A roundup of what happened in women’s soccer this past week and what’s happening next week. Results, attendance where available and notes from leagues, teams and competitions.
It’s the roundup you never knew you needed.
Mind Your Own Bidness
[dropcap size=small]K[/dropcap]ara Lang, former UCLA standout and Canadian international, was named the first Official Ambassador for the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada.“To a Greater Goal,” the official slogan of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, was released on Thursday.
On Friday, FIFA released the list of countries interested in hosting the 2019 Women’s World Cup: England, France, Korea Republic, New Zealand and South Africa. The counties interested in hosting the 2018 U-20 Women’s World Cup also include England, France, Korea Republic and New Zealand. The 2016 U-20 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by South Africa.
In addition, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Finland, Northern Ireland and Sweden have declared interest in hosting the 2018 U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The deadline for applications for these competitions is October 31, 2014. The final decision will be made at the first FIFA Executive Committee meeting in 2015.
It’s definitely good news to have competition for hosts and indicates how far the tournament has come. Interest for hosting the 2015 tournament was limited to Canada and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe would ultimately withdraw its bid, paving the way for FIFA to award hosting duties to Canada as only other remaining bidder.
The official announcement came in March 2011. In March 2013, FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association announced the tournament’s final game would be played in Vancouver’s B.C. Place Stadium, a stadium that features turf.
Since then, several players and fans have voiced their displeasure over the surface and have raised issues about fairness and equality.
But where were these same concerns from players, fans and media earlier? The Canadian Soccer Association’s bid application in 2011 disclosed the intent to play on turf fields.
Indeed, focus was elsewhere when FIFA officially awarded the tournament to Canada in March 2011, as the World Cup in Germany and then the Olympics in 2012 loomed for several of the world’s top players.
Does this mean the time to voice these concerns is over? Certainly not.
But it does serve as a reminder that the fight for a level playing field takes a constant awareness from not only supporters and federations but also the players themselves. Effecting change is hard and requires more than signing petitions and retweets. And while the groundswell of attention and passion that social media generates has its place, to really propel issues to the forefront is going to require more players to actively engage in their profession in regard to the sport’s off-the-field matters.
Finger pointing? No.
The onus rests not only on the shoulders of players but also on those who cover the sport to raise these issues. Much has been written since 2013 about the turf issue. More will be written. That’s a good thing.
So when FIFA announces the 2019 host, questions will be asked and concerns raised from the start. That’s a good thing.
Taking this moment’s raised awareness and turning it into a constant collective awareness? Perhaps the best thing.
[divider]Quick Ones[/divider]Quick Ones
France
Helena Costa was named head coach of Ligue 2’s Clermont Foot, becoming the first female head coach of a professional soccer team in France.
Namibia
The country’s U-15 girls’ team will represent Africa at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics to be held in August in China.
Super Sub
Former USWNT and Portland Pilot standout Shannon MacMillan on female soccer coaches.
League News
NWSL
Boston Breakers
The Breakers added Minuteman Health as a partner.
Chicago Red Stars
The Red Stars partnered with Yoga By Degrees. The team also signed New Zealand vet and current Jena (Bundesliga) defender Abby Erceg to help bolster the back line. Joining Erceg and the team after the AFC Women’s Asia Cup is Australian international Emily van Egmond, who signed with the team earlier in the week. The club formed a reserve squad that will compete in the WPSL for the 2014 season. Two games will be double-headers with the pro side.
WPSL
The league partnered with Athletic TIPS, a nonprofit organization that educates on sports-related injuries.
W-League
Carolina Elite Cobras
Carolina Elite Cobras return 10 players from its championship team from last year, including India Trotter and Blakely Mattern.
Washington Spirit Reserves
The team re-signed Kelsey Pardue and Jennifer Skogerboe.
Seattle Sounders Women
Canadian Women’s National Team forward Brittany Baxter (Timko) signed with the Sounders Women for the 2014 season.
Plug City
The posts from OGM you might have missed. You don’t have to read, but it’d be a lot cooler if you did.
NWSL Week 4 Review
JJ Duke reviews the action from Week 4 and previews upcoming games.
Series So Far
Visual overview of how teams match up.