Filipinas’ Fifa Women’s World Cup success wipes away gender barriers – and puts football on the map
- Already sure of leaving a legacy, the Philippines shifted support and won hearts of a nation whose No 1 sport has never been football
- Passionate players won over sceptical supporters who questioned their heritage, with growth of the local game given a welcome boost
This month’s Women’s World Cup is likely to prove to be a seminal moment for the game, not least in terms of exposure in countries that previously paid little attention.
Fifa said records for ticket sales had been broken, while the game’s governing body revealed 53.9 million viewers had watched China’s game against England.
Several teams won for the first time on the game’s biggest stage, including the Philippines, who made their debut at a World Cup, and beat hosts New Zealand in Group A, thanks to a header from Sarina Bolden.
Already sure of leaving a legacy just by being there, the performance of the “Filipinas” created an evident shift in support, winning the hearts of a nation where football has never been the No 1 sport – not even close.
“In a country where boxing, basketball, and volleyball are the well-known sports, football has been a minority sport and is often overlooked,” Judith Esquivias, a volunteer for the Filipinas’ media team, said.
“The Filipinas’ journey sparked a significant change in the masses’ mindset among the Filipino people, fans, and myself. [Their] performance challenged the belief that we couldn’t excel in football.”
