A new era for women’s football is emerging with the launch of World Sevens Football (W7F), a seven-a-side series aiming to transform the sport with faster matches and significant financial rewards. As W7F takes center stage, the future of women’s football will be shaped by initiatives like this new series.
A New Era for Women’s Football: World Sevens Football Takes Center Stage
The women’s game is experiencing a surge, breaking attendance records, drawing new investment, and inspiring a new generation of players and fans. Now, World Sevens Football (W7F), a new seven-a-side series, is aiming to take advantage of this boom, bringing faster and more dynamic matches to fans around the world while giving players an opportunity for significant financial rewards.
Women's football has experienced significant growth in popularity over the past decade.
The FIFA Women's World Cup has seen a steady increase in viewership, with the 2019 tournament reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people.
The sport is also gaining traction at the grassroots level, with more women and girls participating in local leagues and clubs.
According to a survey by UEFA, the number of female players in Europe increased by 25% between 2015 and 2020.
The growth of women's football is attributed to various factors, including increased media coverage, government support, and the rise of prominent female players.
Player Empowerment at the Forefront
The idea for W7F came from its co-founders, entrepreneur Justin Fishkin and NY/NJ Gotham FC and Chelsea minority owner Jennifer Mackesy. They have committed to investing ‘$100 million’ ($88.7 million) over five years, with a player-centric approach being a defining feature of the series. The Player Advisory Council, made up of current and former players, is crucial in shaping player care and welfare, competition strategy, and making a positive long-term impact on the players and clubs.
A Financial Revolution
Clubs will be allowed to bring a squad of 25, with 14 being eligible to play per match. The tournament prize pool is ‘$5 million’, including ‘$2.5 million’ for the winners – significantly more than the ‘€1.4 million’ the Champions League victors are to earn. This financial revolution is expected to make a substantial difference in the lives of players and staff, with 40% of the prize money going directly to players and staff.
Challenges Ahead
However, not everyone is convinced that W7F is the right solution for women’s football. The Swedish league schedule clash has drawn criticism from Swedish club Rosengard, which had to request to move their first division league match against Hacken to participate in the inaugural event in Portugal. This issue highlights concerns over player workloads and the impact of tournaments on domestic leagues.
A New Era for Women’s Football
The biggest draw for former Swedish international Caroline Seger was the feeling she was working with ‘allies’ wanting to promote women’s football. She believes that the tables have turned, making it easier to fight for the sport, even if there is still a long way to go.
Caroline Seger is a Swedish professional footballer who has made significant contributions to the sport.
Born on March 19, 1985, she plays as an attacking midfielder for the Sweden national team and FC Rosengard.
With over 200 appearances for her country, Seger is one of the most capped players in Swedish history.
She was appointed captain in 2018 and has led the team to several international competitions.
As W7F takes center stage, one thing is clear: the future of women’s football will be shaped by initiatives like this new seven-a-side series. Whether it will be able to overcome challenges and maintain momentum remains to be seen, but with its focus on player empowerment and financial rewards, W7F has the potential to revolutionize the sport.
