-soccer-leagues-have-failed/2013/04/13/eee705fe-a398-11e2-bd52-614156372695_story.html|title=National Women's Soccer League aims to succeed where previous U.S. women's soccer leagues have failed|last=Goff|first=Steven|date=2013-04-13|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2020-01-16|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=14 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414083800/http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/national-womens-soccer-league-aims-to-succeed-where-previous-us-womens-soccer-leagues-have-failed/2013/04/13/eee705fe-a398-11e2-bd52-614156372695_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, [[Liga MX Femenil]] was launched in Mexico and broke several attendance records. The league is composed of women's teams of the men's counterpart teams in [[Liga MX]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.univision.com/univision-news/latin-america/womens-soccer-league-in-mexico-draws-huge-crowds|title=Women's soccer league in Mexico draws huge crowds|last=Univision|website=Univision|date=24 November 2017 |language=es|access-date=2020-01-16|archive-date=22 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622223918/https://www.univision.com/univision-news/latin-america/womens-soccer-league-in-mexico-draws-huge-crowds|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 March 2024, the league in collaboration with the [[National Women's Soccer League|NWSL]], announced a new international competition named [[NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup|Summer Cup]]. This competition will feature six teams from Liga MX Femenil that will compete against teams from the NWSL. The inaugural edition is scheduled to kick-off in July 2024.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Herrera |first=Sandra |date=20 March 2024 |title=NWSL and Liga MX Femenil partner for {{as written|ina|gural [sic]}} Summer Cup, set to take place during Paris Olympics |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/nwsl-and-liga-mx-femenil-partner-for-inagural-summer-cup-set-to-take-place-during-paris-olympics/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |website=CBS Sports |language=en |archive-date=20 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320234117/https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/nwsl-and-liga-mx-femenil-partner-for-inagural-summer-cup-set-to-take-place-during-paris-olympics/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Unlike other countries, where a single club has both men's and women's squads (which obviously compete in different tournaments), such as [[FC Barcelona]] and [[FC Barcelona Femení]], in the United States there are usually exclusively men's and women's teams in the same city, with no relation to each other, competing in the country's major soccer leagues (such as [[MLS]] and the [[NWSL]]). However, there are cases of a men's team and a women's team coincidentally having the same owner, creating a situation that is somewhat similar to what is seen in other countries, but with the two teams having different names and logos. Some examples: [[Utah Royals]] (NWSL) and [[Real Salt Lake]] (MLS); [[Houston Dash]] (NSWL) and [[Houston Dynamo FC]] (MLS); [[Orlando Pride]] (NWSL) and [[Orlando City SC]] (MLS).

=== 21st century ===
[[File:20130929_-_PSG-Lyon_120.jpg|thumb|left|[[Olympique Lyonnais]] vs [[Paris Saint-Germain]]]]
A 2014 FIFA report stated that at the beginning of the 21st century, women's football was growing in both popularity and participation, and more professional leagues were being launched worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 March 2014 |title=The women's game's incessant growth |url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/women/news/newsid=2294215/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313053004/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/women/news/newsid=2294215/ |archive-date=13 March 2014 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=FIFA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dodd: Women's football deserves a blueprint for growth|url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/women/news/newsid=2337280/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817115325/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/women/news/newsid=2337280/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 August 2014|publisher=FIFA|access-date=6 August 2014|date=12 May 2014}}</ref> From the inaugural [[FIFA Women's World Cup]] tournament held in 1991 to the 1,194,221 tickets sold for the [[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup|1999 Women's World Cup]], visibility and support of women's professional football had increased around the globe.<ref>{{cite web |title=FIFA Women's World Cup History |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/womensworldcup/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817115304/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/womensworldcup/ |archive-date=17 August 2014 |access-date=6 August 2014 |publisher=FIFA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=50 facts about the FIFA Women's World Cup |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafactsf/womcompwwc/01/32/71/88/50thingsyounee.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829082549/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/womcompwwc/01/32/71/88/50thingsyounee.pdf |archive-date=29 August 2011 |access-date=26 June 2015 |publisher=FIFA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Women's Football|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/footballdevelopment/women/01/59/58/21/wf_backgroundpaper_200112.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521052412/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/footballdevelopment/women/01/59/58/21/wf%5fbackgroundpaper%5f200112.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 May 2013|publisher=FIFA|access-date=6 August 2014}}</ref>

However, as in some other sports, women's pay and opportunities are lower in comparison with professional male football players.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Owen|title=Men's and women's football: a game of two halves|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/08/mens-football-game-two-halves|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=6 August 2014|date=8 September 2009|archive-date=10 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810174428/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/08/mens-football-game-two-halves|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Football – England women 'refuse to sign' FA contracts in wage dispute|url=https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/world-cup-england-women-refuse-sign-fa-contracts-122931288.html|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=6 August 2014|date=8 January 2013|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626102533/https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/world-cup-england-women-refuse-sign-fa-contracts-122931288.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Both national and international women's football have far less television and media coverage than the men's equivalent,<ref>{{cite news|title=No increase in women's sport coverage since the 2012 Olympics|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/womens-blog/2014/mar/13/womens-sport-newspaper-coverage-birmingham-university|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=6 August 2014|archive-date=10 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810174534/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/womens-blog/2014/mar/13/womens-sport-newspaper-coverage-birmingham-university|url-status=live}}</ref> but also generally have far lower average attendances. This discrepancy is on-going, while research indicates some viewers are not even able to distinguish between professional women's and men's football.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Gomez-Gonzalez|first1=Carlos|last2=Dietl|first2=Helmut|last3=Berri|first3=David|last4=Nesseler|first4=Cornel|date=2023|title=Gender information and perceived quality: An experiment with professional soccer performance|journal=Sport Management Review|volume=27 |pages=45–66|doi=10.1080/14413523.2023.2233341|doi-access=free|hdl=11250/3107249|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

[[Olympique Lyonnais]] main rivalry is with [[Paris Saint-Germain Féminine|Paris Saint-Germain]], with matches between the two teams sometimes referred as the "Classique féminin". Paris is OL's main contender for national titles, as they finished in second place of [[Division 1 Féminine|D1 Féminine]] seven times. Lyon had never lost the D1 title to PSG until 2021 when PSG finished ahead of Lyon, and won five [[Coupe de France Féminine|Coupe de France]] finals against Paris. In 2017 both teams reached the [[2016–17 UEFA Women's Champions League|Champions League]] final, with Lyon beating Paris after a penalty shoot-out and winning its fourth title in the competition.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/match/2020705--lyon-vs-paris/ |title=2016–17 Women's Champions League Final Report |publisher=[[UEFA]] |access-date=26 May 2022 |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018070626/https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/match/2020705--lyon-vs-paris/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Panoràmica Camp Nou de rècord mundial.2.jpg|thumb|The official record attendance for a women's football match was set at Camp Nou on 22 April 2022, with 91,648 people watching Barcelona defeat [[VfL Wolfsburg (women)|Wolfsburg]] 5–1 (pictured).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/barcelona-barcelona_women/story/4648506/barcelona-women-set-all-time-attendance-record-in-uwcl-win-over-wolfsburg|title=Barcelona women set all-time attendance record in UWCL win over Wolfsburg|date=22 April 2022|last1=Marsden|first1=Sam|last2=Llorens|first2=Moises|website=ESPN|access-date=10 July 2024|archive-date=14 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514232605/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/barcelona-barcelona_women/story/4648506/barcelona-women-set-all-time-attendance-record-in-uwcl-win-over-wolfsburg|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

While a number of features continue to improve, this is not the case for female coaches. They continue to be under-represented in a number of European women's leagues.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gomez-Gonzalez|first1=Carlos|last2=Dietl|first2=Helmut|last3=Nesseler|first3=Cornel|title=Does performance justify the underrepresentation of women coaches? Evidence from professional women's soccer|journal=Sport Management Review|date=November 2019|volume=22|issue=5|pages=640–651|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1441352317301857|doi=10.1016/j.smr.2018.09.008|s2cid=150178326|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607180313/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1441352317301857|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> However, the popularity and participation in women's football continues to grow.<ref>{{cite web|title=The incredible growth of women's soccer|url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/women/video/video=2105850/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817115322/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/women/video/video=2105850/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 August 2014|publisher=FIFA|access-date=6 August 2014|date=11 June 2013|format=video}}</ref>

In 2022, [[FC Barcelona Femení|FC Barcelona]] had the two largest reported attendances for women's football since the [[1971 Women's World Cup]] final between [[Mexico women's national football team|Mexico]] and [[Denmark women's national football team|Denmark]] (110,000) at the [[Estadio Azteca|Azteca Stadium]], when they played [[Real Madrid Femenino|Real Madrid]] (91,553) and [[VfL Wolfsburg (women)|Wolfsburg]] (91,648) at Camp Nou for the [[2021–22 UEFA Women's Champions League knockout phase|2021–22 UEFA Women's Champions League]].<ref name="GOAL.com/SPOX.com">{{cite web |last1=Kraft |date=22 April 2022 |title=Frauenfußball: "Weltrekord" des FC Barcelona im Camp Nou ist keiner [FC Barcelona's "world record" at Camp Nou is not one] |url=https://www.spox.com/de/sport/fussball/frauen-fussball/2204/Artikel/fc-barcelona-weltrekord-im-camp-nou-ist-keiner-frauenfussball-champions-league.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422092106/https://www.spox.com/de/sport/fussball/frauen-fussball/2204/Artikel/fc-barcelona-weltrekord-im-camp-nou-ist-keiner-frauenfussball-champions-league.html |archive-date=22 April 2022 |website=SPOX |publisher=Goal}}</ref><ref name="ESPN-UWCLSF">{{cite web |date=22 April 2022 |title=Barcelona presume récord de asistencia femenil, aunque México tiene uno mayor [Barcelona claims female attendance record, although Mexico has a higher one] |url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/mexico/nota/_/id/10257566/mexico-femenil-1971-record-asistencia-estadio-barcelona |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423005459/https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/mexico/nota/_/id/10257566/mexico-femenil-1971-record-asistencia-estadio-barcelona |archive-date=23 April 2022 |website=ESPN}}</ref><ref name="WahlSub">{{cite web |date=20 April 2022 |title=Redefining the Sport, Redefining the Culture |url=https://grantwahl.substack.com/p/redefining-the-sport-redefining-the?s=r |website=Fútbol with Grant Wahl |access-date=23 April 2022 |archive-date=28 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728190122/https://grantwahl.substack.com/p/redefining-the-sport-redefining-the?s=r |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gulino">{{cite news |last1=Gulino |first1=Joey |date=30 March 2022 |title=Record 91,553 fans watch Barcelona women oust Real Madrid from Champions League |work=Yahoo Sports |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/record-91553-fans-watch-barcelona-women-oust-real-madrid-from-champions-league-video-185612760.html |access-date=31 March 2022 |archive-date=28 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728201600/https://uk.news.yahoo.com/record-91553-fans-watch-barcelona-women-oust-real-madrid-from-champions-league-video-185612760.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2024, the [[2023–24 A-League Women]] season set the record for the most attended season of any women's sport in Australian history, with the season recording a total attendance of 284,551 on 15 April 2024,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tu |first1=Jessie |title=Women's A-League games most attended season of women's sport in Australian history |url=https://womensagenda.com.au/life/sport/womens-a-league-games-most-attended-season-of-womens-sport-in-australian-history/ |website=Women's Agenda |date=15 April 2024 |access-date=15 April 2024 |archive-date=9 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609021419/https://womensagenda.com.au/life/sport/womens-a-league-games-most-attended-season-of-womens-sport-in-australian-history/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=History made! 🥳⚽️🇦🇺 The most successful season in Liberty A-League history has set a new benchmark for women's sport in Australia. |url=https://www.facebook.com/aleagues/posts/pfbid026jZEvemRaM4aYYbCn3c9ToRRrATbwMMGiGjW8Wojjh5Q5eyj1ZJbSkhfCBPJnFYnl |website=Facebook |publisher=A-Leagues |access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Women's A-League down to four contenders after first stage of finals series |url=https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2024/04/14/womens-a-league-down-to-four-contenders-after-first-stage-of-finals-series/ |website=Friends of Football |date=14 April 2024 |access-date=15 April 2024 |archive-date=24 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524124934/https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2024/04/14/womens-a-league-down-to-four-contenders-after-first-stage-of-finals-series/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=INVEST IN WOMEN'S SPORT. The Tillies effect 😤 In a record-breaking week one of the Finals Series, the A-League became the most attended season, of any women's sport, in Australia ever. Surpassing the AFLW 2023 cumulative attendance total for the regular season + finals series. |url=https://www.instagram.com/thefemaleathleteproject/p/C5wsDaORaqg/ |website=Instagram |publisher=The Female Athlete Project |access-date=15 April 2024 |archive-date=3 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203150331/https://www.instagram.com/thefemaleathleteproject/p/C5wsDaORaqg/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and finishing with a final total attendance of 312,199.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thank you for making season 2023/24 of the Liberty A-League the biggest in the 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 🇦🇺❤️ A 127% increase on last year. Just incredible. |url=https://www.facebook.com/aleagues/posts/pfbid02As4uLdNQMiSkuWeaeC6kTBv926TMqJdQ5MSKihGd7TubKEstb4tFPMKj5UJDbiSfl |website=Facebook |publisher=A-Leagues |access-date=9 May 2024}}</ref>

== International competitions ==
{{See also|Women's football around the world|International competitions in women's football}}

=== Global ===

==== Women's World Cup ====
[[File:Mia1997.JPG|thumb|[[Mia Hamm]] (left) battles with [[Germany women's national football team|German]] defender [[Kerstin Stegemann]]]]
The first known World Cup tournaments for women's teams are the [[1970 Women's World Cup]] in Italy and the [[1971 Women's World Cup]] in Mexico, both of which hold attendance records and were organised by the international women's association [[FIEFF]].<ref name="Wilson71" /><ref name="JJHeritage70" /><ref name="ESPN-UWCLSF" /> Some other major tournaments were the [[Women's World Invitational Tournament]] in Taiwan (1978–1987) and the [[Mundialito (women)|Women's Mundialito]] in Japan and Italy (1981–1988). FIFA effectively ignored women's football prior to the 1988 [[FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament]] in China.<ref name="FR24-Gorman" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesw/wom-fifa88.html |title=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation&nbsp;— Women's FIFA Invitational Tournament 1988 |date=6 July 2007 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=2009-09-12 |archive-date=3 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203201337/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesw/wom-fifa88.html |url-status=live}}</ref> FIFA's first officially-recognised women's international match is France–Netherlands (1971), albeit a retroactive recognition decided in [[FIFA Women's World Rankings|2003]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/first-ladies-pave-the-way-1414187|title=Women's Football – First ladies pave the way|website=FIFA.com|access-date=24 March 2019|archive-date=24 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324212034/https://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/first-ladies-pave-the-way-1414187|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first [[FIFA Women's World Cup]] was held in China in November 1991 and won by the [[United States women's national soccer team|United States]]. The runners-up, [[Norway women's national football team|Norway]], became the [[1995 FIFA Women's World Cup|1995]] champions, beating Germany in that final, in Sweden. The United States won the [[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final|1999 final]] on [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalties]] against [[China women's national football team|China]] (with a competition-record crowd of over 90,000 in [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Pasadena]]). [[Germany women's national football team|Germany]] won consecutive world titles in 2003 and 2007, winning finals against Sweden and Brazil respectively. [[Japan women's national football team|Japan]] became champions in [[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup|2011]], the country's first senior football world championship.<ref name="Edwards11"/> The United States won the tournament again in [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup|2015]] and [[2019 FIFA Women's World Cup|2019]]. [[Spain women's national football team|Spain]] won the tournament for the first time in [[2023 FIFA Women's World Cup|2023]].

The [[FIFA Women's Club World Cup]] is a planned international club competition, with the [[2028 FIFA Women's Club World Cup|inaugural edition]] scheduled for early 2028. The tournament will be held every four years. In the years without a Women's Club World Cup, a smaller annual competition—the [[FIFA Women's Champions Cup]]—will take place, beginning in early [[2026 FIFA Women's Champions Cup|2026]].

==== Olympics ====
[[File:Wambach 2003.jpg|thumb|right|United States' [[Abby Wambach]] plays off a corner kick against [[Canada women's national soccer team|Canada]].|alt=A soccer game between the United States and Canada, seen from behind one of the goals.]]
Since [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament]], a Women's Football Tournament has been staged at the [[Olympic Games]]. Unlike in the men's Olympic Football tournament (based on teams of mostly under-23 players), the Olympic women's teams do not have restrictions on professionalism or age.

The participation of Great Britain at the [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympic tournament]] was a bone of contention because England and other British Home Nations are not eligible to compete as separate entities. Eventually, both the women's and men's Great Britain teams fielded some players from the other home nations, but without their associations' active support.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=650708&sec=england&cc=5901 |title=England to go solo with 2012 Olympic team? |publisher=ESPNsoccernet |date=29 May 2009 |access-date=2009-05-29 |archive-date=1 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601094723/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=650708&sec=england&cc=5901 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Although there are women's teams of [[blind football]] (5-a-side) and [[CP football|cerebral palsy football]] (7-a-side),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lloyd-Hughes |first=Florence |date=2022-06-08 |title=The England Women's blind team: From amateurs to athletes in a heartbeat |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3351179/2022/06/08/england-blind-football-paralympics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618051159/https://theathletic.com/3351179/2022/06/08/england-blind-football-paralympics/ |archive-date=2022-06-18 |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref> women's football has never been a [[Paralympic Games|Paralympic]] event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kujawa |first=Taylor |date=2021-08-24 |title=Tokyo Paralympics: Women's blind football missing at the 2020 Games |url=https://herfootballhub.com/tokyo-paralympics-womens-blind-football-missing-at-the-2020-games/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203202016/https://herfootballhub.com/tokyo-paralympics-womens-blind-football-missing-at-the-2020-games/ |archive-date=2022-12-03 |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=Her Football Hub |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== North America ===
The [[CONCACAF W Championship]] is a women's football competition organized by [[CONCACAF]] that often serves as the qualifying competition to the Women's World Cup and the Olympics.

The [[CONCACAF W Gold Cup]] had its inaugural edition in [[2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup|2024]]. It featured 12 national teams (8 from the CONCACAF region, and 4 invited from the CONMEBOL region) and was won by the [[United States women's national soccer team|United States]].

The [[CONCACAF W Champions Cup]] is an annual club competition that determines the club champion for the region encompassing North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

=== Europe ===
[[File:Euro 2009 - Germany-Norway - Goal Scrum 239.jpg|thumb|Players fighting for the ball during the match between [[Germany women's national football team|Germany]] and [[Norway women's national football team|Norway]] in UEFA Women's Euro 2009 in Tampere, Finland]]
European women's tournaments featuring national teams were held [[1969 European Competition for Women's Football|in Italy in 1969]] and [[1979 European Competition for Women's Football|in 1979 as the European Competition for Women's Football]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eur-women69.html |title=Coppa Europa per Nazioni (Women) 1969 |date=19 March 2001 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=2009-09-12 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207181547/https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eur-women69.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eur-women79.html |title=Inofficial European Women Championship 1979 |date=15 October 2000 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=2009-09-12 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206013922/https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eur-women79.html |url-status=live}}</ref> They were not recognised as "official" by UEFA, which opposed women's football until the 1970s.<ref name="Leicester07" /> The [[UEFA Women's Championship]] began in 1984 under the name "European Competition For Representative Women's Teams". Now, it is also commonly referred to as the UEFA Women's Euro.

The [[1984 European Competition for Women's Football|1984]] tournament was won by [[Sweden women's national football team|Sweden]]. [[Norway women's national football team|Norway]] won the [[1987 European Competition for Women's Football|1987]] edition. Between 1987 and 2013, the UEFA Women's Euro was dominated by [[Germany women's national football team|Germany]], which won eight titles, including six in a row from 1995 to 2013. As of 2022, the other teams that have also won the tournament are Norway in [[UEFA Women's Euro 1993|1993]], the [[Netherlands women's national football team|Netherlands]] at home in [[UEFA Women's Euro 2017|2017]], and [[England women's national football team|England]] at home in [[UEFA Women's Euro 2022|2022]] when the tournament was delayed a year by the Covid-19 pandemic.  In 2025, England successfully defended their title against Spain, winning a penalty shootout after extra time 3-1.

In addition to the quadrennial UEFA Women's Championship, the [[UEFA Women's Nations League]] is held every two years for European women's national teams.

The [[UEFA Women's Champions League]] is an international competition that involves the top women's club teams from countries affiliated with the European governing body [[UEFA]].

=== South America ===
[[File:Marta (10), meio-campista, craque, genial, DSC00982.jpg|thumb|right|[[Marta (footballer)|Marta]] of [[Brazil women's national football team|Brazil]] is the all-time leading scorer of the senior FIFA World Cups.]]
The [[Copa América Femenina]] is the main competition in women's football between national teams that are affiliated with [[CONMEBOL]].

The [[Copa Libertadores Femenina]], formally the ''CONMEBOL Libertadores Femenina'', is the international club competition for women's teams that play in the CONMEBOL region. The competition started in 2009<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-09-06 |title=Definidos os grupos da primeira Taça Libertadores da América Feminina |url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Futebol/0,,MUL1294563-9825,00-DEFINIDOS+OS+GRUPOS+DA+PRIMEIRA+TACA+LIBERTADORES+DA+AMERICA+FEMININA.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106125314/http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Futebol/0,,MUL1294563-9825,00-DEFINIDOS+OS+GRUPOS+DA+PRIMEIRA+TACA+LIBERTADORES+DA+AMERICA+FEMININA.html |archive-date=2020-11-06 |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=Globo Esporte |language=pt}}</ref> in response to the increased interest in women's football.

=== Africa ===
The [[Women's Africa Cup of Nations]] is an international women's football competition held every two years and sanctioned by the [[Confederation of African Football]] (CAF). It was first contested in 1991, but was not held biennially until 1998. Nigeria is the most successful nation in the tournament's history with 11 titles.

The [[CAF Women's Champions League]] is an international competition that involves the top women's club teams from countries affiliated with the Confederation of African Football.

=== Asia ===
[[File:Australia vs Japan 2015-06-27 FIFA Women&#039;s World Cup Canada 2015 - Edmonton (18604031433) (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Sam Kerr]] with [[Australia]] during the [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup]] quarterfinal against [[Japan women's national football team|Japan]] in Edmonton, 2015]]
The [[AFC Women's Asian Cup]] is a quadrennial competition in women's football for national teams which belong to the [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC). It is the oldest women's international football competition and premier women's football competition in the AFC region for national teams.

The [[SAFF Women's Championship]], also called the ''South Asian Football Federation Women's Cup'', is a competition for women's national football teams governed by the [[South Asian Football Federation]] (SAFF). India won the first 5 editions, beating Nepal four times and Bangladesh once in the final.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.goalnepal.com/index.php|title=GoalNepal.com - A Complete Nepali Football website|website=Goalnepal.com|access-date=3 April 2019|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806013707/https://www.goalnepal.com/index.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/01/06/sports/ranjith-rodrigo-appointed-acting-president-saff|title=Ranjith Rodrigo appointed acting President of SAFF|website=Dailynews.lk|access-date=3 April 2019|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403184315/http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/01/06/sports/ranjith-rodrigo-appointed-acting-president-saff|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Bangladesh women's national football team|Bangladesh]] is the current champion having defeated [[Nepal women's national football team|Nepal]] by 3–1 goals on 19 September 2022 in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/bangladesh-women-make-history-clinch-maiden-saff-title-3123176|title=Bangladesh women make history, clinch maiden SAFF title|website=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]|date=19 September 2022|access-date=19 September 2022|archive-date=19 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919131639/https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/bangladesh-women-make-history-clinch-maiden-saff-title-3123176|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[AFC Women's Champions League]] is the top-tier women's football club competition in Asia. It involves the top clubs from countries affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation.

=== Oceania ===
The [[OFC Women's Nations Cup]] is a women's football tournament for national teams that belong to the [[Oceania Football Confederation]] (OFC). The competition has served as a qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup since 1991.

The [[OFC Women's Champions League]] is the top-tier women's football club competition in Oceania. It involves the top clubs from countries affiliated with the Oceania Football Confederation.

== Domestic competitions ==
{{Main|Geography of women's association football}}

=== England ===

==== Women's FA Cup ====
[[File:2007_Women's_FA_Cup_Champions.jpg|thumb|[[Arsenal W.F.C.|Arsenal]] after winning the Women's FA Cup in 2007]]
{{Main|Women's FA Cup}}

After the lifting of the FA ban, the [[Women's Football Association]] held its first national [[knockout tournament]], the [[1970–71 WFA Cup]]. [[Southampton Women's F.C.]] was the inaugural winner and became the Cup-winner eight times. From 1983 to 1994, [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]] reached ten out of eleven finals, winning six of them. As of 2023, [[Chelsea L.F.C.|Chelsea]] are the title holders and [[Arsenal W.F.C.|Arsenal]] are the club with a record 14 wins.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/competitions/fa-womens-cup/2014/jun/final-arsenal-everton-mk-dons-match-report |first=Glenn |last=Laverty |title=Kelly Smith stars as Arsenal retain The FA Women's Cup |date=1 June 2014 |access-date=26 August 2015 |archive-date=9 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709132530/http://www.thefa.com/news/competitions/fa-womens-cup/2014/jun/final-arsenal-everton-mk-dons-match-report |url-status=live}}</ref> Despite tournament sponsorship by some companies, entering the cup actually costs clubs more than they get in prize money. In 2015, it was reported that even if [[Notts County Ladies F.C.|Notts County]] were to win the tournament, the £8,600 winnings would leave them out of pocket.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33726417|title=Women's FA Cup: Wembley win may not benefit clubs financially|work=BBC Sport|date=31 July 2015|access-date=24 March 2019|archive-date=25 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325191517/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33726417|url-status=live}}</ref> The winners of the [[FA Cup|Men's FA Cup]] in the same year received £1.8 million, with teams that did not even reach the first round proper getting more than the women's winners.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/thefacup/more/prize-fund |title=Prize money list on the FA website |access-date=1 August 2015 |archive-date=6 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206122733/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/More/prize-fund |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{clear}}

== Youth tournaments ==
[[File:Women football youth olympic games.JPG|thumb|Iran vs Turkey in [[2010 Summer Youth Olympics|2010 Youth Olympics]]]]
In 2002, FIFA inaugurated a women's youth championship, officially called the [[FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup|FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship]]. The first event was hosted by Canada. The final was an all-[[CONCACAF]] affair, with the [[United States under-20 women's national soccer team|United States]] defeating the host Canada 1–0 with an extra-time [[golden goal]]. The second event was held in [[Thailand]] in 2004 and won by [[Germany women's national under-20 football team|Germany]]. The age limit was raised to 20, starting with the [[2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship|2006 event]] held in Russia. Demonstrating the increasing global reach of the women's game, the winners of this event were [[North Korea women's national under-20 football team|North Korea]]. The tournament was renamed the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup since the [[2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup|2008 edition]], which was won by the US in [[Chile]]. [[Japan women's national under-20 football team|Japan]] won the tournament in France in [[2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup|2018]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcup/matches/match/300424869/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821031641/https://www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcup/matches/match/300424869/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 August 2018 |title=Match Report: Spain–Japan, FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup France 2018 |publisher=FIFA |date=24 August 2018 |access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref>

In 2008, FIFA instituted an [[FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup|under-17 world championship]]. [[2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup|The inaugural event]], held in New Zealand, was won by [[North Korea women's national under-17 football team|North Korea]]. [[Spain women's national under-17 football team|Spain]] won this tournament in [[Uruguay]] in [[2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup|2018]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.fifa.com/u17womensworldcup/news/pina-inspired-spain-win-maiden-u-17-women-s-world-cup-title |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203204906/https://www.fifa.com/u17womensworldcup/news/pina-inspired-spain-win-maiden-u-17-women-s-world-cup-title |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 December 2018 |title=Pina-inspired Spain win maiden U-17 Women's World Cup title |publisher=FIFA |date=1 December 2018 |access-date=16 December 2018}}</ref>

== Intercollegiate ==

=== United States ===
[[File:Florida_state_v_north_carolina_soccer_2005.jpg|thumb|right|[[Florida State Seminoles women's soccer|Florida State]] vs [[North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer|North Carolina]], 2005]]

In the United States, the intercollegiate sport began from physical education programs. In the 1970s, women's club teams started to appear on college campuses, but it wasn't until the 1980s that they started to gain recognition and gained a [[Varsity team|varsity]] status. Brown University was the first college to grant full varsity level status to their women's soccer team. The [[Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women]] (AIAW) sponsored the first regional women's soccer tournament at college in the US, which was held at [[Brown University]]. The first national level tournament was held at Colorado College, which gained official AIAW sponsorship in 1981. The 1990s saw greater participation mainly due to the [[Title IX]] of 23 June 1972, which increased school's budgets and their addition of women's scholarships. Currently, there are over 700 intercollegiate women's soccer teams in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]], NAIA and NJCAA.

Title IX massively increased the number of female students playing organized sports in American academic institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Title IX changed the landscape of sports |url=https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/how-title-ix-changed-landscape-sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105235553/https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/how-title-ix-changed-landscape-sports |archive-date=2024-01-05 |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=Sportanddev.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Olmstead |first=Maegan |date=2016-09-02 |title=Title IX and the Rise of Female Athletes in America |url=https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/education/title-ix-and-the-rise-of-female-athletes-in-america/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105235606/https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/education/title-ix-and-the-rise-of-female-athletes-in-america/ |archive-date=2024-01-05 |access-date=2024-01-05 |publisher=[[Women's Sports Foundation]] |language=en-US}}</ref> However, the college sports system and Title IX have also been criticized for promoting [[Race and sports#Views in the United States|systemic racism]] and wealth inequality in women's soccer in the US.<ref name="USAT19">{{cite news |title=College admissions scandal a 'slap in the face' to minority athletes |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2019/03/18/college-admissions-scandal-how-wealthy-leveraged-racial-bias-sports/3167906002/ |work=USA Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319014334/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2019/03/18/college-admissions-scandal-how-wealthy-leveraged-racial-bias-sports/3167906002/ |archive-date=19 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="DBK2020">{{cite web |title=Maryland women's soccer is unapologetically Black |url=https://dbknews.com/2020/09/10/umd-womens-soccer-black-representation-diversity/ |website=The Diamondback |date=10 September 2020 |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=24 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724072742/https://dbknews.com/2020/09/10/umd-womens-soccer-black-representation-diversity/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Time-3-19">{{cite magazine |title=College Admissions Scandal Shows Racism In NCAA Sports |url=https://time.com/5550994/college-admissions-scandal-sports/ |magazine=Time |date=14 March 2019 |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=24 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724075441/https://time.com/5550994/college-admissions-scandal-sports/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Female college soccer players are [[Race and ethnicity in the United States|70% white]],<ref name="USAT19"/> with the sport also being "disproportionately white and upper-middle-class".<ref name="Yahoo-9-20"/> Participating in American youth soccer is substantially more expensive than in basketball or tackle football,<ref name="DBK2020"/> and academy soccer clubs are mainly located in suburbs and districts where black players are under-represented.<ref name="Yahoo-9-20">{{cite news |title=Why soccer is such a white sport in the United States |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/the-privilege-of-play-why-the-worlds-game-is-a-white-game-in-the-us-150024228.html |work=Yahoo Sports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924001747/https://sports.yahoo.com/the-privilege-of-play-why-the-worlds-game-is-a-white-game-in-the-us-150024228.html |archive-date=24 September 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, in the National Women's Soccer League in 2020, the coaches and executives were 98.9% white.<ref name="Yahoo-9-20"/> Three women's soccer coaches were implicated in the [[2019 college admissions bribery scandal]].<ref name="USAT19"/><ref name="Time-3-19"/> NCAA Division I programs in money-losing sports, such as soccer, are extensively subsidized by the only two high-revenue college sports, basketball and American football, in which black players are greatly over-represented, but the players are paid no salaries and are "systematically denied the revenue they are responsible for generating".<ref name="Guardian-3-21">{{cite news |title='I signed my life to rich white guys': athletes on the racial dynamics of college sports |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/mar/17/college-sports-racial-dynamics |work=The Guardian |date=17 March 2021 |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=24 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724075441/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/mar/17/college-sports-racial-dynamics |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Canada ===
In Canada, the intercollegiate sport is governed by [[U Sports women's soccer]] and was founded in 1987. As of the 2025 season, 52 teams from [[List of universities in Canada|Canadian universities]] are divided into four conferences, drawing from the four regional associations of U Sports: [[Canada West Universities Athletic Association|Canada West]], [[Ontario University Athletics]], [[Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec]], and [[Atlantic University Sport]]. <ref> U SPORTS. (n.d.). Women’s Soccer. Retrieved from https://en.usports.ca/sports/wsoc/index.</ref> The Season concludes with the [[U Sports women's soccer championship]].

Prominent players at this level include [[Sienna Gibson]], [[Megane Sauve]], [[Danielle Steer]], [[Miranda Smith]], and more.

== Controversies ==

=== Misogynistic comments and decision-making around dress codes ===
Footballers around the world, both female and male, wear a [[Kit (association football)|kit]] made up of a jersey, shorts, cleats (boots), and knee-length socks worn over [[shin guard]]s.<ref name="LotG" /> In 2004, FIFA President [[Sepp Blatter]] suggested that women footballers should "wear tighter shorts and low cut shirts... to create a more female aesthetic" and attract more male fans. His comment was criticized as [[Misogyny|misogynistic]] by people involved with women's football and media outlets worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Christenson |first1=Marcus |last2=Kelso |first2=Paul |title=Soccer chief's plan to boost women's game? Hotpants |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/jan/16/football.gender |work=The Guardian |date=16 January 2004 |access-date=28 October 2021 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028144237/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/jan/16/football.gender |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Women footballers blast Blatter|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3402519.stm|publisher=BBC News|access-date=18 November 2013|date=16 January 2004|archive-date=8 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608054019/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3402519.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tidey|first=Will|title=Sepp Blatter's Most Embarrassing Outbursts|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1657592-sepp-blatters-most-embarrassing-outbursts/page/2|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=18 November 2013|date=31 May 2013|archive-date=10 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610024941/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1657592-sepp-blatters-most-embarrassing-outbursts/page/2|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:FC de Rakt.jpg|thumb|FC de Rakt DA1 (2008/2009)]]
In September 2008, the local amateur [[FC de Rakt]] women's team (FC de Rakt DA1) in the Netherlands made international headlines by swapping its old kit for a new one featuring skirts and fitted shirts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/sep/21/2 |title=Football: Said and Done, The Observer (London); Sep 21, 2008; David Hills; p. 15 |newspaper=Guardian |date=21 September 2008 |access-date=2009-09-12 |archive-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430212459/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/sep/21/2 |url-status=live}}</ref> This innovation, which had been requested by the team itself for physical comfort was initially vetoed by the [[Royal Dutch Football Association]] on the grounds that, according to the laws of the game, shorts must be worn by all players, both male and female; but this decision was reversed when it was revealed that the FC de Rakt team were wearing tennis style short pants under their skirts, and were therefore technically in compliance of the "shorts rule". Denying that the kit change was merely a publicity stunt, club chairman Jan van den Elzen told [[Reuters]]:

{{blockquote|''The girls asked us if they could make a team and asked specifically to play in skirts. We said we'd try but we didn't expect to get permission for that. We've seen reactions from Belgium and Germany already saying this could be something for them. Many girls would like to play in skirts but didn't think it was possible.''}}

21-year-old team captain Rinske Temming said:

{{blockquote|''We think they are far more elegant than the traditional shorts and furthermore they are more comfortable because the shorts are made for men. It's more about being elegant, not sexy. Female football is not so popular at the moment. In the Netherlands there's an image that it's more for men, but we hope that can change.''}}

=== Women's football in the Middle East and North Africa ===
[[File:Zahra Khajavi Iranian goalkeeper 2.jpg|thumb|Goalkeeper [[Zahra Khajavi]] of the [[Iran women's national football team]]]]
Until 2020, only Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Palestine, Turkey, Jordan, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Israel had large-scale women's competitions and national teams, which are still hindered due to discrimination against women in football.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://junior-report.media/en/female-football-middle-east-africa/|title=Female football in the Middle East and Northern Africa|date=4 June 2019|publisher=Junior Report|access-date=28 April 2022|archive-date=17 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517101207/https://junior-report.media/en/female-football-middle-east-africa/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/women-s-world-cup-2019-where-is-the-middle-east/|title=Women's World Cup 2019: Where is the Middle East?|first1=Sheva|last1=Tabatabainejad|first2=Rana|last2=Abdulhadi|date=3 July 2019|publisher=Atlantic Council|access-date=28 April 2022|archive-date=28 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428171440/https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/women-s-world-cup-2019-where-is-the-middle-east/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2020, countries that have traditionally been stricter like Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Mauritania, and Sudan have begun to develop women's football in order to raise their international profiles.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1711731/sport|title=Arab nations cannot afford to ignore the rise of women's football|date=29 July 2020|work=Arab News|access-date=28 April 2022|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625134903/https://www.arabnews.com/node/1711731/sport|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Sudan women's national football team]] debuted in [[2021 Arab Women's Cup|2021]],<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Jwsports1 |date=25 August 2021 |title=Arab Women's Cup 2021: Sudan WNT international debut, fixtures, fast facts |work=JWsports1 |url=https://www.jwsports1.com/arab-womens-cup-2021/ |access-date=28 April 2022 |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023014409/https://www.jwsports1.com/arab-womens-cup-2021/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Saudi Arabia women's national football team|Saudi Arabia women's team]] was noticed internationally, due to Saudi Arabia's Islamic conservatism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/21/football/saudi-arabia-women-first-football-match-spt-intl/index.html|title=Saudi Arabia claims victory in its first ever women's international match|first=Ben|last=Church|date=21 February 2022|website=CNN|access-date=2 December 2022|archive-date=2 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202185304/https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/21/football/saudi-arabia-women-first-football-match-spt-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Wearing of hijabs ====
In June 2011, [[Iran women's national football team|Iran]] forfeited an [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's Asian Qualifiers|Olympic qualification]] match in [[Jordan women's national football team|Jordan]], after trying to take to the field in [[hijab]]s and full body suits. [[FIFA]] awarded a default 3–0 win to Jordan, explaining that the Iranian kits were "an infringement of the Laws of the Game".<ref>{{cite news |title=FIFA say Iran's women were warned about dress |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-olympics-iran-idUSTRE75526J20110606 |work=Reuters |date=6 June 2011 |access-date=28 October 2021 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028144610/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-olympics-iran-idUSTRE75526J20110606 |url-status=live}}</ref> The decision provoked criticism from [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]],<ref>{{cite news |date=7 June 2011 |title=Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blasts Fifa 'dictators' as Iranian ban anger rises |newspaper=Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jun/07/iran-anger-ahmadinejad-fifa-ban |access-date=2011-06-14 |archive-date=15 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315095036/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jun/07/iran-anger-ahmadinejad-fifa-ban |url-status=live}}</ref> while Iranian officials alleged that the actions of the [[Bahrain]]i match delegate had been politically motivated.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newsweek.com/soccers-headscarf-scandal-iran-68505|title=Soccer's Headscarf Scandal in Iran|magazine=[[Newsweek]]|date=17 Jul 2011|access-date=6 Jan 2016|last=Dehghanpisheh|first=Babak|archive-date=5 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105101642/http://www.newsweek.com/soccers-headscarf-scandal-iran-68505|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2012, FIFA approved the wearing of hijab in future matches.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-technology-idUSBRE86412220120705 | work=Reuters | first=Brian | last=Homewood | title=Goal line technology and Islamic headscarf approved | date=5 July 2012 | access-date=5 July 2021 | archive-date=9 July 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709192040/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-technology-idUSBRE86412220120705 | url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Labour disputes ===
{{main|Labour relations in women's association football}}
[[File:Megan Rapinoe (51131108070).jpg|thumb|[[Megan Rapinoe]] speaks on equal pay in March 2021.]]
Professional women's association football players have disputed several issues specific to the sport, such as [[gender pay gap in sports|disparities in compensation]] compared to men's teams;<ref name="si-canada">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2023/02/11/canadian-womens-national-team-calls-out-canada-soccer-as-they-go-on-strike |title=Canadian Women's National Team Calls Out Canada Soccer As It Goes on Strike |date=10 February 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |first=Mike |last=McDaniel |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505204402/https://www.si.com/soccer/2023/02/11/canadian-womens-national-team-calls-out-canada-soccer-as-they-go-on-strike |url-status=live}}</ref> insufficient pay to compete with other women's teams;<ref name="m1-arg">{{cite news |url=https://www.minutouno.com/deportes/seleccion/la-femenina-futbol-se-planto-y-le-reclamo-la-afa-la-vista-todos-n3069452 |title=La Selección femenina de fútbol se plantó y le reclamó a la AFA a la vista de todos |trans-title=The women's soccer team stood up and claimed the AFA in full view of all |date=17 April 2018 |access-date=5 May 2023 |work=Minuto Uno |language=es |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314134228/https://www.minutouno.com/deportes/seleccion/la-femenina-futbol-se-planto-y-le-reclamo-la-afa-la-vista-todos-n3069452 |url-status=live}}</ref> unfair or exclusionary financial terms of federation business agreements involving the team;<ref name="si-canada"/> a lack of minimum standards in facilities and treatment, especially compared to men's teams in the same federation, league, or club;<ref name="abc-wleague-medical">{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-06/w-league-injuries-spark-calls-for-improved-medical-conditions/7302534 |title=W-League wants improved conditions for female footballers after spate of injuries |date=5 April 2016 |access-date=5 May 2023 |work=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC News]] |agency=[[Australian Associated Press]]}}</ref> reports of systemic gender-related abuse of players, including sexual abuse being ignored by league or federation officials;<ref name="ts-birarda-sentenced">{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/mls/2022/11/02/former-whitecaps-soccer-coach-bob-birarda-to-be-sentenced-on-sex-charges.html |title=Former B.C. soccer coach Bob Birarda to spend 16 months in jail for sex offences |date=2 November 2022 |access-date=5 May 2023 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |first=Brenna |last=Owen |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505204405/https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/mls/2022/11/02/former-whitecaps-soccer-coach-bob-birarda-to-be-sentenced-on-sex-charges.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="espn-nwsl">{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-nwsl/story/4831972/nwsl-investigation-finds-ongoing-misconduct-at-more-than-half-of-clubs |title=NWSL investigation finds 'ongoing misconduct' at more than half of clubs |first=Jeff |last=Carlisle |website=ESPN.com |date=December 14, 2022 |access-date=January 16, 2023}}</ref> and a lack of benefits specific to women, such as maternity leave and child care.

Disputes have been waged between national team players and federations,<ref name="eqz-arg">{{Cite web|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2019/05/20/argentina-womens-world-cup-institutional-sexism-reform-player-rights/|title=World Cup return adds momentum to Argentina's women's movement|work=The Equalizer|first=Brenda|last=Elsey|date=20 May 2019 |access-date=9 May 2023|archive-date=15 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515114055/https://equalizersoccer.com/2019/05/20/argentina-womens-world-cup-institutional-sexism-reform-player-rights/|url-status=live}}</ref> between club players and their teams and leagues,<ref name="eqz-arg"/><ref name="abc-wleague-medical"/><ref name="espn-nwsl"/> between referees of women's football and their governing organizations,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2856701/2021/09/29/what-its-like-to-be-an-nwsl-referee-low-pay-little-support-and-constant-criticism/ |title=What it's like to be an NWSL referee: Low pay, little support and constant criticism |date=29 September 2021 |access-date=5 May 2023 |work=[[The Athletic]] |first=Steph |last=Yang |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430230557/https://theathletic.com/2856701/2021/09/29/what-its-like-to-be-an-nwsl-referee-low-pay-little-support-and-constant-criticism/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and between players and federations or laws that prevented women from playing or professionalizing the sport.<ref name="tg-arg">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/apr/12/first-professional-womens-football-contracts-signed-in-argentina|title=First professional women's football contracts signed in Argentina|last=Navas|first=Francisco|date=12 April 2019|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=13 April 2019|archive-date=7 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907015038/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/apr/12/first-professional-womens-football-contracts-signed-in-argentina|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Sexual harassment and abuse ===
In the early 2020s, sexual harassment and abuse became hot-button issues in women's football. In 2021 and 2022, the NWSL was forced to deal with [[2021 NWSL abuse scandal|widespread reports of abuse]], with some incidents dating back to the league's formation in 2013. An investigation led to four team managers receiving lifetime bans from NWSL employment, and lesser discipline for several other managers, coaches, and executives. This issue again came to the forefront with the [[Rubiales affair]], stemming from the behavior of [[Royal Spanish Football Federation|Spanish federation]] president [[Luis Rubiales]] at the [[2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final]].

== See also ==
{{Portal|Women's association football|Association football|Sports}}
* [[Geography of women's association football]]
* [[International competitions in women's football]]
* [[List of women's association football clubs]]
* [[Lists of women's association football players]]
* [[Women's sports]]
* [[Title IX]]
* ''[[Gracie (film)|Gracie]]''
* ''[[Bend It Like Beckham]]''
* ''[[She's the Man]]''
* ''[[Alex & Me]]''
* ''[[Mustangs FC]]''
* ''[[FIFA 16]]''

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{Update section|date=July 2022}}

* {{cite book |title=Belles of the ball: The Early History of Women's Association Football|year=1991|publisher=R&D Associates|pages=100|author=David J. Williamson|isbn=0-9517512-0-4 | oclc=24751810}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}

* [https://www.fifa.com/womens-football FIFA: Women's Football]
* [http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/womens_football.html Women's Football History]
* [http://www.womenssoccerunited.com/ Women's Soccer United: Home of Worldwide Women's Football]
* [https://www.femaleSOCCER.net femaleSOCCER.net: Women's football community portal]

{{Women's football}}
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{{International women's football}}
{{International women's club football}}
{{Major women's sport leagues in North America}}
{{Women's sports}}
{{Association football}}
{{International football}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Women's Association Football}}
[[Category:Women's association football| ]]
[[Category:Association football segments]]