Friday 19 June 2015

12 Reasons The FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 Is The Best World Cup So Far...


1. Aside from the hosts Canada (who had automatic qualification), 134 countries competed for the 23 remaining places in the finals.  That is the biggest entry out of all six previous FIFA WWC tournaments. In 1991, only twelve countries originally made it through to the first World Cup finals in China.


2. On the week leading up to the first group games, FIFA President-Sepp Blatter, announced his plans to retire from his role after sixteen long and controversial years in charge.


3. The BBC are covering every live game either online or on BBC2 or BBC Three, alongside daily highlight shows, radio and news coverage.


4. With discounts, group packages, day passes and stadium passes available, tickets are both affordable and great value for money.


5. Team spirit is incredibly high and visible across all the games. With barely an ego in sight, emotions run high throughout and a real sense of enjoyment and togetherness is being displayed.


6. Late drama was all the rage in the group stages.


7. The opening game saw a record match attendance of 53,058 to see Canada's win over China, with millions more viewing at home across the world.


8. Everyone loves an underdog. Especially when it affected England's chances of qualification....Colombia 2-0 France.



9. Eight teams made their World Cup debut: Cameroon, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.



10. Google did a special doodle.


11. Homare Sawa (Japan) and Formiga (Brazil) pictured below, are making their sixth appearances at a FIFA WWC finals. More than any person has done before (yes, including men).


12. With two FA WSL tiers, full time contracts and more financial support, women's football in England is rapidly growing. The Lionesses have the exciting prospect of a strong, young but equally experienced squad.




With only the group stages complete, many more reasons are to follow. But for now, who could forget England's funny YouTube video upon arrival in Canada, in honour of the Toure brothers: