It’s hard to forget the World Cup fervor of last year – the record number of American watchers, the explosion of enthusiasm on social media, and the packed bars, apartments and houses tuned in to watch the U.S. men’s team. This summer offers more of the same. The 24 best teams from across the world will battle for the Women’s World Cup in Canada from June 6 to July 5. This weekly wrap offers a primer on the seventh Women’s World Cup.
Fox Sports believes that the excitement of last summer’s World Cup is simply being extended into this summer. More time, money and creative energy is being poured into promotion than any Women’s World Cup to date. Fox is gambling that the newfound passion for American soccer will include the women’s game.
Every one of this year’s games will be available on Fox or a subsidiary channel. And each U.S. group game will be broadcast live in primetime on Fox or Fox Sports 1. Fans of women’s soccer are excited to see what the ratings will be like for primetime, international competition.
Before watching the games, it’s worth taking a brief immersion in the history of women’s soccer. Women’s soccer struggled to gain a serious following before the 1990s, when the first Women’s World Cup was played and when women first played soccer in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The American, Norwegian and Chinese women have traditionally been strong, and all three as well as the defending champions, Japan, will attempt to ride increased attention to a World Cup title.
With ongoing dysfunction and criminal charges being levied at FIFA, the international organization governing soccer and the Women’s World Cup, some are growing wary of international soccer.
Do you still plan to watch the Women’s World Cup? Tell us below!
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Seamus Roddy is a summer intern at WordWrite Communications. You can find him on Twitter @SeamusRoddy
