The FIFA 2023 Women's World Cup From Australia & New Zealand!

Introduction

First of all, I am not sure whether this should be placed in Vocal's Cleats or Viva communities because it does straddle both of them, but I will choose the latter because it is another example of what brilliant sportspeople women are.

Women's sport is often treated as second class by the patriarchy but especially in football, they show how good they are showing themselves to be equal if not better than the men's game.

This is the FIFA website for you to check out the competition which kicks off today, in less than an hour when New Zealand play Norway followed three hours later by Australia versus Ireland. The website does not show on here so just follow this link to see what is happening.

So Why Watch Women's Football?

Last year I wrote about England's Lionesses when they won the Euro 2022 Final against Germany.

I know that my Vocal audience is global here are the opening matches, though you can check the FIFA website to see if your country is playing.

In France 2019 The USA beat the Netherlands 2-0 in the final and are favourites to win once again, but there are a lot of excellent challengers. You can watch the film of the 2019 competition here but here are the top ten goals from France 2019. The goal by Ajara Nchout for Cameroon against New Zealand is absolutely amazing and I am sure we will see more examples like this in this World Cup.

As I stated in my piece on the lionesses women really do play for the love of the game. They take chances to score some amazing goals that I don't think men could do.

I have seen virtually no simulation or cheating which is virtually the norm in many "top-class" men's games, especially in the Champions League I am talking about you Neymar.

The thing is there is such an abundance of skill, joy and determination in the woman's games.

I have just noticed that when it's men's competitions things like work are often arranged to accommodate matches but there is still not the same priority given to women's football even at the highest level.

Without a doubt, I will make every effort to watch as many of these matches as I can, there is a lot of decent coverage in the UK and no doubt the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada will be doing the same.

I will be honest while I would love the Lionesses to win this, I think the biggest winner in this is football itself. The fact that women are being treated closer to properly despite male opposition is absolutely brilliant.

Women's Football is here to stay and it really is a joy to watch. The skills and daring that women show on the field of play are always incredible, though this may just be my view of the men's game being a little jaundiced. I grew up through the sixties and seventies seeing the racism and thuggery in the game which is still being dealt with in the men's game, but women's football seems a far purer sport, more focused on the joy of the game rather than winning at all costs and money.

Conclusion

If you like sports try and watch some of these matches, if you like football you will be watching some of these matches.

This piece has taken me longer than expected and New Zealand vs Norway has kicked off so that will be on my tablet while I work, and I know that this will have a huge world audience.

Please join us, you will not be disappointed.