The Greatness Behind and Beyond This Year’s FIFA WWC

What makes this FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 so special? News outlets are raving about it, sports analysts are dissecting the matches, and the world seems to be on its toes tuning in to find out who the next Champion will be. A piece particularly close to my heart, this is my attempt (with an obvious bias towards the Filipinas, of course) at uncovering what constitutes the greatness behind and beyond this year’s FIFA WWC.

Filipinas Qualification

The Philippine National Women’s Football Team, nicknamed Filipinas (previously Malditas), ushered in a new era for football in the country after reaching the semifinals of the 2022 AFC Asian Women’s Cup and subsequently cementing their spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. What makes this qualification all the more impressive is the fact that it is the first time the Philippines has qualified for any FIFA World Cup. Ever. Our players are slowly but surely becoming household names, paving the way for live FIFA WWC match viewings in malls around the country and reviving a vibrant fan culture comparable to that of the Azkals during their prime. Dare I say even surpassing it?

No amount of words can do justice to the pride that makes my heart swell whenever I come across a news report on the Filipinas. Although they have since exited the tournament after suffering a devastating 6-0 loss against Norway in the Group Stage, they have managed to put up a good fight in the previous two matches. Losing 0-2 against Norway in their first FIFA WWC match did not hinder them from picking themselves back up and giving the rest of the tournament their all.

Forward Sarina Bolden scored the Philippines’ historical first-ever goal in their second game against co-host New Zealand after acquiring a brilliant assist from Midfielder Sara Eggesvik, putting the Philippines on the map of football teams to look out for. Of course, it was not just Bolden’s header that stood out: GK Olivia McDaniel’s dedication to saving goals not only earned her a Player of The Match that same game but also a place in the hearts of many. McDaniel executed 6 saves against Switzerland, 4 against New Zealand, and 7 against Norway. She is arguably the strongest pillar of the team and has consistently proven to be a rockstar at what she does. However, it would be unfair to talk about the Philippines’ stellar performance and not give credit to the passion and caliber of the rest of the team and their coach, Alen Stajcic. They gave us a FIFA run to be proud of and a future to look forward to.

Thank you, Filipinas.

The Epic Highs and Lows of Women's Football

Historically, women’s football (and women’s sports in general) has been subject to the challenges that come with sexism, misogyny, and other systematic inequalities. This is what sets women’s football apart. Despite the disadvantages they have been presented with, they still unwaveringly play the game with so much passion and fervor. Women’s football is so much more than a game inside the pitch because of the battles that the players fight outside of it. It becomes apparent that their commitment and wholeheartedness aren’t just due to the cutthroat nature of competitive football, but because they had to fight for their right to play.

One specific example that comes to mind is that of Jamaica’s national team. The Reggae Girlz, as they are lovingly known, had to resort to crowdfunding to cover tournament expenses such as travel and accommodation because they weren’t being adequately supported by their federation. In 2008, the team was disbanded by the Jamaica Football Federation due to a lack of funds. Cedella Marley, daughter of late music icon Bob Marley and a huge football fan, stepped up to support the team and became an invaluable part of their success journey as they managed to qualify for the 2019 run of the Cup.

This year, Jamaican midfielder Havana Solaun’s mother, Sandra Philipps-Brower, set up a GoFundMe page named Reggae Girlz Rise Up to help resolve the federation’s lack of funding. The effort has raised around $50,000, pitched in by the many football fans who believed in the Reggae Girlz’s capacity to wow the world once again. Recently, Jamaica became the first Caribbean country to qualify for knockouts in a 0-0 match against Brazil, proving once more that women are capable of so much.

Whether it’s the US team petitioning for equal pay, or Jamaica barely having the funds to even fly to the venue. it’s disheartening that so many national teams even have to beg to be treated equally as their male counterparts. Yet, despite the drawbacks they have experienced, the hurdles have never compromised the quality of their performances. Women’s football continues to enduringly embody the very thing that women do best- the impossible.

The Unpredictability of Everything

From the start, FIFA WWC 2023 has not fallen short of surprises.

I do not know what is up with this year’s tournament (perhaps it’s the 32-team requirement releasing the tricks up sleeves), but I hope it keeps coming. Everything is just so fun. It has been a joy seeing nations qualify for the first time this year, witnessing underdogs triumph over powerhouse nations, and being part of something that is just surprise after surprise after surprise. Get ready to dive into the specifics below.

This year brought eight newcomers to the table– Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Ireland, Vietnam, and Zambia. Additionally, history was made as many top-ranked countries lost at the hands (or should I say feet?) of the underdogs: Brazil (ranked 8th) experienced their earliest exit ever after not making it out of the Group Stage after drawing 0-0 against Jamaica (ranked 43rd). Along with France, Jamaica advanced out of the Group Stage but lost 1-0 against Colombia (ranked 27th).

In another unexpected turn of events, Germany (ranked 3rd) also did not advance out of the Group Stage after being unable to break a 1-1 tie against South Korea (ranked 17th). This loss comes as an ironic shock as earlier in the Group Stage, Germany annihilated Morocco (ranked 76th) 6-0, but Morocco ended up advancing to the Round of 16 along with Colombia. FIFA WWC 2023’s Group H takes the cake for the most unpredictable of groups– Colombia and Morocco, both ranked lower than Germany and South Korea, secured an abrupt finish to the two superpowers’ tournament journey.

However, the tournament’s greatest surprise comes at the expense of the US National Team. The US (ranked 1st) saw its earliest exit in history after a 0-0 Round of 16 draw against Sweden (ranked 2nd) resulted in a 5-4 loss through penalties. It was an exhilarating match, watching the Top 2 teams battle for a place in the Quarter-finals, with Sweden proving that in a game as unpredictable as this year's FIFA WWC, rank is not always everything.

The Future of Women’s Football

History has always painted women as emotional beings, unable to set aside their feelings and use their heads instead. However, I think this year’s tournament is proof that women do use both their hearts and heads. There is so much gentleness and sportsmanship and kindness exhibited in the games rarely observed in men’s matches. The women respect each other because they can empathize with each other’s struggles. FIFA WWC 2023 is first and foremost a competition, but it is also a place where women can be comfortable in their capabilities and show the world what they’ve got.

The tournament is not over yet, but it’s safe to say women’s football is currently in good hands. The world is just beginning to discover its joys and thrills, starting to hold it in the same regard as its men’s counterparts. Despite the hardships that have been thrown their way, like a ball passed on to them through a swift assist, they braved the offenses of their opponents and scored a winning goal despite the odds.

The girls are finally getting the recognition they deserve; watching lives being changed and history being written is an experience I will forever be proud to have been a part of. Beyond greatness indeed.