His connection to the game is strong, having become a huge fan, playing the game himself and even attending World Cup matches in Latin America as part of his research.
Patrick Ridge, an associate professor of Spanish at Virginia Tech, studies the impact of football for a living. His connection to the game is strong, having become a huge fan, playing the game himself and even attending World Cup matches in Latin America as part of his research.
“Football is such a huge cultural phenomenon,” Ridge told WTOP. “The influence of the women’s game is also growing.”
As the 2023 Women’s World Cup begins, says Ridge, the world is at a turning point.
“Many countries have started to invest more in women’s football,” she explained, citing immense growth in Mexico, Germany, Spain, Argentina, England and, of course, the US.
“The United States has an advantage over the rest of the world when it comes to women’s soccer,” Ridge said. “Historically, football has been seen as a ‘man’s game’, right? This is changing. Title IX is one of the most important pieces of legislation in the growth of women’s soccer globally.”
There are several things that make the 2023 Women’s World Cup even more unique on top of everything else, he said.
“This increase in investment and growth in other countries means they are catching up,” he told WTOP. “Some other nations like England and France have beaten the United States in other competitions leading up to this World Cup.”
“It will probably be the most competitive World Cup yet,” he continued. “[It’s also] It will be the most watched Women’s World Cup to date.”
Approximately 2 billion people are expected to tune in this year, according to data from the market research company Euromonitor International. It’s a reflection of how important the game has become, Ridge said.
In the United States, millions will watch as the women’s national team seeks an unprecedented 3-peat: two World Cup trophies back-to-back. But they will face stiff competition.
“There are stars on the US team that … this could be their last chance at a World Cup,” Ridge said. “There is also (a) very new talent, young talent. It’s exciting.”
There is still a lot of work to be done, Ridge said, but the level of growth in women’s soccer globally is breaking barriers, even in countries that have historically not been as progressive.
This 2023 World Cup is almost the perfect storm of growth and competitiveness to get people interested and maximize viewership, Ridge said. This, in turn, will help increase the influence of the game even more.
“The more the media continues to cover this, the better,” he said. “They are proving to all the doubters that they too can perform, they can also play football just like men. They can perform at the highest level. Many of us already know that, but the game can still reach more people who may not be as educated.”
“The stadium serves as a mirror that reflects a larger society,” Ridge added. “I am optimistic that this is an indicator of a more equitable future on and off the field in our world.”
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