Have you ever played on a football team?
Perhaps you play for a grassroots team. Maybe it’s more casual, a regular five-a-side game with your mates. You might just have fond school memories of kicking a ball about, or maybe you’re even a pro player reading this. Or you’re hopeless at sport but you have kids who look forward to football practice.
Imagine if you were told that was no longer allowed––that your mates could all play, but you couldn’t. How would that feel?
We’re in a weird moment for football. To many of us, it’s never felt more inclusive. Women’s football has exploded into international consciousness with tournaments claiming deserved headlines and airtime, while national and domestic teams fill stadiums and grow international audiences. This year’s World Cup will be a massive deal for the women’s game; with increased investment enabling national teams to raise their game in recent years, the landscape has never been more competitive. Men’s football is now a safer and friendlier landscape for many of us who didn’t always feel welcome if we weren’t straight, white, and male. There’s more to do, with groups including Her Game Too and Football v Homophobia striving to nurture a truly welcoming culture across the game. Women’s teams are fighting and winning battles for equality and fair treatment, women are playing and competing at every level, and grassroots football is thriving.
It all looks rosy and hopeful—you can’t stop progress, right?