Megan Rapinoe to retire at end of 2023 season
July 10 – Megan Rapinoe, the star of American women’s football and two-time World Cup winner, has announced she will retire at the end of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.
Women
FIFA to fly First Nations and Māori flags at all World Cup 2023 venues
July 8 – With the Women’s World Cup now under two weeks away from kick off, FIFA has announced that the indigenous flags of Aborignal Australia and Maori New Zealand will be be flown at matches in their countries.
Motsepe Foundation makes donation to break South African women’s pre-World Cup strike
July 7 – The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) says a pay dispute with its Women’s World Cup squad has been resolved after a charity set up by Confederation of African Football president and billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe stepped in.
FIFA plugs in Yadea for first Women’s World Cup sponsorship
July 4 – FIFA has announced Yadea, producer of two-wheeled vehicles including electric-powered motorcycles, bicycles and scooters, as a Tournament Supporter in the Asia-Pacific region for the Women’s World Cup 2023 that kicks off later this month.
Rapinoe says World Cup 2023 will ‘blow the lid off’ business of women’s football
June 29 – US women’s star Megan Rapinoe (pictured) believes the upcoming World Cup will act as a game-changing watershed for the sport.
FIFA’s Bareman puts focus on lifting New Zealand World cup ticket sales
June 22 – FIFA says Women’s World Cup co-hosts New Zealand need to up their game over ticket sales in the coming weeks.
Sinclair pushes Canadian Soccer for pay deal before team leaves for World Cup
June 22 – Canada’s national team want a pay dispute settled before leaving for the Women’s World Cup, which Australia and New Zealand will co-host this summer.
30% of Women’s World Cup players unpaid, 70% have no medical support, finds Fifpro report
June 21 – Players vying to make this summer’s Women’s World Cup risked their safety on poor pitches during qualifying, and many were not paid according to the latest report from players’ union Fifpro.
Peace in our time as FIFA secures EBU broadcast deal for Women’s World Cup 2023
June 15 – After a lengthy standoff, FIFA has struck a deal with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to televise the Women’s World Cup, avoiding a controversial blackout in the ‘Big Five’ European nations.
Women’s World Cup ticket sales pass 1 million
June 9 – Next month’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is on track to become the most attended standalone women’s sporting event ever with more than one million tickets sold.
FIFA release more 2023 World Cup tickets as Kiwis push local tickets sales harder
June 2 – FIFA have announced the release of 250,000 more tickets for the Women’s World Cup amid concerns about sales in New Zealand.
Injury hit England forced to name patched up squad for 2023 World Cup finals
June 1 – Saddled with key injuries, England women’s head coach Sarina Wiegman (pictured) has been forced to name several relatively untried players in her squad of 23 for the upcoming World Cup.
FIFA and ECA reach compromise on early player release dates for Women’s World Cup
May 18 – The world governing body FIFA and the European Club Association (ECA) have revised the rules regarding player release dates for the upcoming Women’s World Cup, allowing for more flexibility.
OL Groupe and Michelle Kang combine to form first women’s multi-club ownership group
May 17 – Multi-team ownership is coming to the women’s club game globally with the announcement of a deal between OL Groupe, owner of Olympique Lyonnais, John Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings, majority owner of OL Groupe and MicheleKang (pictured), owner of the Washington Spirit who play in the NWSL.
England is 25th stop on WWC Trophy Tour. FIFA reports 850,000 ticket sold to date
May 16 – With 65 days to go until the kick-off of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand, FIFA is reporting more than 850,000 tickets have been sold.