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Women’s football has undergone a dramatic rise over the last few years, with people around the world finally taking the sport seriously. Since the last World Cup in France in 2019, CNBC claims that the average viewing time of female matches has almost doubled.
This is the first time that Ireland’s women’s team have qualified for a World Cup since the competition began in 1991. It marks a monumental occasion for the Girls in Green and it’s the prime opportunity to hype up the event in the country.
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World Cup 2023 Could be a Turning Point for the Women’s Game
The 2023 World Cup is set to mark many firsts for the women’s game. 32 teams will be competing for the top honours this time out, with the competition having featured between 12 and 24 teams up to this point. It’s the first time it has been hosted in the southern hemisphere, and the fact that it will take place across two nations – Australia and New Zealand – is new as well.
In 2019, the France edition of the ultimate footballing contest attracted swathes of new supporters to the women’s game and boosted its profile massively. The 2023 edition is set to do even more, as the foundations are already in place to build on. There could be unprecedented hype around this competition, especially in Ireland where it’s the first time they have entered. Indeed, the World Cup may be a turning point for women’s football in propelling it into the mainstream.
How Women’s World Cup Could be Boosted
There are various ways that the World Cup could be boosted in Ireland in the lead-up to the event, and this should ensure that the Girls in Green have a great deal of backing in the tournament. One way to do so will be through advertising and ensuring that top brands in the country are behind it. According to BusinessPlus, the women’s team could end up receiving more than €5 million from sponsorship deals. These will come from various brand partners including Sky Ireland, Aviva, and Carlsberg.
The entertainment industry is an excellent way to reach more fans as well. For example, Tyrone Productions could aim to bring back the 2012 RTÉ Two series, Football’s Next Star. This time, it could be aimed at women’s players. EA Sports’ FIFA will play a huge part as well and may come with a Women’s World Cup update.
Thriving sectors like online casinos are likely to play a part too. There are already plenty of male-led football games at Doggo Casino, including Football Mania Deluxe, Football Star, and Football Finals X Up. There’s a lack of female content, though, and this is something that developers may seek to rectify ahead of the July event.
The 2023 World Cup will make the 50th anniversary of the Women’s Football Association of Ireland, and the team’s qualification highlights the progress made over the last five years. There will doubtlessly be countrywide celebrations to mark the occasion.
Ireland’s chances of winning the epic 32-team contest are slim, and they are at odds of 1000/1 to go all the way. That won’t stop the partying for the Girls in Green, however. If the entertainment industry gets on board and helps with the marketing, this event could be massive for the women’s game in Ireland.
