Caught Up: The World is here. USWNT has challeges ahead
Let me start by saying, my 11 year old and I stayed up last night to watch the USWNT take on the Dominican Republic and we will be up late on Friday to watch them play again. Mark my words though, we will roll Argentina, and then lose the game to Mexico sending USWNT fans into full panic mode…
My favorite footballer of all time, is a female. She wasn’t supposed to play in this event. Alex Morgan was originally left off the Gold Cup Roster. I was angry at first because I think she still has a lot of great soccer left in her, but I also understand the importance of getting younger players more opportunities to play at THE HIGHEST LEVEL before the OLYMPICS and the NEXT WORLD CUP.
Alex Morgan posted this on instagram… The number seems off to me.
Over the years, the United States Women National Soccer Team (USWNT) has been a force to reckon with regarding women's international soccer through the setting of standards of the game and succeeding through historical achievements. Recent years have begun to show, though, that such a time has finally come as the rest of the world begins to bridge the gap, and now only sovereignty can keep the USWNT on top. This essay provides how increased investment, policy changes, and the development of leagues and grassroots programs around the world have contributed to this leveling of the playing field and has led to a much more competitive and dynamic international women's soccer scene.
USWNT Prior History Dominance
The USWNT has been the dominant power in women's soccer since the inception of this great sport winning four FIFA Women's World Cups, four Olympic gold medals, and several other accolades. This dominance not only made the USWNT the team to beat, but it also set a standard of success in women's football for teams around the world. Their accomplishments have gone a long way in helping the game grow in popularity and in encouraging multitudes of young athletes throughout the world to compete in soccer.
Global Women Soccer Developments
Parallel to what its efforts, the success of USWNT has seen proliferation of the sport in other parts of the globe. Women's soccer just like in England, France, Germany, and Netherlands have registered an enormous growth of investment that had never existed before. The countries have developed professional women's leagues, which attract high numbers of foreign players as well as provide a competitive environment to the domestic players. In addition, countries such as Brazil, Japan, and Australia have also proved with power in the international scene to cement their competitive status as well.
Forces Propelling the Global Catch-Up
The following are the main forces that have propelled the global catch-up with regard to women football on all continents:
Grassroot Development: Many countries have put huge investments in grassroot programs and youth academies, to develop talent from when they are very young.
Policy Changes: Worldwide football associations have come up with policies that enhance women soccer, like paying them equal pay as their male counterparts, and women's leagues having much more capital injection. International Games: The extended and tough competitions at an international level may award teams the coveted experience and exposure.
Key Figures: Rising star players and imaginative coaches in many countries have been turning on their magic to upgrade the respective team's performance and status.
Impact in the Competitive Landscape
With the rest of the globe catching up, the women's soccer competitive landscape was impacted greatly. The international tournaments have proved much less predictable and with this being an overall superior level and less outcomes considered as guaranteed. This competitiveness of the game at this level has not only brought interest towards the playing of soccer by women but also more spectators and sponsors that have seen it grow and turn out to be fully professional.
Challenges and Opportunities
However, it is not all a bed of roses for women in football since there are unequal opportunities in terms of funding, facilities, and media coverage across nations. However, these challenges also pose opportunity for further growth and development in women's soccer all across the globe. A successful model amongst the nations with its willingness to advocate for equality and putting efforts into investment in sport weighs the continued success of the USWNT stands out to inspire other nations as well.
Wrap Up
The pathway of the other teams to catch up with USWNT is an example of how women's soccer has over time been changing the landscape through augmentation of competitiveness, investment, and global taste. This progression not only questions the USWNT to continue its further evolution but also emphasizes the possible development of the sport and possible future investment and support which remains a necessity. As women's soccer world further develops and flourishes, it is still no doubt that the USWNT legacy remains intact and how it behaves as a significant entity for the developments in the future of the high-level worldwide women's soccer.
