The total viewership of the 2019 Women’s World Cup was deemed historic, setting a record with over one billion viewers worldwide. The tournament marked a surge in women’s soccer and a spectacular cultural phenomenon surrounding this sport.
It demonstrated that soccer is indeed a “sport of the masses” and that there is great interest from fans, regardless of whether it is men’s or women’s soccer. This sport goes beyond a team of eleven players passing the ball to score a goal. It is more than accumulating points on a table and being champions of a match, league, or tournament.
The beauty of this sport lies in the values and passion that transcend the boundaries of the field, capable of inspiring a family, a neighborhood, or an entire country. Being part of a team means that each player contributes not only their sports skills and qualities but also abilities such as emotional intelligence, teamwork, resilience, and empathy, among others. These socio-emotional skills are crucial for personal development, both individually and in relating to others, enabling people to better adapt to and face different situations.
Today, we celebrate International Women’s Soccer Day, and it seems an important occasion to highlight the importance of creating spaces for more girls and adolescents to develop in this sport, challenge stereotypes, have role models like those we saw in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, and above all, promote equal opportunities.
Rosario Donoso Director of Sports Fundación Luksic
