Category Archives: Women’s World Cup

Top female footballers urge Fifa to end deal with Saudi ‘nightmare sponsor’

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Letter to governing body accuses Saudis of using sports to ‘distract from the regime’s brutal human rights reputation’

More than 100 professional female footballers have signed a letter calling on Fifa to end its sponsorship deal with the state-owned Saudi Arabian oil company, Aramco, accusing Saudi authorities of “brutal human rights violations”.

A four-year deal signed in April will see Aramco, which is 98.5% state-owned, sponsor major tournaments including the men’s World Cup in 2026 and the Women’s World Cup in 2027.

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Spain’s World Cup win was part of battle for equality, says Jenni Hermoso

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Footballer says becoming champions was ‘the only way that we had left to be heard, respected and valued’

The Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso has said Spain’s World Cup win was part of a “more human, more transcendent” battle for equality in her first public remarks since her team’s triumph was overshadowed by an unsolicited kiss.

The speech was made as part of an event in Mexico, where Hermoso plays for the football club Pachuca, and which featured a tribute to the world champion. The 33-year-old began by describing her emotions as she lifted the World Cup trophy alongside her teammates.

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Spanish court imposes restraining order on Rubiales after kiss allegations

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Former Spanish football federation president prevented from approaching World Cup-winning player Jenni Hermoso

A Spanish court has imposed a restraining order on the former president of the country’s football federation, forbidding him from communicating with, or coming within 200 metres of, the female player he controversially kissed after Spain’s World Cup victory last month.

Luis Rubiales – whose decision to kiss Jenni Hermoso prompted a national and international debate on sexism and eventually led him to resign five days ago – was handed the order on Friday by a judge at the audiencia nacional, Spain’s highest criminal court.

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Luis Rubiales quits in wake of World Cup kiss scandal

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Spanish football boss forcibly kissed Jenni Hermoso after the final and had previously refused to step down

Luis Rubiales has resigned as the head of Spain’s football federation almost a month after he grabbed and kissed the midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the celebrations of the country’s victory in the Women’s World Cup, sparking fury, incredulity and a national and international debate on sexism.

Rubiales had initially attempted to brush off the controversy over the unsolicited kiss after the team’s 1-0 victory over England in Sydney. He dismissed critics of his actions as “idiots and stupid people” as the incident provoked global outrage, led to his being provisionally suspended by Fifa, and prompted Hermoso to make a criminal complaint accusing him of sexual assault.

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Spanish football president in kissing row denies new misogyny allegations

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Tamara Ramos claims Luis Rubiales asked what colour her underwear was when they worked together

Spain’s football federation president Luis Rubiales was at the centre of new misogyny allegations on Wednesday, as he faces growing calls to be sacked for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips after the country’s World Cup victory.

The country’s football federation (RFEF) chief, 46, has been widely condemned for planting a kiss on the lips of the footballer after her team’s 1-0 triumph over England in the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday.

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‘I’m so happy as a woman and as a Spaniard’: World Cup joy in Madrid

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Jubilation at victory over England will take a while to sink in – and there are hopes it will bring lasting change

By mid-afternoon on Sunday, the August-quiet, sun-fried streets around Madrid’s WiZink Center had begun to fill with red strips, dazed and happy faces, and the inevitable chorus of horns from the capital’s jubilant motorists. Spain had done it. But the fact they had done it was going to take a while to sink in.

Among the hundreds of people milling about outside the sporting arena and concert venue – where giant screens had shown the World Cup triumph of the Spanish women’s team to 6,000 people – were Laura Luengo, her wife, Tamara Rodríguez, and their young son, Álvaro.

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Lionesses may get awards after reaching World Cup final

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No 10 says it will find ‘appropriate’ way to celebrate defeated finalists as Labour calls for full-team honours

No 10 is considering awards for England’s female footballers for reaching the World Cup final, as Labour called for the whole team to get honours.

Downing Street said it would find a way to reward the players after they lost 0-1 in the final to Spain in Australia on Sunday.

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Clamour grows for Nike to sell replica Mary Earps shirt after World Cup final

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Company faces mounting criticism for not offering goalkeeper’s England kit as player wins tournament’s Golden Glove award

Nike is facing increased demands to sell a Mary Earps shirt after the England player saved a penalty in the World Cup final and was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper.

Despite winning the Fifa award for best women’s goalkeeper last year, having conceded just two goals all tournament when England were crowned Euro 2022 champions, fans have been unable to buy her jersey, unlike those of her teammates.

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Prince William faces criticism for not attending Women’s World Cup final

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Decision not to fly to Australia has been questioned by those who say Lionesses deserved top-level support

The Prince of Wales may have cheered on the Lionesses from afar, but has faced criticism from some quarters at home over his reluctance to get on a plane to support the England team in person.

William was absent from Stadium Australia on Sunday despite being president of the Football Association, and is understood to have made the decision not to go because of the long flight involved for such a short period of time.

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‘A win will change everything’… World Cup victory for Spain would kick out sexism, say fans

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If La Roja beat England, Spain’s apathetic media would finally have to take notice

Slicing sourdough on the stainless-steel counter of a London tapas restaurant, Ana Lorenzo hopes victory for La Roja will banish the sexism she says still stalks women’s football in Spain.

“It’s so sexist in Spain compared to here. The attitude to women’s football is many years behind. And despite doing so well, the women’s team hasn’t really gripped the media,” she says, shaking her head.

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Albanese government to pledge $200m for women’s sport after Matildas inspire Australia

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In the wake of the Matildas’ World Cup performance, the government will unveil new funding and changes to TV bidding rights for sporting fixtures

The Albanese government will promise $200m to improve women’s sporting facilities and equipment after the Matildas’ historic Women’s World Cup run sparked an unprecedented outpouring of support for women’s football.

As the Matildas prepare for their third-place playoff against Sweden in Brisbane on Saturday, the government will declare the national team had “changed sport forever”, while unveiling a new funding package and flagging moves to make more major events available on free-to-air television.

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England fans to splash out on food, drink and TVs for Women’s World Cup final

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Supermarkets, pubs and advertisers the winners as supporters prepare for match against Spain

Supermarkets, pubs and TV advertisers are preparing to enjoy a bumper weekend as football fans rush to celebrate the Women’s World Cup final on Sunday morning.

As many as 13.7 million people are expected to tune in when the Lionesses take on Spain in the highly anticipated fixture in Australia – the first time a senior England football team has appeared in a World Cup final since 1966.

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Australian police rejected Fifa requests for Gianni Infantino to be escorted during World Cup travel

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Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria police turned down request for escort for Fifa president, which is normally reserved for foreign heads of state

Fifa asked Australian police in multiple jurisdictions to provide escorts for president Gianni Infantino during his travel for the Women’s World Cup, but was turned down.

Infantino asked Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales police to provide him with escorts, the Guardian has confirmed.

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Lionesses’ semi-final watched by 7.3m – but few viewing events for final

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Councils accused of downplaying women’s football compared with men’s, with scarcity of planned public viewing parties

The Lionesses drew an average of 4.6 million viewers during their World Cup semi-final, yet fans are disappointed that councils have failed to respond to the team’s success by putting on free public viewing parties for the final.

The BBC said a peak audience of 7.3 million tuned in to watch England beat Australia 3-1 on Wednesday, despite the time zone difference resulting in an 11am kick-off time.

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Matildas brand more valuable than any other national sports team, marketing expert says

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Australian women’s football team has seen a five-fold increase in value since the start of the 2023 World Cup, analysis shows

The Matildas are Australia’s most valuable national sporting team and the worth of their brand has increased fivefold since the start of the 2023 World Cup, new analysis shows.

That brand will only increase in value over the coming days if they continue on their winning stomach-knotting run, although they do face a challenge in retaining momentum after some of the euphoria subsides, given their irregular playing schedule.

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Died Pretty frontman dies after long illness; Albanese says Matildas an ‘inspiration’ ahead of quarter-final – as it happened

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Alice Springs bushfire spreads through national park

An uncontrolled bushfire is spreading through Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park near Alice Springs.

An uncontrolled fire in Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park is currently burning to the North and East of Simpsons Gap extending East towards Alice Springs and to the north-west towards the Hamilton Downs Youth Camp access.

Effective containment strategies are not yet in place.

It is understood a car and motorcyclist collided on Wilsons Road, at the intersection of Orchid Avenue, about 8.50pm.

Police were told another vehicle then crashed into the rider who [was] lying on the road with critical injuries.

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Nigerian fans at home laud battle against odds in Women’s World Cup

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Despite narrow defeat to England, team’s efforts in Australia win praise after what some saw as a lack of official backing

Nigerian football fans in the Lagos suburb of Shomolu had nothing but praise for their team after their narrow defeat on penalties to England in the Women’s World Cup on Monday.

The suburb, home to much of the country’s printing industry, is usually a hive of industrial activity, but many of its presses fell silent on Monday morning as workers gathered in groups around televisions to watch the Super Falcons take on the European champions in Brisbane.

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‘This is huge’: triumphant Matildas thrill grown men and children in dressing-gowns alike

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Fans gathered in Sydney were delirous as Australia’s 2-0 win over Denmark sent them into the quarter-finals of the World Cup

Foord and Raso keep Australian dream alive

They came in the thousands, armed with picnic blankets, umbrellas and deck chairs and adorned in green and gold.

Hours before the Matildas took to the pitch they were already gathering, a sea of supporters packed into Sydney’s biggest live site at Darling Harbour.

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‘We’ve come so far from saying women can’t play football’: girls gather to cheer on the Lionesses

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From Suffolk to Sheffield, youngsters inspired by England’s Euros triumph sat down before big screens to enjoy the side’s World Cup campaign

Ninety minutes before the Lionesses took to the pitch for their World Cup opener, the under-11s Hadleigh United girls’ team kicked off their own tournament – a mini World Cup five-a-side organised by coach Matt French. More than two dozen girls, representing global national teams, showed off their skills to cheering families and friends.

After the final whistle, it was time to head to the clubhouse to watch the England women’s team play.

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Channel Seven commentator under fire for comments on Matilda Katrina Gorry being a mother

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‘Certainly motherhood has not blunted her competitive instincts’ David Basheer said during Matildas’ Women’s World Cup match against Ireland

A Channel Seven commentator has been criticised for saying Matildas midfielder Katrina Gorry has retained her competitive instincts despite becoming a mother, as the opening match of the Women’s World Cup gave the network a national broadcast audience of 1.974 million.

“Certainly motherhood has not blunted her competitive instincts, that’s for sure,” Seven’s David Basheer said, as the Matildas midfielder won a tackle.

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