USL expands again with launch of second tier pro-women’s league
September 22 – The United Soccer League has announced the launch of a professional women’s league that will operate as the second tier of women’s club soccer in the US.
Women
US pay parity dispute escalates as women call USSF offer a publicity stunt
September 17 – The festering dispute between the US women’s football team (USWNT) and their national federation over equal pay has escalated further with the players union deriding the latest offer as a publicity stunt.
Aussie W-League expands boundaries with addition of Wellington Phoenix in NZ
September 10 – Australia’s W-League has added a tenth team for its 2021/22 season, with the addition of Wellington Phoenix from New Zealand joining the competition.
Jbarah goal sees Jordan beat Tunisia to win Arab Women’s Cup
September 7 – Jordan beat Tunisia in the final 1-0 to win the 2021 Arab Women’s Cup in Cairo, Egypt, the second edition of the competition that was first held in Alexandria in 2006.
Women’s Euro ticket sales top 140k a year before kick off
August 4 – UEFA is reporting more than 140,000 tickets have already been sold for the Women’s Euro 2022, a record for the tournament which takes place in England next summer.
UEFA opens up Women’s Champions League to world with game changing DAZN deal
June 30 – UEFA has taking the groundbreaking step of making the first two seasons of its revamped Women’s Champions League free-to-air via a new partnership with DAZN and YouTube.
US dominate women’s rankings ahead of Olympics, France make gains
June 25 – FIFA’s latest ranking of Women’s national teams sees the US still top and extending their lead, but France have moved into the top three ranking positions, jumping ahead of the Netherlands. Germany are second.
US women dominate overseas player movement as leagues show signs of maturing
June 25 – The women’s professional game is getting older and more internationally mobile with the increasing influence of the leading men’s clubs in the women’s game bringing structural change.
USL unveils 8 founder members of W League saying it will have 30 clubs at kick off
June 11 – The USL has unveiled the eight founding members of its women’s pro-am – the W League – that will begin play in May 2022.
New Women’s Cup comp in US secures PSG and Bayern participation and Paramount+ TV deal
June 10 – The new launch women’s friendly club tournament – The Women’s Cup (TWC) – to be hosted for the first time in Louisville in the US 18-21 August, has sold its US broadcast rights to Paramount+.
San Diego to be home of NWSL’s 12th team, joining Angel City in 2022 start
June 10 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is set to add a 12th team to its competition. San Diego will join the Los Angeles-based Angel City FC debuting in the 2022 season.
England target 700,000+ ticket sales for women’s Euros and a ‘turbo-charged’ legacy
By Paul Nicholson
May 19 – Women’s Euro 2022 organisers England have unveiled ticketing and legacy plans for the tournament that aims to sell more than 700,000 tickets and see more than 120,000 girls playing across the nine host cities.
Mastercard partners with NWSL and drives gender equity platform
May 17 – Global payment and technology provider Mastercard is joining the National Women’s Soccer League as an official partner in a multi-year deal.
Infantino promises new Women’s Club World Cup will revolutionise game
May 2 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino (pictured) has once again floated the idea of a new Women’s Club World Cup, saying the competition “is coming soon”.
UEFA draws groups for 2023 Women’s World Cup qualifiers
April 30 – A record number of 51 nations were in the the European qualifying draw for the 2023 Women’s World Cup held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon today.