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FIFA Looks to Future of Women’s Football

  • Posted Sep 6, 2021 14:21 by Andrew Barnes-Roberts
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INTERNATIONAL: FIFA has appointed former World Cup-winning coach, Jill Ellis, to lead a new technical advisory group on the future of women's football. Ellis lifted the Women’s World Cup with the United States in 2015 and 2019. She’ll now work with various stakeholders to improve the current match calendar and build global development and competitiveness in the women's game.

Ellis takes charge just months after FIFA's congress voted to carry out a feasibility study on holding the men's and women's World Cups every two years instead of four. That proposal is going down like a lead balloon, with European governing body, UEFA, opposing the plans, saying they would also face resistance from the European Club Association, as well as major domestic leagues around the world.

But Ellis’ focus is on developing the women’s game and ensuring that all women have access to the sport. This includes the Afghan women’s team who fled the country when Kabul fell to the Taliban:

"I think that as much as we're in sport, we never lose sight of what's important, and that's the human condition, right. And then taking care of each other. I think we always talk about soccer or football being a family. It's a big family, but I think that sense of taking care of people and take care of each other is critical. So yes, that would be -- I think that would be ideal to try and make sure that not only are people safe, but people then have an opportunity to return to something that's probably been a motivator, an escape, whatever that sport has been for people. I think for these women, I think to have the opportunity to play again and play alongside each other after going through so much, I think would be would be an amazing, not just storyline, but it would just be an amazing outcome to see that."

Ellis says future discussions will include introducing more meaningful and regular competition for women at all levels around the world, optimising youth development structures, and improving the standards of coaching and education.

Photo: INTERVIEW WITH NEW LEAD FOR TECHNICAL GROUP AT FIFA LOOKING INTO WOMEN'S FOOTBALL, JILL ELLIS. B-ROLL OF ELLIS / FIFA SIGNAGE / GIANNI INFANTINO / 2019 UNITED STATES WORLD CUP WINNING TEAM / STILL PHOTOS OF WOMEN'S FOOTBALL IN AFGHANISTAN

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