October 29 – Women’s football is booming worldwide, and non-traditional formats of the game are starting to attract attention. This December in Florida, the Kansas City Current and San Diego Wave FC will play in the $5 million World Sevens Football (W7F) tournament, and the biggest prize pot in the women’s game.
The two National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) sides will join clubs from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia, competing in two 15-minute halves.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Kansas City Current and San Diego Wave FC to our exhilarating 7v7 tournament,” said Sarah Cummins, CEO of W7F. “This high-stakes competition showcases the talent and ambition fuelling the women’s game today.”
W7F founder Adrian Jacob says the goal is to shake things up. “We all want to make it faster. We want to make it louder, bigger, brasher… If you go to the States, you’ve got to be bigger.”
Just like the FIFA Club World Cup, the prize money, although less, does alter the sporting integrity of the NWSL if a club is becomes $5 million richer.
For now, the clubs and players seem fully on board. “Our team thrives on intensity, creativity, and competition, which fit perfectly with the 7v7 style of play,” said KC assistant coach Milan Ivanovic.
San Diego Wave general manager Camille Ashton added: “Our club’s vision is rooted in excellence, and we embrace opportunities like World Sevens Football to push the game further and give our players another opportunity to shine.”
If W7F can add to the growth of the game without overshadowing the heart of the 11-a-side game, while providing a nice pay-day, it looks set to cement a permanent place in the calendar.
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